Urumi Review

Urumi, a film dubbed from Malayalam, belongs to a rare genre - historical-fantasy.  Not only is it rare to see films made in this interesting genre, it is even rarer to see this coming from a regional industry (Mollywood) and not from the Mumbai industry.  Add some terrific performances, technical finesse and clinically written dialogues and near-nifty screenplay, you have a winner.  Watch out for Urumi.  A caveat though - do not expect it to be an edge-of-the-seat story of a warrior with unexpected twists and turns in the plot, but rather be prepared to enjoy the narration, style, cinematography and the adventurous spirit of its patriotic characters.

The film is a mix of fact and fiction.  The writer (Shankar Ramakrishnan) must be applauded for the interplay of ideas.  It all begins with two youngsters (Prithiviraj and Prabhu Deva) being approached by a party who tell them that they own a mineral-rich tract in tribal Kerala.  They whizz off to the place only to find the character of Vidya Balan questioning their insensitivity and lack of social commitment.  After all, if the land is sold off to the MNC, its hidden mineral wealth would be guzzled in no time, imperilling the livelihoods of its inhabitants, besides the region coming to face the threat of environmental hazard.  (Credit goes to the makers for using the vocabulary that is a part of the contemporary anti-mining discourse in India).  It is currently in the ownership of an NGO which runs a school there.  However, it is only when a primitive tribal (Arya, in a wonderful cameo) tells Prithviraj (as Krishnadas) the epic legacy he has inherited, that he has a change of heart (by the end).

The film is narrated entirely in the flashback.  Cut to 1502 AD when the kid Kelu Nayanar (Prithviraj) bravely faces the brutish Vasco da Gama, the Portugese explorer, who is out to plunder the rich resources of Kerala.  His father is brutally chopped off before his very eyes by Gama.  Raging with fury, he grows into a youth with a revolutionary streak in him, ever-ready to defend his motherland should the need arise again.  And, the chicken does come home to roost.  It is 1524 AD and Gama is all set to wage his second expedition of Kerala.

Kelu and his Muslim friend, Vavvali (Prabhu Deva), owe to rise up to the occasion, when the Chirakkal king (Amol Gupte) asks them for the head of Gama's son.  The curtain is raised for a clash of the heroic son of Kerala and the invading plunderer Gama, when he abducts the son and submits him before the king.  However, what is a a historical story without the customary court intrigues and treacherous characters among the trusted lieutenants?

The rest of the film is all about what transpires in the court of Chirakkal king, how the destinies of Kelu and Ayesh and Vavvali and Bala are inter-connected between and among themselves and how the heroes defeat the imperialist designs of Gama.

Urumi has its share of customary court intrigues typical of a historical film.  Lest we feel bored, Santosh Sivan throws up a well-choreographed song and a syncopated action sequence now and then, all captured by superb cinematography.

The machinations of the transgender ally of the king (Jagathy Sreekumar, in a brilliantly nuanced portrayal of a eunuch), the ruthlessness of the Gamas, the guts of Ayesha of Arackal (Genelia D' Souza, in one of the most difficult roles of her career so far) as well her feminine graces, the primrose Bala (Nithya Menon), the crowned pincess Chirakkal, the non-earnest demeanor of an otherwise serious Vavvali, all lend brilliance to the texture of Urumi.

The dialogues (dubbed version by Sashank Vennalakanti) are an asset of the movie.  It is the intelligence of the writer to have put  the perfect words in the mouth of Kulu - be it when he confronts the court's big traitor, Jagathy, or in very many occasions where his convictions are revealed.

Do not expect, as mentioned earlier, cinematic plot in Urumi.  Rather watch out for its cinematic experience that makes you forget about the obvious denouement (Gama's assassination) until it happens.

Released on: 20th Aug, 2011