Saluting the memory and paying tribute to iconic 19th Century Norwegian poet-playwright Henrik Johan Isben, eminent Malayalam director K P Kumaran, known for women-centric films, has brought onto celluloid Isben’s monumental play Master Builder.

Set in the idyllic and picturesque London parks, lakes, pastoral villas and dales, caught fetchingly in all its ethereal beauty by Santosh Thundiyil (a painterly pastel delight), Kumaran’s AakashaGopuram captures faithfully 1892 drama of an ambitious middle-aged architect. The man through singular pursuit of his passion has reached the pinnacle of his profession. Such is his overarching desire to be the coveted one he does not provide his assistant freedom, lest he be eclipsed by the younger ilk. His mental turmoil and personal misgivings take their toll on his wife as also his incapacitated former boss from whom he has snatched the status. A vivacious girl, however, enters into this melancholic milieu slowly counselling him to temper his vaulting ambition and pursue real happiness but with tragic consequences.

Kumaran, while inspired by Ibsen’s concern about women and real life issues and psychological dynamics of human nature the play offered, sadly renders AakashaGopuram dull and dry verbose drama, than light up with more lively action play. Despite boasting of seasoned stars such as Mohanlal, Bharat Gopi, Sreenivasan, it fails to sparkle and strike a chord coming across as a play picturised than a moving cinema. Titanic-fame John Altman’s background score is sheer bliss to the ears. Still, kudos to Kumaran’s sincerity and commitment, international collaboration, spend and rich, tasteful tapestry, AakashaGopuram is worth a dekko than the wanton trash foisted with week after week.

S. Viswanath