Nomad, the Scribbler

 friend of mine recently asked, why it is that no one is able to dethrone big Ms of the industry. Though I don't agree to a throne concept, there is no denying the fact that they have been a part of our collective consciousness for the past four decades or so. As to why part, it has got to do with the body of their work. Diverse characters and genres of movies they had done so far. And when it comes to choice of characters, none recently has done it better than Mr Mammooty. Bramayugam is one such movie. It is a tale from folklores, and it is in black and white.  Movies that encapsulate legends from yesteryears is always a captivating watch. Thevan, fleeing from war, unwittingly walks into a ruined house owned by Kudamon Potti, the last surviving member of a bloodline known for dark magic. Trapped within, Thevan's attempt to escape and the supernatural elements he encounters form the crux of the movie. The narrative is also about the hardships faced by the underprivileged and ...

  It's relatively easy to review bad movies. Ok to good movies are often hard to write about. I am talking about the kind of movies that neither disappoint nor particularly excite. I felt this film falls into that category.  Anveshippin kandethum is actually the sum of its parts. The story of first half doesn't have much to do with story of second. They could have both existed on their own. At the end of the first half, I was wondering what's left to investigate. Actually there was none, it was totally a new investigation altogether. Movie is about two different investigations done by same team in different circumstances. Possibly a first of its kind in that regard.  As the character, a policeman by profession chef by hobby, rightly pointed out, in a real life scenario an actual investigator, in terms of the complexity, would possibly find  the first case easier to solve, compared to the second one, if not for the ulterior motives of the senior officials. But however...

 It has its moments, but Valiban isn't everyone's cup of tea. Following a string of mediocre movies, there was considerable anticipation for an LJP-Mohanlal collaboration, with expectations running high for the actor to stage a strong comeback. Statements made during the promotions set expectations even higher. It weighed the movie down. People possibly went to the theater expecting a swashbuckling Valiban but didn't get it in adequate quantity. Movies worse than this have garnered better numbers. I am not saying the movie is without its flaws, but it has to be said it received more flak than it deserves. The movie tells the story of a warrior, drifting from place to place, looking for worthy opponents to fight for both thrill and money. It carries the flavors of old folklore stories we all grew up listening to. The story unfolds in an unknown place and time, vivid with colorful characters, with a blend of Western and Japanese samurai influences, paying homage to those genr...

 Food is a memory. I am not sure it is the right usage. But food do have some connection with creating good memorable moments in life. Good food or having food with right set up of people is always memorable. Certain foods evoke memories as well.  I recently had neypathiri and beef stew from Sona restaurant in MG road Cochin. Food was good. it was with right set of people. And it did revoke a sweet childhood memory.  When I was young, we hardly frequented restaurants like we do these days. It was mostly on occasions like festivals or celebrations. Having food from restaurants was always enjoyable.  My father and I, normally walked back to our home after buying groceries. On one such occasion, as we were returning home, a sweet aroma from a restaurant made me stop in my tracks. My father noticed me standing infront of the restaurant. Slight tilt of the head and flared nostrils possibly indicated what I wanted. With a smile he took me inside the restaurant. And we con...