Power-packed pulp patriotism

This is no patriotic flick. Taking its title from Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s song, Aravind Karthik’s Vande Mataram touts itself as investigative thriller.

It’s double dhamaka for fervid fans as Mammootty and Arjun Sarja throw themselves into thick of things.

With blazing guns firing all cinders, fighting fists, flying kicks, somersault assaults, debutant director Aravind Karthik delivers a high adrenaline stuff giving the diehards a heady high.  

The big-budgeted bilingual ballyhoo brims with box office broth setting the theatres afire as deliriously fans go gaga, gleefully goading their heroes’ onscreen bravado in full zest.  With emphasis more on high-decibel volatile action ‘Vande Mataram’ turns into a crackling contest for eyeballs between Mammootty and Arjun Sarja & co., as they go about decimating and thwarting the villainous designs of terrorists bent on creating havoc on India. Of course, to provide balm for eyes and soothen frayed nerves, Sneha and Sharadha Arya do the honours swaying to D Imman’s tunes.

The high point of Vande Mataram though is its climax which culminates in the elimination of the terror group and its mastermind Malik.

With Mammootty and Arjun in the line of duty, story, script et al can go for a sixer.
Vive la! the duo. Vive la! Vande Mataram. Simply sing Vande Mataram.