Thursday 5 May 2011

Chinatown (2011) - Malayalam Movie Review

Chinatown (2011) - Malayalam Movie Review

Cast and Crew :

Starring : Mohanlal, Jayaram, Dileep, Pradeep Rawat, Captain Raju, Kavya Madhavan, Poonam Bajwa, Dipasha, Shankar, Shanavas, Jose, Jagathi Sreekumar, Maya Viswanath, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Bindu Asokan, Lakshmi, Deepu Karunakaran
Directed by : Rafi Mecartin
Produced by : Antony Perumbavoor
Written by : Rafi Mecartin
Singers : M. G. Sreekumar, K. S. Chithra, Jassie Gift, Manjari, Rajalakshmi, Afsal, Pradeep Palluruthy, Ranjith, Rijiya, Kavalam Sreekumar
Lyricist : Anil Panachooran
Music by : Jassie Gift
Cinematography : Azhagappan
Editing by : Don Max
Studio : Aashirvad Cinemas
Distributed by : Aashirvad Release through Maaxlab


If you are a great fan of comedy film and don't care much about the logic, Rafi Mecartin's multi-starrer China Town is yours! As a comedy film, it meets the expectations very well till the break, but the second half doesn’t live up to the mark and in the process, it breaks your heart.

China Town largely had great potential to amuse the audience with an overwhelming level of humour as the cast comprised megastar Mohanlal, Dileep, Jayaram and the comedy prince Suraaj Venjaramood, but the film emerged as a dull affair altogether and it seems to have even failed to please Mohanlal fans.

China Town begins with a story of four friends who run a gambling shop in Goa back in the 80s. Quite a sight to see Mohanlal with co-stars of the 80s Shankar, Prem Navas and Captain Raju gamboling in their bell bottoms and prancing in care-free hippy style. The flash back ends with a gross murder that ends their lives. But one of them survives along with their 3 sons. No, no revenge this time when the kids grow up! The survivor brings up the three kids – Lal, Jayaram and Dileep.

Jayaram (Zacharia) in an unusual gluttonous role played very well except for an awkward wig. Dileep (Binoy), a jobless Romeo, gives a good performance. Mohanlal (as Mathukkutti) is a wanna be ‘Don’. Kavya Madhavan plays Rosamma and she does a fair role except in a few scenes. The first half rocks with a lot of interesting scenes and the tempo is excellent. In the second half, Captain Raju (survivor) brings these three sons to Goa - China Town - to give them back their gambling shop. The villain is still around – bigger and meaner. The slide begins somewhere here.

In the second half, we get an impression that the film has some similarities with Hollywood flick Hangover and the inclusion of the Hangover story by the script writer (the director himself) is the biggest flaw in the movie. Introduction of Ranjini and all the reality show contestants probably was a touch unnecessary. Suraaj is okay in the comic role, but what extra comedy can he bring up when the film already has Mohanlal, Jayaram and Dileep?

The film has music by Jassi Gift and he has done some impressive songs. Editing and special effects are quite interestingly done. All in all, an excellent first half, but a disappointing second is all about China Town.

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