Review– Radio

Producer– Lion S C Pillai

Director– Umer Muhammed

Cast– Iniya, Sarayu, Nishan, Thalaivasal Vijay, Jayakrishnan, Thesni Khan, Harisri Ashokan etc.

Music– Mohan Sithara

Lyrics: Rafeeque Ahmed

Review By : Unni R Nair (Kerala9.com )

There are flaws, there are some hiccups as regards the flow of the film…but Umer Muhammed’s ‘Radio’ is indeed a film that needs to be reviewed, analysed and discussed.

The film opens on an impressive note and you expect a multi-narrative film with a totally unconventional theme and subject. But then, after a while you get the feel that it’s getting a bit tedious. You turn and look right and left, you find people in a similar situation as yours and think, not so aloud, “Is this what I expected to see?”. But then, at half-time, you feel you have arrived somewhere and there is likely to be a take-off. You get your snacks and drinks, wash off that sleep from your face and with renewed vigour, sit down to watch the rest, anticipating something good. However, things don’t seem to brighten up immediately after interval. But then, at some point, it starts picking up momentum and by the time the film ends, you are impressed. “Yes, I am satisfied, despite the flaws”, you mumble as you get out of the hall. I heard people saying this aloud, to friends, outside the theatre.

This is ‘Radio’, in brief. You’re disappointed with the movie at one stage and happy at another. Finally, as you come out of the theatre, you get the feel that you have seen something different. Do a close analysis and you feel it could have been better. In total, an appreciable venture which could of course have been better, to some extent.

‘Radio’ is the story of two young girls who work as sales girls in a jewelry. Priya (Sarayu) has come to town to earn some money to support her family. There she becomes friends with Shwetha (Iniya), who offers to accommodate her at her flat till she gets some other  place to stay. At Shwetha’s place, Priya meets Manu (Nishan), who is introduced as Shwetha’s friend, guide, care-taker etc. Slowly it dawns on us first (and later on Priya) that Shwetha earns big buck by doubling up as a call girl for rich clients and that Manu is her friend, business-partner and agent. This is the point at which Priya and Shwetha clash with each other and from there, the story takes a new turn.

The focus, all through, is on Priya and Shwetha and hence most other characters, save a couple of them, suffer as regards characterization. But you don’t notice it as the whole of the proceedings centres around the two pivotal characters and you rarely get the time to think about the rest. The other two characters who get noted at times are Manu and Dr. Daniel D’Souza (Thalaivasal Vijay). Jayan,  played by Jayakrishnan, too makes an impression. You feel that of the many other artists in the cast, some could have been utilized better, with better scripting and characterization. Yes, indeed! The characters played by Thesni Khan, Kochupreman, Nihal, Harisri Ashokan, Manianpillai Raju etc thus have more of a shadowy existence in the film and these could have been handled in a better way.

The thing that I liked about the movie is that there is not much of moralizing and instead it’s two different perspectives that first clash and then, after reaching sort of a consensus, they both move forward, seeking their destinies. The end of the story too is impressive. I feel, ‘Radio’ is a film that you can watch as it is definitely different from the usual stuff. Flaws are many and crucial, but still I feel most of them can be forgiven. Umer Muhammed should outgrow and rectify those in his next movie and I am sure he could deliver something great…

Performance 

The film belongs mostly to Iniya, on the performance side. She plays her part with conviction. Sarayu is good, but there are moments where we see her doing it as if she is doing some boring television serial. Yes, there are places where she should have been much more expressive with her expressions rather than with her words. Yet, she is OK. Nishan is good and so is Jayakrishnan. Thalaivasal Vijay appeals to us as he gets to do something different, but you feel his portion could have been handled a bit more effectively and could have been a bit trimmed and toned down. The rest of them don’t have much to do. Irshad, in his brief role, is good.

Technical aspects

The technical aspects are all in tune with the mood and the tempo of the film. Cinematography (by Utpal V Nayanar and Deepu S Unni) and art-direction (by Sabu Ram) are good.

Music

Background score suits the mood of the movie. Of the songs, “Edi penne…” may stay in our minds for some time while “Mukile…”, though soulful, may not make much of an impact.

Script

Script, by the director Umer and Nizam S Rawuther, is not bad, but should have been better. They deserve a pat on the shoulder for having tried a subject with a difference and also for the good work as regards the pivotal characters. But they should have reworked the script many times and it would have been much better. There are scenes that should either have been reworked or avoided. Similarly they should have given more attention to characterization, on a broader perspective. On the whole, their work is good, despite the flaws.

Direction

Umer is in control as the director, but next time he has to go for a better and well worked-out script. Anyway, he deserves appreciation for having tried a female-oriented subject, that too one with a difference.

Verdict– Different! A rather brave attempt! Good, could have been better…

Rating: 2.5/5