Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja

When the creative colossuses of the film world spawn a major product, expectations run high. One such epic venture, ‘Kerala Varma Pazhassiraja’, comes with a bang to satiate those hopes. MT-Hariharan-Mammootty trio’s regrouping after a decade has finally added yet another gem to Malayalam cinema.

The film, though a biopic of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja who lived in the late 18th century, explores different angles of human feelings and relationships. Pazhassiraja (Mamootty) when compared to Chanthu in ‘Oru Vadakkan Veera Gadha’ seems a more mellowed character. We get to see less of thought-provoking dialogues from the hero. The emphasis is more on the angst of the Raja who is at loggerheads with the British anarchy. The king, who has loved his sword more than his life to save his motherland and subjects, becomes a disturbed ruler in the end but history reckons him as a brave warrior.  Sarath Kumar who makes his debut in Malayalam film as Edasseri Kunkan seems the real show-stealer. The brainy and brawny  chief wins hearts through his onscreen words and deeds.

Padmapriya stuns us with some spring-loaded action sequences. Rasool Pookutty’s sound mixing gives the movie a Hollywood feel. Illayaraja who has helped singers sound best in the past, here again comes up with some soul-stirring hit songs.