Skip to main content

Bangalore Days - Movie Review: Fun Filled Entertainer, Nivin Pauly and Parvathy Menon are the Show Stoppers

Anjali Menon's "Bangalore Days" is a fun-filled, entertainer. It revolves around three cousins whose lives change when they shift to Bangalore. The film is directed by Anjali Menon who has worked in films such as "Ustad Hotel" and "Manjadikuru."   If you have seen the two movies mentioned here, you will have high expectations from Bangalore Days. You won’t be disappointed. Not one bit.
 So, what makes this such an engaging movie that we can connect with?
It is not the actors, actresses, the music (nothing refreshing, tried too hard to sound officially retro! ) or even the story line. It’s the emotional edge, the reality tucked into dialogues, expressions and situations. 
Bangalore Days: STORY
"Bangalore Days" revolves around three cousins Arjun (Dulquer), Kuttan (Nivin Pauly) and Divya (Nazriya Nazim). Besides the lead actors, the film also includes Fahadh Faasil, Isha Talwar, Nithya Menon and Parvathy Menon in good roles. significant roles. Other supporting actors who add a ‘zing’ factor to the film include Sajid Yahiya, Vijayaraghavan, Prathap Pothen, Kalpana and Praveena. The supporting cast is near-perfect.
Like most cousins,  the three cousins share a close bond since their childhood though their parents are at loggerheads, typical as it would be in any family. As they grow up, their relationship becomes stronger and firmer. When they all move to Bangalore for various reasons, the story takes you through how their life in Bangalore changes them.
So, this brings us to a question – can cities change people?
Bangalore Days indicates a clear YES! The change is not merely a surface change but one that brings forward a deeper, emotional connect. Admit it, haven't you changed when you moved from the city of your birth to the city of your choice? That change is beautifully rendered in Anjali Menon's 'Bangalore Days' and it even resonates with the supporting characters because when children change their ways, the parents change too. 

Bangalore Days brings to life this beautiful, bitter sweet metamorphosis we go through while embracing maturity and adulthood.

Bangalore Days: CHARACTERS & PERFORMANCES
You have Arjun (starring Dulquar) – who is rugged, lovable despite his roguish nature. Good body language and style displayed by Dulquar Salman. But it is the country-like innocence of Kuttan (starring Nivin Pauly) who wins your heart! He is the stickler for upholding “Kerala’s culture” and is shocked by the sight of smooching couples in Bangalore. His cousin teases him when he cites Kerala culture, by asking,
“Entha Keralathil aarum umma vekiley?” {Poor translation: Don’t couples in Kerala ever kiss?} And Kuttan says, “Never in public.” 

You begin to feel happy when ‘Cute Kuttan’ loses his heart to this cool , half-Malayali girl whom he spends the night with……playing Antakshari, by the way. He is the decent Malayali guy whom every girl would secretly love. Admit it, you would, despite the oil-slicked hair, the hesitation and a slight lack of confidence, you will like him. Because good guys can never be not liked. Even by the so-called, self-glorified bad girls.

Then there is Kunju, whose proper name is Divya (starring Nazariya). She is the girl-next-door with dreams and aspirations but she is quickly married off before she can make her dreams come true. All because the family astrologer says so. Don't smirk. Education and literacy, by the way, has nothing to do with common sense. You probably know that already!

Divya finds a way to see a silver lining in every struggle after marriage. There are some lovely moments in the film but I felt that Nazariya did not do justice to the character ‘Divya.’ This is because she looks, moves and behaves like a much pampered child (not even a teen!) than a woman. Nazariya’s acting feels like she is acting and trying too hard. 

There is Kunju’s ‘restrained’ husband (starring Fahad) who is so work-focused, restrained and still not recovered from a past relationship that you want to throttle him for his insensitivity. The way he eats, drives a car, moves around the house –everything reminds you of an intolerant perfectionist. Fahadh, being a fine actor, gets the nuances perfect too.
These three cousins have their weaknesses that make them deeply vulnerable, flawed people but they strike a chord with us – the audience – because we have them too.
But at the end of the film, there are two impressive actors whose performances still linger in your mind. It is Nivin Pauly and Parvathy Menon.
There is tremendous maturity displayed in Parvathy Menon's acting, voice rendering, dialogues and expressions –  the sparkle in her eyes, the mischief in her smile, the pain in her bubbly voice and the love she feels for a man whom her mother would obviously disapprove of. She makes you feel raw, exposed and you know you may have felt all of these things at some time too. 
What makes RJ Sarah stand out is that she does not play the victim, she carries herself with remarkable exuberance as a real star – confident, intelligent and poised. And she is in a wheelchair. 
Who cannot but fall in love with her portrayal of RJ Sarah? I LOVED it!
Sometimes a movie goes beyond what it conveys. It becomes a part of what you feel during and after you have watched it. So, that’s one more reason to go and watch Anjali Menon’s “Bangalore Days” – it rocks!
P.S. Take all your cousins with you. They will love you for it.

