URUMI:: The boy who wanted to kill vasco da gama

URUMI Movie Review 2011-03-31 04:03:56 'Urumi' directed by Santosh Sivan, written by Shankar Ramakrishnan, and produced by Prithviraj, Shaji Natesan, and Santosh Sivan under their new production company, August Cinema released in 70plus theatres with a big bang. It stars Prithviraj, Genelia D'SouzaPrabhu Deva and Nithya Menon, and features Vidya Balan, Arya and Tabu in cameo appearances. The film is being made at a budget of more than 20 crore rupees, making it the second most expensive Malayalam film ever made after Pazhassi Raja. The outline of the film says the backdrop of the fierce warrior clans of Northern Kerala in the sixteenth century and focuses on the cult of a hero Chirakkal Kelu Nayanar (Prithviraj) - a man with an epic mission. His target and mission is Dom Vasco da Gama, the Viceroy of Portuguese Empire in India. The film is spread between the second and third visit of Gama to India and chronicles a varied version of how Gama could have met a bloody death in AD 1524. In the journey of Kelu- the warrior he has to encounter the seem less conflicts within the kinsmen and also Kings, ministers, peasants and a warring Muslim warrior princess Ayesha (Genelia) of the famed Arackal Sultanat. Kelu has a forte, a legendary golden Urumi, specially made from the left over ornaments of the dead women and children who were burnt alive in the massacre of a Mecca Ship, Miri, commanded to be set on fire and drowned by Vasco da Gama during his second visit to Kerala in AD 1502. Kelu is supported by Vavvali, (Prabhudeva), his childhood friend and in a way his elder brother, though he comes from the muslim neighborhood. The film also has mystical characters like Vidya Balan, who plays Makkom, a displaced Devi Diety in the Oracle form. Kelu tracks his mission through the wily roads of treachery, treason and a hidden passion to reach a master plan to create his own army - an army of the people - against the mighty Empire. His action in creating an organized revolt becomes the first of its kind movement against the first Colonial Advance in India. The film takes the structure of ballad. The main highlight of the movie is its fabulous script by Shankar Ramakrishnan. It has to be, because though the story is interesting,and Veteran Santhosh Sivan's camera eyes gives the life too. The movie occurs in frames, which aren’t always perfectly connected together. The movie longs more than two and half hour, but can’t wondering if maybe there’s a longer cut of it out there somewhere, one which does a better job of creating depth by putting more in those gaps. First and foremost the film is breathtakingly beautiful. It’s a visual masterpiece by Santhosh Sivan and crew. More than performances, the script rules the flick. Prithviraj's Chirakkal Kelu Nayanar dominates the film, his presence is palpable whenever he’s on screen. Talents presented by Prithvi like horse riding, sword fighting, dances are highly impressive. Another wonderful performance quoted is of Genelia. Till Urumi she is just a bubbly heroine to the audience, bt through Arakkal Ayesha she proves, she can she will do more powerful roles. The supporting role by Prabhudeva seems interesting with his situational comedies and excellent actions.As usual he is known for his acting talents once again proved his mettle by playing powerful role of Vavalli. The cunning role of Chenichery Kurup by Jagathy Sreekumar perfectly suits to the story. Nithya Menon's Chirakyal Bala, Amol Gupta's Chirakyal Thampuran, Vidya Balan's Makkom adds the ectra clarity for the flick. The ensemble of the supporting casts like Vasco da gama and others are also used well. Prithviraj, Genelia, VidyaBalan, NithyaMenon, Prabhudeva,Jagathy Sreekumar and some casts to be seen in two different getups, can say thats the difference of 'Urumi' from other historical films. The cast's two different get ups is going to entertain everybody, stills having seen in this movie we can understand that this movie is going to be with high technical values, one would be life a warrior, other would be in natural get up . The producers Shaji Nadeshan, Santhosh Sivan, Prithviraj, Director Santhosh Sivan and other technicians such as music director Deepak Dev, script writer Shankar Ramakrishnan,cinematographer and the people involved in techincal and art effects must be appreciated for making such a great film.Music by Deepak Dev compliments the pulse of the movie with some adrenalin pumping and entertaining music. Can conclude entire episode amazes the audiences by showing the new era to old era. "URUMI ENTERTAINS FROM START TO FINISH. A MASTER CLASS EFFORT FROM THE URUMI CREW. Verdict: SURE MEGA HIT.

