I was just browsing online this weekend when I realized ‘Vettah’ is playing in the nearby cineplex. When I saw the poster, I recollected it was Rajesh Pillai’s last movie. Six years ago, when I was in Kerala, I remember watching ‘Traffic’ (review here) and how it was the game changer in the Malayalam movie industry, allowing the new genre ‘new generation cinema’ to be stamped on all the future experiments. The number of movies releasing in a year, the numerous unidentifiable debutants in the industry, there was a notable wholescale change to approaching movies. Movies with teams averaging in the mid 20s were becoming a set pattern as actor oriented movies started disappearing from the face of Kerala.
I did not watch the trailer of this movie, nor did I know who were the lead in this till I went to the theater. But there was a sense of anticipation, a prejudice that I will leave the theater as glad I was after watching Traffic.
Six children in a family group of 14 shared the row with me. As the movie started unwinding, there were specks of extra marital affairs scattered with no moment of laughter, song shots at all in the first half. There was a plot, a good one, slowly unwinding as it kept the audience captivated throughout. The kids were not jumping around or fussy, all serious. The starring line up commands attention as the resurrected Manju Warrier looked elegant and professional as an IPS officer. Kunchacko Boban and Indrajit Sukumaran play equally key roles in the movie and it is definitely a treat. Vijayaraghavan is an actor I really like and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves, when he does decide to call it quits.
Shaan did the background score and music direction. I am a huge fan of his; he creates music which always has a Godly essence to it and I went crazy listening to Rinu Razak delivering his songs in Om Shanti Oshana. And this time around, he gives her another peach of a song, which is simple yet got a transcending effect in the context of the storyline.
The first malayalam movie to watch in Kuwait after coming here, maybe not for the kids, but definitely watch it for Rajesh Pillai. I will miss his storytelling. May your soul rest in peace bro.
Varun Babu M.D. 