Comments

Asha said…
loved the movie through your review. I will try to watch this.
jk said…
NGDCs .. Me too saw that movie .. didn't seem that impressive as expected compared to Anajali Menon's Kerala Café story .. but then interesting concept adapted on "Anthakshari" .. Makes me think about strategically deriving out what all can be the threads and contours of a Super Structure on Perpetual Dating Relationship with Polygamy (without any commitments..) .. entertaining to the extent mutually beneficial with multiple relationship fronts .. Probably to have it in Practice other than Meta level perhaps Laws on Live In relationships also might need to be more explicit .. Polygamy aspects in Dating discussed in the movie (.. probably it was also shown in the English Movie Original Sin with the lead actress Angelina Jolie.. but then there probably extending beyond "Anthakshari" in Physical World creates a lot of problems with such a theme ..) with "Anthakshari" or even "Zen Thiruvathira Kali" etc maybe something 2 think about .. In original classical dating relationship themes too physical relationship is prohibited .. For that the institutions like marriage etc are perhaps provided 2 reduce the probable conflicts .. Maybe Muslim Community some how incorporates the aspects of polygamy into their system with easy divorces .. but conventional Christian Systems may want things in some Black and White Terms .. your review prompted this rant .. just for some funny analogies only ..

https://www.facebook.com/iMightLikeItDoNotMeanIagreeWithThat/posts/474821122651654 ..
Anonymous said…
Didn't like the movie.. Ustad Hotel was so much better. This was just an airy movie with too many plots. Wasnt as good as all the reviews claim..
Unknown said…
Thank you very much for the malayalam movie information!!! :) :) :) Its great to know lot from your blog, keep posting more articles with good pictures. Definetly your blog is a sharing with friends type. Meanwhile I will also get to lots oflatest Kerala news in malayalam from this new blog. Have a Good Day!

Most Popular Posts

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences.  [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste.  You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this  new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being born

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting Deepam at Home Collating most queries related to how to light the deepam at home, I'v

Gayatri Mantra as Panchamukhi: Get it right or let it go

Most people do not understand the importance of chanting the Gayatri mantra because they are not aware of its power. It is only when I began to read Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings that I learned how sacred and powerful the chanting of the Gayatri mantra is.    The Vedas represent the breath of God. The Gayatri mantra is the very basis of the Vedas. Try not to undertake chanting the Gayatri mantra as a light endeavor or as a hobby. It has to be chanted with faith, discipline and purity of mind and body. Be steady with your sadhana if you want to reap the spiritual dividend associated with the Gayatri mantra  and never once hesitate once you decide to do it.  Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba said that the Gayatri Mantra is referred to as Pancha Mukhi, the Goddess with five faces that represent the five pranas or life forces. Here's more on it. .  Also read: The Power of OM   Chant the Gayatri Mantra correctly: Pause Five Times Here are some important thi

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra: Meaning, Benefit of Chanting and Who can Chant the Mantra

Mahadmrityunjaya Mantra: Benefit of chanting this mantra There are very few mantras that are as powerful as the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. Do read my post: Does Mahamrityunajaya mantra really work?       Mahamrityunjaya mantra is believed to have the power to remove all sufferings, diseases and bestow the one who chants it with good health and long life.   It is also believed that constant contemplation of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra can help spiritual aspirants to overcome the cycle of birth and death. What got me fascinated about this mantra is something personal.  I learned this mantra from my father but it is my maternal grandmother who chanted it all the time and repeatedly told me of its tremendous power to protect. However, I did not chant this mantra regularly.  At the age of two, my son was taught some mantras by my mother who explained what it means to him and he became very enthusiastic about chanting the mantras. Following this, my mother taught him the Maha Mrityun

Saree Woes 2

Our earlier discussion on Saree Woes really perked up my spirits. A big thanks to all of you for pepping me up. Okay, here's the good news. There was an unexpected late night party that I had to attend in Gurgaon. To be honest, I haven't had the time or energy to attend any such parties after Adi was born. I was sure I wouldn't have the confidence to make conversation with the glitterati, let alone feel confident to carry off wearing a saree. This is one of those parties where you have to be dressed very formally. Well, at the end of a working woman's day, you hardly feel ready to attend one of these parties looking like a moron, right? So, with very little preparation and very few hours left, I called on all the gods in Heaven to help me look a little younger and prettier since I don't have the magic to look young all on my own. Although I was tempted to wear one of my awesome Kancheevaram treasures, I knew it would be very difficult to drape it without any h