Shakesphere M A – Jayasurya, Kalabhavan Mani, Roma, Jagathy, Salimkumar, Suraj Venjaaramoodu, Rajan P Dev, Siddhique, Anoop Chandran
Director - Shaiju - Shaji
'Shakespeare M A Malayalam' is an interesting mix of comedy and pathos. Coming from the debutante duo Shaiju-Shaji this movie brings together almost all the major comedians of Malayalam filmdom. It boasts refreshingly engaging plot lines that evoke continuous laughs, good technical support, background scores and winsome dialogues. Shakepeare M A Malayalam has no larger-than-life heroes, no loud villains or no catchy punchlines...it leaves a feel-good impression of comic escapism with much-needed dose of humor and spirits.
The film revolves around Pavithran, the award-winning playwright of Jayabharathi Theatres. "The entire world is a stage and all the men and women merely players" - the movie's plot follows this Shakespearean quote verbatim. Pavithran writes about people he comes in contact waith and about those he knows personally. This penchant for presenting real-life characters on stage earned him the sobriquet 'Shakespeare Pavithran.'
As Pavithran is grappling with a creator's block, with little time to writing the drama for the new season, Kottayam Gopalan, the lead actor, director and owner of Jayabharathi Theatres convinces Pavithran to visit a remote village of Kakkathuruthu. He is accompanied by a group of actors including Sugunan (Salim Kumar), and Sarasan (Anoopchandran), who crave for meaty roles and want to support Pavithran in his battle over his temporary slump in writing. While Pavithran waits for days without any promising themes, he comes across Alli, a young country girl, loaded with her share of grave problems. Pavithran impressed by Alli, as a gullible character who can be interestingly transformed to stage, bases his new play - 'Prakasham Parathunna Penkutty' - on her. He mulls over her woes and tribulations and guides her as he would shape the destinies of his characters onstage. But what Pavithran is heading to, is the most unexpected piece of drama that his life has never ever witnessed.
The movie has a refreshingly different plot by Rajesh K Raman, scripted by the director duo Shaiju -Shaji with support from Jiju Ashok. The movie does have clichéd characters and the typical masalas associated with Mollywood packaging. But the intrinsic humour in the writing and the immensely likeable characters win over us, especially in the first half. The latter half is a little drag, but don't takes off the liveliness of the movie, even though the intended surprise in the climax is not so promising.
With a revolting, sugary sense of comedy, the movie appears disjointed at times, also due to the intense pace in the proceedings. Like the rags - turn - riches sequences in the later half, which happens in a matter of few days. But as a comedy flick, it is above par, with a mixture of hilarity, leaving us hooked to almost through the entire proceedings.
Jayasuriya is in his element breezing through the light-hearted episodes. Roma also dons a different role as Alli with spontaneity. It is also heartening to see Kalabahavan Mani, back to a humorous role after a couple of years. But the real stars of 'Shakesphere M A Malayalam' - are the comedians who steal a march over the central characters with their impeccable timing, be it in the incredible Jagathy Sreekumar as Thoothukudy Thulaseedas to the obligatory Suraj venjaramoodu as junior ONV and Salim Kumar in a hilarious role of an actor longing for animated embraces from his female leads. Anoop Chandran as Sarasan, a School of Drama product excited by the riddles of every encounters in life, is one of the best roles that he has ever essayed.
Jibu Jacob supports the promising debut of the directors with good visuals, while Mohan Sithara's songs may not be chart toppers, but effortlessly merge with the situations. A deserving mention must also be made of 'Kannan, who praiseworthy works on the background scores has supported the director duo immensely, to aim rightly on the funny bone.
As Pavithran is grappling with a creator's block, with little time to writing the drama for the new season, Kottayam Gopalan, the lead actor, director and owner of Jayabharathi Theatres convinces Pavithran to visit a remote village of Kakkathuruthu. He is accompanied by a group of actors including Sugunan (Salim Kumar), and Sarasan (Anoopchandran), who crave for meaty roles and want to support Pavithran in his battle over his temporary slump in writing. While Pavithran waits for days without any promising themes, he comes across Alli, a young country girl, loaded with her share of grave problems. Pavithran impressed by Alli, as a gullible character who can be interestingly transformed to stage, bases his new play - 'Prakasham Parathunna Penkutty' - on her. He mulls over her woes and tribulations and guides her as he would shape the destinies of his characters onstage. But what Pavithran is heading to, is the most unexpected piece of drama that his life has never ever witnessed.