Spanish Masala: Why I Liked It

Spanish Movie is a film I enjoyed watching because it is a romantic comedy. For one who likes both romance and comedy, it is a refreshing blend, a brief sojourn into a dream like world. After all, how long can one thrive on the heavy dose of realistic movies? I appreciate them but at the end of a very tough day, I am not sure those are the movies I look forward to. I want to laugh, smile and feel like the heroine instead. This movie does it.

But to break it down into specific reasons, here's why I recommend this film:

The Director & his Presentation - Lal Jose

I never like to miss a Lal Jose film. It always has something to look forward to. I also like his casting. He usually gets it absolutely perfect. Right from the film's trailors, the film had a positive buzz. Also, the fact that the Dileep-Lal Jose duo were coming together after a long time made it something of a visual treat to anticipate. I've always felt that Lal Jose has a distinct style of repackaging something that's there into something one looks forward  and to unwrapping. This movie too is not new in its theme but the presentation of romance, betrayal and the gap between the haves and have-nots is unique.

Dileep's hilarious sense of timing in Spanish Masala Story

Dileep makes us smile and laugh with his antics in this film. He does mimicry to make Camilla smile. He has a great sense of timing. He makes our hearts melt when he is treated worse than a servant but endures it. 

There's a scene where he plays chess with his employer hesitantly and gets all hyperactive with obvious glee when he is winning, and in the process of laughter, he forgets he is laughing at the boss himself. He does those scenes with natural flourish and that is his signature style, one that resonates with every Malayali.


Kunchacko Boban

How many girls can resist Kunchacko's boyish charm without the typical male 'i am your gift from god' arrogance? Come on, be honest. Well, there's a scene where he does a theatric dialogue-dance presentation with great flourish stating, 'Camilla, nee evidey aanu?' I loved the ways he presented it, even the most hard hearted, tough girl would smile at the way he's done it. There's so much charm that is so hard to resist. His characterization is sketchy, grainy and sometimes doesn't match well with what is initially shown of him but he's tried to do this differently. For a soft hero-like person, it's quite bold to do the kind of negative role he does. However, a repetition of negative roles may not do wonders for further elevating his comeback to Malayalam cinema.

A New Heroine

Malayalam films have either the typical Malayali heroine or the heroine who's from another state and is made to somehow act like a Malayali. In this film, we see the new heroine, Daniella who has her own refreshing personality and beauty. She fits in well with the character she represents. Lal Jose has got the casting right. She adds a sparkle and shine to the film throughout.

Spanish Masala Story

Charlie (starring Dileep), goes to Spain as part of a mimicry stage troupe but he gets lost, finds his way to a restaurant where his 'Spanish Masala' dosa becomes an instant hit. Following this, he is chosen to work as a cook at the Spanish Ambassador’s house. That is  where he meets Camilla, the Ambassador’s daughter Camilla (starring Daniella). He feels sympathetic and considerate towards her on hearing that she had lost her eyesight in an accident, following her lover's death sometime ago. He brings back her lover Rahul (starring Kunchacko Boban) to life by mimicking him and thereby becomes closer to Camilla. 

Spain in a Malayalam Film

While we may have seen some of Spain’s highlights in Bollywood films, we haven't seen it like this in a Malayalam film. I felt that bullfight, La Tomatino Festival and the Flamenco dance are well shot. The beauty of Spain and its culture does come alive even in the background music scores throughout the movie. It offers a refreshing, new experience to romance.  

Spanish Masala Music
I liked the background score and songs in Spanish Masala and the way it was picturised, particularly the song featuring Kunchacko Boban and Daniella. That was beautiful.

Let Downs

The first half of Spanish Masala is full of fun and delight. But the second half is slow and in some places, it seemed to lack direction and ended somhow to reach a very clichéd climax. That is a let down of sorts from Lal Jose.  

Should You Watch Spanish Masala?

I liked Spanish Masala. It's shot well. It's got a good star cast. It's got a decent script. You can excuse the loose ends and the cliched ending. It's a decent, entertainer and an average film without the usual buffoonery and cheap, double edged jokes we hear in Malayalam movies these days. Families and kids can watch it without flinching or worrying about the use of swear words. Go ahead, take your family to watch it. I'd say this dish is certainly worth sampling.