Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu First Show First Impression: An Unexciting Drama With Very Few Redeeming Qualities

 Language: Malayalam

Cast: Pranav Mohanlal, Zaya David, Manoj K. Jayan, Kalabhavan Shajon

Director: Arun Gopy

1) Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu is fun. But only if you abandon any hopes of enjoying the movie and switch midway to a game of "Spot The Mohanlal Reference." From Spadikam to Naran, from Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu to Kireedom, it's all in there.

2) Aadhi, in hindsight, seems a very clever film now. It shied away from scenes involving a lot of emotional heft and focussed instead on its thrilling screenplay and some great action. This is a strategy Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu too could have followed to hide the cracks in Pranav's performance.

3) An extremely long time is spent developing a sub-plot involving Appu's (Pranav) father Baba (Manoj K Jayan) and how he owes a don a lot of money. And for what? Apart from a hero introduction scene, this whole bit contributes nothing to the film.

4) The film is quite easy on the eyes, thanks to the work of DOP Abinandhan Ramanujam. It makes the film a lot more tolerable.

5) One can't think of a single comedy scene that works. The actor who plays Pranav's friend is asked to do all the heavy lifting. But he fails…and how.

Also Read: Baradwaj Rangan's Review Of Aadhi

6) Zaya, who plays Zaya in the film, has quite an interesting character in the film. She certainly looks the part, but she flounders in scenes where she's required to hit heavy emotional beats, much like the film's hero.

7) The songs are major speed breakers. There are two instances where they have tried to build tension only for it be interrupted, rudely, by songs. Terrible song placement all throughout.

8) Another major flaw is the dialogues. "Ithra manoharamaya nimishangal ente jeevithathil undayitilla." You either need great acting or a really ironical context to pull off such lines.

9) The film has a lot of things to say about "the society we live in". Religious violence, intolerance, women's safety. A lot of things are thrown at us but nothing sticks.

10) Barring a couple of action scenes, this is a film with almost no redeemable qualities. It's so disappointing that it demands that we rewatch Ramaleela. Was the film actually good or was it just the whole controversy during its release that made it interesting?