Mohavalayam

Mohavalayam has a script that takes ample time to construct ironies and dilemmas. But the drama in the narrative is so high that there is no emotional impact on us as a viewer. By the time we finish the movie, it is pretty much like – okay I got what you are trying to convey but I aint that impressed.

Jose Sebastian is a famous director in Malayalam and he is in Bahrain regarding the screening of his latest movie. The movie is ultimately focusing on the people he gets to meet in that short trip. The director gets attached to a bar dancer Prameela and Mohavalayam tells us how that relationship grows and influences Jose Sebastian.

T V Chandran has used this cinema to show us how he approaches cinema from the people he meets. The episode like character intros becomes sensible only in the second half as all of them had a link with Prameela. The script also constructs the character of Prameela to give us a valid reason for Jose Sebastian’s obsession for her. But the decease of intellectualizing every breath causes issues. The drama in the writing exceeds the level and thus the movie fails to connect emotionally.

Deliberate lag is suitable for certain movies that have plots that convey the idea in the very last moment. Rajeev Ravi’s films, Crime No 89 from Sudevan were recent movies that utilized this so called lag effectively. But in the case of Mohavalayam this sort of detailed making seems to have worked against the movie. The slightly caricatured characters also spoil the real feel we expect in a movie like this. Cinematography doesn’t impress much. The background score was good.

This performance of Joy Mathew was in debates regarding the recent State awards, but to be very honest I didn’t feel anything that special about his portrayal. The scene in which his character tells Prameela “I need you” clearly shows the lack of grace. Mythili in my opinion delivered a real mature performance. Even though the heavy dialogues have affected her portrayal, the actress still manages to be that strong female. Siddique once again delivers a quality performance. Rest of the cast comprising of Shine Tom Chacko, Sudheesh, Srinda, Sajida Madathil, Santhosh Keezhattur, Renji Panicker and a few more were just okay.

On the whole Mohavalayam isn’t that captivating emotionally. The intellectual debates and certain character outbursts are worth listening to, but the excessive drama takes away the life from the movie.