When Sreenivasan came up with the scripts of 'Udayananu Thaaram', a movie on the inside stories of the film industry of the years, it also contributed another director in Roshan Andrews who went on to create some of the best movies of our times. Now when Sreenivasan comes up with another spoof on the latest developments in our increasingly star centric industry flooded with bans, strikes and flops, it also definitely become the effective launchpad of young director Sajin Raghavan, who is sure to make an impression in future.
Packed with plenty of hilarious but loud moments, entertaining gags, criticisms and uproarious situational comedy, this 'Padmashree Bharath Dr. Sarojkumar ' lives up to its name and is in a league and genre of its own. It's double the guffaws this time than its prequel, though Sreeni's acerbic pen often takes a 'bad taste' while taking note of all that needs to be criticised and corrected.
The movie has Sreenivasan in the title role, as the same old Superstar who is more interested in throwing around his star tantrums than to act. With all the antics and show offs, he is currently under immense pressure due to many things including rising of newer stars and more so, because of the continuous poor run of his films. A megastar, as he likes to call him always, he doesn't get any peace of mid at home from his young actress turned wife Neelima (Mamta Mohandas), who finds him to be a joker and is always in the habit of ridiculing her husband in public. Saroj Kumar who carry on with his habits of running after titles has some new problems arising, as an young actor Shyam (Vineeth Sreenivasan), a first rank holder from the film institute joins one of his films as a co-star. Seemingly irked by the fellow, Saroj beats him in public in the sets of a new film 'Kadalkakkakal' by the young director Alex Samuel (Fahad Fazil) and clearly beckons criticism from the media and public. Pachalom Bhasi (Jagathy Sreekumar), the producer of the film, tries to solve the issue, but faces harsh treatment from Saroj who takes out his gun to finish off his old friend. This finally ends up as a direct fight between the Saroj Kumar gang and the band of new film makers.
The entire first half is devoted to making mockery of the current standards of Mollywood cinema and more so, of the so called fans who go and clap for all logiclessness portrayed on screen. Sreenivasan has wonderfully integrated all the recent happenings of the film industry from the raids to the ban and related issues. The screenplay is fairly well written in the former half and the second half takes a bit to seriousness with the plot wandering for some time. The finale is just adequate for a movie that leaves no stones unturned in burlesquing, though not always in style. On the flip side, the film may not be savoured and relished by everyone, especially those who doesn't keep in close touch with the filmi developments of the industry. And the jokes, not always in good taste start jarring after a while and are sometimes sub-standard.
The acting side is inconsistent as Sreenivasan appears caricaturistic at times. But if you are a fan of the star, you will definitely take a note of the sharp and witty lines speckled throughout and delivered with accurate timing by the senior star. Vineeth makes powerful impact in many sequences including the climax though he don't have the kind of a look of a upcoming star. Fahd Fazil is intense and effective. Suraj Venjarammoodu in a full length role as Babu, the fans association president of Sarojkumar, makes a controlled performance than usual while Jagathy, Mukesh and Salimkumar gets an extended life in the roles that they had done justice to in the prequel. Mamtha Mohandas is wasted.
The technical side is fine with S Kumar once again contributing some fine visuals. The scenes at the 'waterfall', Saroj's advertisement campaigns and army camp are very well captured. V Saajan cut's make the movie racy enough while the three songs by Deepak Dev, especially, 'Kesu' and 'Mozhikalum' are hummable and are well picturised.
All in all, if you don't have big expectations, this Saroj will be the movie that may keep you reasonably contented for the weekend watch. With some good promotions, 'Padmashree Bharath Dr. Sarojkumar' may turn safe for its producer, though not in the league of its prequel.
Rating-5.25 /10
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