Urumi - Review ...A Visual treat for 170 minutes 2011-03-31 Watched Urumi from Attingal Thapasya... Status:Balcony full....First class-90% (Approx) :P Went for the movie with sky high expectations...and I have no doubt to say that Santhosh Sivan didnot disappoint me.. :D Direction: People talk a lot about Hariharan's direction in PazhassiRaja..But I strongly feel that he couldn't exploit M.T's script which had a lot of doors to show the real director's power...BUt Hariharan was a bit failiure in that...Think its because of not so good cinematography of the film..Though both Urumi and PR are films of same genre,what makes Urumi a special one and something better than PR is the visual treat by the renown cinematographer Santhosh Sivan.But he somehow concentrate too much on the visuals than the script..and that gave birth to some unnecessary songs that destroyed the pace of the film...I mean the songs of Prithvi-Genelia ;) combination and that of Prabhudeva-Nithya Menon were unnessary...But they made our mouth wide open with the visuals...7-8 songs for a film like Urumi was really a waste...And the script doesnot demand any songs!!!With a perfect script like this I dunno why Santhosh Sivan bothered to add songs to estabish something like the relationship between the characters! :P .But at the same time it had a perfect casting.The film dragged at the first beginning of the second half..Made a feeling that he has almost forgot the plot after a few scenes in the second half..He was too bothered to establish the relationship between the hero and heroine in the beginning of second half..Also the director presented a cold blooded villain inspite this being a film based on the history. :P The climax scenes reminded me of Pazhassiraja :-o .. and the Kelu's death reminded me of Raavanan :D (confused !! :P) But the post climax scenes is the gem of the film..It has a good message!! What the director and scrit writer wanted to convey to the audience was narrated simply.!Thats were I should give a hats off to Santhosh Sivan! :) applause .. If that scenes weren't there in the movie...my review would have been different as Pazhassiraja is still in my heart :P Vidya Balan was also wasted.Minimized her with the song..that song too was unnecessary which spoiled the thrill that the director created after the capture of Gama's son :( . I know she was just a messenger for him...But he could have avoided the song which received a lot of applause!!! You will know why ;) The entire film co relates past and present..It has a message which is missing in many movies of this category. The film expresses its concerns about the new IT and other projects that foreigners start here..Is it also for our land??Are they slowly capturing us like in the past? The film ends by expressing this concern indirectly...And by using the same actors for the characters in the 15 th century and 21st ...the director brilliantly convey that people in both the ears are same though the scenario is different :D Script: Sankar Ramakrishan adopts an old technique to narrate the story...HE doesn't have any other choice...Narration!!! But Arya's narration was just for less than 40 minutes..Both director and script writer completely forgot that the story is being narrated by a third person..Even in the second half they weren't bothered to show that this story is being narrated..(Body guard mistake :D)They might have their ow reasons for that..But I coudn't digest it :D..Also the film was too racy and had an unusual pace in narrating a big story...The characters were not even fully established in the minds of audience when the introduction was over.And thats a big fault from both of them. Technical Perfection: Sreekar Prasad is one of the best editors in Malayalm Movie industry..And he proved it again...!! BGM of the film was really awesome..I think it had an A.R.Rahman touch.Hats off to Deepak Dev! He has a lot of potential.! Prithviraj was simply superb..His voice modulation was really great..I felt that he was transformed 100% to Kelu Nair...Genelia was awesome.. :P Nithya Menon and Prabhudeva acted well...The locations were also great...!Forgot to mention about the waterfall scene..!!Thought I was viewing a hollywood flick! :P Verdict: A sure Hit :) Rating-8.5/10