Skip to main content

Movie Review: Fahad Fazil & Amala Paul Sizzle Together in Oru Indian Pranayakatha



It was a pleasure to watch Sathyan Anthikad's latest film "Oru Indian Pranayakadha" which marked the veteran director's clear departure from his signature style films. 
[Confession: I never miss a Fahadh Fazil movie. I am a HUGE fan of his right from Chappa Kurishu.] 

 Of course, there are several other actors who play their part very well in this film but you should go watch the movie to enjoy it better. I don't want to spill the entire story here.

Right from the first scene, brace yourself to be bowled over by Aimanam Siddharthan, a young upcoming politician who leaves no stone unturned in his path to become an MLA. He charts out his every move to win the hearts of the people, gain visibility with the 'High Command' and extract political mileage out of every public appearance he makes. You get the feeling that he likes to have every move charted out in advance and planned in a way that reaps political dividends for his growth as a politician. 

But his plans fall apart when 'High Command' announces a new contestant (Hint: dynastic politics at play) and sidelines Aimanam Siddharthan altogether. Crushed, angry and feeling defeated, he wants to stay away from the place when his mentor is Uthup Vellikadan (starring Innacent) who is a seasoned politician asks him to do him a personal favor. The favor is to help Irene (starring Amala Paul) with her documentary film. It is here that Aimanam Siddharthan's well-planned life takes an unexpected turn, revealing the cosmic law that no matter how meticulously you plan every move in life, there's always a twist to it that happens for the better. 

Oru Indian Pranayakatha:  Laugh Out Loud Scenes
There is a scene where Irene tells Siddharthan about how men in Kerala tend to misbehave with women, His reaction displays characteristic wit and he tells her that he isn't one of them. He lists reasons and the last one being, "You aren't as good looking as the girl I am in love with." The way he says it is so witty that you can't stop grinning and Irene, after he leaves, goes to the mirror and looks into her reflection, searching for flaws. That, I tell you, is what almost every girl/woman would do.

Another scene: In the bus, they are traveling together. Siddharthan, in jest, complains about women jostling against him in the bus and how his image as a clean politician will be impacted by it. Then Irene sits next to him and starts pushing herself closer to him, her body pressing against him, her face inches away from him repeatedly almost touching yet not touching and the best part is that they both know she does all of this on purpose. 

The calm and cool Siddharthan starts to get so flustered, his expressions are so honest yet comical and finally, he refuses to get up at the bus stop when the bus halts and he keeps a most embarrassed expression that will drive you to laughter. What I liked about this scene is it's delivery - no cheap dialogues yet all the nuances of teasing are memorably captured. This detailing proves yet again that Sathyan Anthikad does not lose sight of his core audience - the families that flock to see his films. He keeps them close to his heart and to his style of film making.

Oru Indian Pranayakatha: Sathyan Anthikad's Magical Touch
As a Malayali, I have always enjoyed watching Sathyan Anthikad's films because they are so down to earth and brings in refreshing simplicity with a magical touch. In Sathyan Anthikad films, there is an unspoken guarantee that you can watch his film with your whole family. Interestingly, this movie marks a slight shift in the usual Sathyan Anthikad style of direction but change is good, that is how I see it. 

Some scenes are suggestive of the increasing boldness and intimacy between the hero and the heroine - this is something which I have not observed in any of his previous films. For instance, in this movie, there is a scene where Irene (the heroine starring Amala Paul) goes confidently to a textile shop and orders the inner wear for a very flustered Aimanam Siddharthan - this is a clear first in a Sathyan Anthikad movie.

Another difference - in most Sathyan Anthikad's movies that I have seen - the music is by Illayaraja and to me, as a listener, it has become somewhat methodical and predictable. But in this film, Vidyasagar's music is refreshingly young, well-choreographed and interestingly romantic in terms of display of love between the hero and the heroine. 


Oru Indian Pranayakatha: Fahad Fazil & Amala Paul Sizzle Together

Fahad Fazil, as Aimanam Siddharthan, is pleasing, convincing and natural. What I hadn't anticipated is that he would share a sizzling chemistry with the actress Amala Paul. As Irene, she is convincing, her body language is confident (as always) and her portrayal is just spot on. The two actors share a great sense of timing in dialogue delivery. But I do feel there are several scenes where her dialogue delivery seems unclear and certainly not as confident as her body language. 

Verdict: It's a feel good film and I enjoyed watching it. Go watch it in theaters.

If you liked this movie review, you may want to read these too:


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most LOVED Posts

Best time to light diya

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are auspicious for lighting at home. On Fridays, it is considered auspicious to use ghee in a silver lamp. When Should I Start Lighting Diyas? The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home. Is it ok to light diyas at night? Yes, you can light diyas at night. How to light diya in front of house? Clean the area in the front of your home, decorate with a hand drawn rangoli or traditional kolam or swastik using rice powder or any organic materials. This is symbolic of inviting Goddess Mahalakshmi to enter your home. Then, place the diya on the right side of your entrance and make sure the lamp is fille...
Post a Comment
Read more

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 bor...
181 comments
Read more

Does something bad happen if the diya goes off?

Is it bad if a diya goes off? This is a frequently asked question among people who light the evening lamp or diya regularly in their puja room. Cultivating the attitude 'Everything is Divine Prasad', which embodies Prasada Bhakti , is a good way to minimise negative thoughts with regard to one's way of worship.  When we light the lamp in our homes, imagine you are sending out divine love to the world.  When you burn the incense stick, imagine you are burning away all negative karma within each family member and offering it before your Ishta Devata. [READ: How To Light Deepam at Home and  Why Malayalis Light Nilavilaku ]                                                     [Image by Sachin Yadav @ Pixabay] What Happens When A Diya Goes Off? Many consider it as a 'bad omen'. For a devotee who worships Ishta Devata, everything represents Divine Gra...
Post a Comment
Read more

How To Light Diya: Big Mistakes To Avoid

Wondering how to properly light a diya? What are some common mistakes to avoid while lighting diya at home? As a child, I used to watch my grandmother light the Nilavilakku or the traditional lamp at home. Back then, I didn't understand its deeper significance. [READ: Why Malayalis Light Nilavilakku ] Lighting a diya or a lamp embodies our inner journey from darkness to light. T he transition represents a deep metaphysical truth: the triumph of light over darkness. Are you lighting your diyas wrong? Use these tips! [Source: Pexels.com] How To Properly Light A Diya At Home 1. Never place your diya or lamp on the floor to light it in your pooja room. Keep a Thaali/Plate under it. You can keep a small brass plate under the lamp. Don't use that Thaali/Plate for any other purpose once you use it for this purpose. 2. Don't put your diya or lamp in any place where it is not clean earlier. Before you place the diya or lamp, make sure ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? How to properly light a diya? Should diya face god or us? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. The lamp or the diya always faced the deity or Ishta Devata. 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. [ Let's Connect on Facebook ] 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 whi...
2 comments
Read more