<p>Touted as the first-ever anthological production in Malayalam cinema, ‘Kerala Café’ is more of an experiment and less of merriment. Of course, it has a few touching stories of contemporary relevance. But the flippant ones that give the bitterness of boredom can’t be overlooked. All are loosely threaded together with a humdrum cafeteria as their common resting point.<br /><br />The package opens with ‘Nostalgia’ directed by Padmakumar. Dileep in the lead plays an NRI. <br /><br />He is neither paternal nor filial and tactfully eludes hangers-on.<br /><br />‘Island Express’ spurs sad memories of the Peruman train tragedy, but the cast looks over-crowded and the plot appears high-brow. ‘Off Season’ also seems falling flat with clichéd Suraj humour and a flimsy storyline.<br /><br />In ‘Subha Yatra’ Jagathy Sreekumar emotes effortlessly the role of an insurance agent whose prime hobby is ogling beautiful gals.<br /><br />Suresh Gopi in ‘Lalitham Hiranmayam’ is a distraught married man caught in a love triangle. <br /><br />‘Mritunjayam’ brings to us some spooky images and mystery that shrouds a haunted ‘mana’, while in ‘Aviraman’ we see an IT entrepreneur weighed down by debts in recession times. ‘Bridge’ and ‘Makal’ have realistic heart-rending moments. Both tell the torrid tale of separation. ‘Makal’ directed by Revathy has a strong, poignant theme of child trade.<br /><br />‘Puram Kazchakal’ is the last in the sequence, where Mammooty and Srinivasan make their presence. It is a hint at fleeting love, generation-gap and lack of civic sense.<br />Director Ranjith’s concept may seem odd to everyman, but ‘Kerala Café’ could be better watched as a café serial!<br /><br /></p>
<p>Touted as the first-ever anthological production in Malayalam cinema, ‘Kerala Café’ is more of an experiment and less of merriment. Of course, it has a few touching stories of contemporary relevance. But the flippant ones that give the bitterness of boredom can’t be overlooked. All are loosely threaded together with a humdrum cafeteria as their common resting point.<br /><br />The package opens with ‘Nostalgia’ directed by Padmakumar. Dileep in the lead plays an NRI. <br /><br />He is neither paternal nor filial and tactfully eludes hangers-on.<br /><br />‘Island Express’ spurs sad memories of the Peruman train tragedy, but the cast looks over-crowded and the plot appears high-brow. ‘Off Season’ also seems falling flat with clichéd Suraj humour and a flimsy storyline.<br /><br />In ‘Subha Yatra’ Jagathy Sreekumar emotes effortlessly the role of an insurance agent whose prime hobby is ogling beautiful gals.<br /><br />Suresh Gopi in ‘Lalitham Hiranmayam’ is a distraught married man caught in a love triangle. <br /><br />‘Mritunjayam’ brings to us some spooky images and mystery that shrouds a haunted ‘mana’, while in ‘Aviraman’ we see an IT entrepreneur weighed down by debts in recession times. ‘Bridge’ and ‘Makal’ have realistic heart-rending moments. Both tell the torrid tale of separation. ‘Makal’ directed by Revathy has a strong, poignant theme of child trade.<br /><br />‘Puram Kazchakal’ is the last in the sequence, where Mammooty and Srinivasan make their presence. It is a hint at fleeting love, generation-gap and lack of civic sense.<br />Director Ranjith’s concept may seem odd to everyman, but ‘Kerala Café’ could be better watched as a café serial!<br /><br /></p>
