Three living legends reunites after 20 years! That was the initial hype for Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, for which Mammooty-M.T Vasudevan Nair-Hariharan team rejoined after classic “Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha”.  The names didn’t stop with these 3, again came big names like music director Ilayaraja, Sound design by Rasool Pookutty, Cinematography by Ramnathshetty, Action sequences by Ravi Dewan (Jodha Akbar fame) and Sarath Kumar playing the role of Pazhassi’s trusted lieutenant “Edachena Kunkan”. Apart from all these big names Pazhassi Raja is the costliest film ever made in Malayalam with Rs.27 Croore budget, which won producer Gokulam Gopalan instant fame as one of the biggest producers in Malayalam Film industry. Expectations build up to its peak when producer announced that Mohanlal,Kamalhassan and Sharuk Khan (in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi) will dub for the introductory sound which briefs about Pazhassi Raja and history.  Well we all were eagerly waiting for this release and question is if it lived up ?

The answer is “Pazhassi Raja is a Royal movie which is a tribute to the king and all his people who gave up their lives for fighting the mighty British for their rights,dignity and freedom“

This movie added another golden feather to Mammooty’s crown. He made a royal performance that suits a king and he gave it everywhere in delivering dialogues, looks and in fights. His screen presence and body language made this ease for him and he brilliantly utilized this in movie. Sarath Kumar really deserves an applause! He plays the role of “Edachena Kunakan” the right hand of Pazhassi Raja and commander to his army, his performance was mind blowing. Its not an exaggeration If I say he outshines Mammooty and wins the audience claps in war scenes, fight scenes and delivering some dialogues. Sarath Kumars screen presence was breathtaking at the scene where he commits suicide with a smashing dialogue and I saw theater full of loud applause from audience.  Manoj K Jayan (who plays character Thalakkal Chandu) and Padmapriya (who plays Neeli) gave wonderful performances and Manoj really made use of the character he was given. Suresh Krishna was also impressive as character “Kaikeri Ambu” and this movie will set him a new dimension in his career. Kaniha plays “Makkam” wife of Pazhassi Raja and has really nothing much to do other than supporting the king in tough times. Padmapriya outshines Kaniha when whole movie is taken account of and Suman (who plays the villainous character of “Pazhayamveedan” who supports the british and betrays Pazhassis men) was not at all impressive! All the English characters are brilliantly casted especially of the British East India Company’s major and sub collector characters.

M.T Vasudevan Nair is a born legend and one of the key factor in the success of this movie is his brilliantly written screenplay. Without such a clean, neat and well researched screenplay things wouldn’t have been this beautiful. His dialogues are masterpiece and my mind went back to “Oru Vadakkan Veeragada” many times comparing the beauty of dialogues. M.T still has the fire in him and is well clear from his dialogues. Movie is about 3 hours and ten minutes lengthy and its M. T ‘s talent that keeps the momentum of the movie and the audience seated with an excitement. Though he has done an amazing job, I don’t know why he twisted history a bit when it comes to death of Pazhassi Raja and Thalakal Chandu! Its recorded that Pazhassi Raja commited suicide by swallowing his ring  but M.T represented it as “shot killed by British” ( or is it a controversial subject ?). Looks like  he made it intentional for the success of movie!

Director Hariharan is the next key man who deserves a “hats off” for taking such a pain for making this movie. Almost all scenes of this movie has 50+ people in one frame and its his amazing skill that made this movie a reality. Shots are beautiful, realistic and the location beauty is awesome.  He managed to explain the history without much complexity and he kept the audience excited through out. This movie is another example for Rasool Pookuty’s magnificent talents and underlines his oscar victory. Ravi Dewan though made stunning action scenes especially all War sequences and fights with Sarath Kumar & Suman, he could have taken more care in jump shots using ropes. It looks bizarre! Ilayarajas music is interesting but not upto mark or upto his real talent. The last one’s but the real hero es who made all shots look stunning is cinematographers Ramnath Shetty and Venu. They have done a killer work and really really deserves praise.

All these big names and their master works made this movie a classic and is surely one of the golden movie of malayalam cinema. Pazhassi Raja is a must watch movie and if you miss, you miss one of best creations in malayalam cinema so far! Watch it in theaters asap!

RATING: 4.1/5

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