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Malayalam Movie Review: Run Baby Run cashes in on "Reuters Venu"



The PVR Mahagun Mall was packed with a crowd of Malayalis who had gathered to watch Director Joshiy’s Run Baby Run, starring Mohanlal and Amala Paul. The excitement and anticipation was almost electric. Right from the beginning, this film takes you through a gripping portrayal of how warring TV news channels stoop to new lows so that they can 'break news.'  It also reveals the media gimmicks involved, the conflicts and the greed for name, fame and money among other things.

Reuters Venu: A Lovable, Irreverent Professional Cameraman


Mohanlal plays the role of “Reuters Venu” who is a high profile news camera man who is wooed by all big TV channel during his short visits to Kochi. He  He is irreverent, funny and emotional at the same time.
The leading lady Amala Paul plays the role of a bold, aggressive and ambitios executive editor of ‘Bharath Vision.’ 

For a change, the leading lady’s make up and clothes are smartly done and not looking like they have been rented out from some dinghy shop that would cater to colourfully dressed characters.  Her body language is confident and poised. She has all the makings of some one who can be an Executive Producer in a TV channel, corporate style of course. 



At the beginning of the film, we are left to wonder for a while how she had started at a junior level and suddenly catapulted into the higher ranks but later the mystery is solved in bits and pieces. She minces no words. She deals ‘soft’ blows easily especially to colleagues. 

The tension between “Reuters Venu” and “Renuka” is well portrayed, electric and deeply sensual. The moment they are assigned to work together, we know that we can expect nothing less than well timed retorts, dialogues and yes, all the fireworks that is expected of a sizzling on-screen couple.

Run Baby Run: What I liked

Mohan Lal’s performance is simply awesome. He looks refreshed and stylish too. The dialogue delivery, the humor and the impeccable sense of timing came alive in his portrayal of the character ‘Reuteurs Venu.’  I liked the on screen chemistry with ‘Renuka,’ which sent the audience wild with clapping and cat calls. 


It was also good to see that Amala Paul has emerged from the cocoon and stood her ground in the presence of Mohan Lal, something that few actresses can accomplish naturally – examples would include Urvashy, Shobhana, Manju Warrier, Meera Jasmine among a few. However, the story could have fleshed out a meatier role for her and go beyond the obvious of portraying her as a sexy siren.  

I also liked Mohanlal’s song Aaattumanal.  He exercised tremendous voice control for this song. Besides voice control, the  rhythm, the tune and the overall picturisation were good. 

But what took me by real surprise is Biju Menon. For a change, he is looking more stylish, fitter and he is acting better. The role that he has in this film - he has fully absorbed it and portrayed it. He plays the role of the head of a newly born channel that is resorting to ‘low’ tactics to pay off the salaries of its team and is going through a severe financial crunch. He matched Lal's sense of timing in dialogue delivery with absolute perfection. The scenes and dialogues between Lal and Biju are a delight to watch.

Run Baby Run has several glitches particularly in its story line, particularly the second half of the movie. Towards the end, it becomes unnecessarily 'filmy' and predictable. I'd still say that overall this is a well made movie that has packed in many interesting ingredients that make it an entertaining, pacy movie to watch.  So, go ahead and watch it in the theaters. 

Comments

sounds worth watching adore your style of writing
Hi Rebecca, thank you so much. Yep, it's worth watching. :)
Swapna said…
Great review Swapna. Feel like watching it right now!! Seems like Mohanlal is back in form and even though I have never heard of Amala Paul, she seems a good actress. I wish I could teach my punju husband some malayalam quickly so that we could relish mallu films together. :)
Thanks, Swapna, do watch it if time permits. Wish our movies had subtitles so that it becomes easier to take loved ones with us to watch and enjoy together. I totally get your point on that!:)
jk said…
NGDCs .. Nice Read .. good spice mix to necessary level .. and a thoughtworthy CAption 2oo ..
Ha,ha...it took me quite some time to decide the caption so I am glad you mentioned it. Thank you, jk.
Arun said…
Nice post. I wanna watch Run Baby Run now

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