English Malayalam Movie Review

Producer– Binu Dev

Director- Shyamaprasad

Cast- Mukesh, Nivin Pauly, Jayasurya, Nadiya Moithu, Murali Menon, Sona Nair, Remya Nambeeshan etc.

Music- Rex Vijayan

Written by: Ajayan Venugopalan

Review By : Unni R Nair (Kerala9.com )

If the question is “Did you like Shyamaprasad’s ‘English’?” my straight, simple and candid answer would be “Yes”. I don’t want to add ifs and buts; yes, I liked ‘English’.

Well, that was a one-word appreciation. Now coming to the details, I am someone who had seen almost all of Shyamaprasad’s tele-films, those that he made in the beginning of his directorial career. I believe that none of the films that he did (Well, that includes ‘Agnisakshi’ too) has come up to that level (Well, the director, who is also a personal friend of mine, can very well refute or contradict this; but this is just my personal opinion). In my opinion none of the feature films that he did would match the standards set by ‘Uyirthezhunelppu’ or ‘Peruvazhiyile Kariyilakal’ or ‘Maranam Durbalam’. Judging by those standards and the standard set by his ‘Agnisakshi’, I may have to use a ‘but’… but, yes, ‘English’ is not up to the mark then. I still would stand my ground, saying, “I liked ‘English’. Let’s forget Shyamaprasad’s unforgettable works and forgettable ones too and take ‘English’ as a separate entity, a film that needs to be judged on its own merits.

‘English’ tells the story of malayalees in the UK. In fact UK is just a backdrop that serves to highlight the element of alienation that’s so integral to the plot. The film begins with a voice-over- that of Shankaran (Jayasurya), who writes a letter to his sweetheart Ammu, who is in Kerala. Shankaran, who is an illegal immigrant and who works as a waiter in the UK, lives with memories of Ammu and Kathakali; he is a Kathakali artist and still has an undying kind of passion for the dance form. But at present, he has to get a firm footing in the UK, earn some money and go back to marry his Ammu. Sibin (Nivin Pauly), a professional who works in the UK, loves the company of women and knows how to win them over. Gauri (Remya Nambeeshan), who is the newly married wife of Sibin’s best friend, comes to the UK to start a new life with her husband. Joy (Mukesh), who runs a grocery store and whose wife Sali (Sona Nair) is a nurse, has too many things to take care of. On the one hand he has to take utmost care of his old mother while on the other hand he has a daughter who prefers to have her own way with everything. Dr. Ram (Murali Menon) and his wife Sarasu (Nadiya Moithu) live in the UK with their two daughters. Sarasu is terribly homesick; she longs to go back to India. It’s in the meantime that she discovers a pack of condoms in her husband’s pocket. That changes things for her…

The lives of these characters, their alienation and their adapting to new kinds of issues and challenges that pop up in the distant land are all depicted in a sensitive manner. The film may of course seem slow-moving to people who are used to the loud, fast-paced commercial flicks, but in reality it’s not at all slow paced. There is not much of lag. Moreover it’s a commendable thing that the film doesn’t take any stance as regards issues. ‘English’ discusses many issues pertaining to human relationships, but never delves much on what is right and what wrong.

Once again, honestly speaking, ‘English’ is a movie that I liked. But I still would want Shyamaprasad to come up with films that match up to the standards of his earlier tele-films…

Performance 

Let me begin by mentioning Mukesh. It’s he who impressed me the most, in ‘English’. It’s a totally different Mukesh that we get to see here. As Joy he just delivers a very brilliant performance. Nadiya Moithu too scores as Sarasu. I’d say she is simply good. Then comes Murali Menon and also Sona Nair. As for Nivin Pauly and Jayasurya, though they have done their roles commendably well, it seems that as regards mannerisms and their acting styles, they both are repeating themselves over and over again. Jayasurya at least did something different recently in ‘Mumbai Police’ and ‘Hotel California’, but for Nivin Pauly, his style of acting seems to be stuck at one point- ‘Thattathin Marayathu’! Remya Nambeeshan is good, though she doesn’t have that much to do. But she fits into her role perfectly well. All the others are good too. But, as said earlier, it’s Mukesh who towers among the cast, followed by Nadiya Moithu, Murali Nair and Sona Nair.

Technical aspects

Udayan Ambadi, the cinematographer, delivers excellently well and lends full support to the director in the realization of the subject. Vinod Sukumaran’s editing too is good.

Music

Background score is what stands out in the film. Rex Vijayan has made his presence felt with the background score whereas the songs may not stay in your memories for long…

Script

Ajayan Venugopalan, who has penned the screenplay, has done a commendable job. He deserves praise for characterisation as well as for the deft manner in which the scenes are conceived. The narrative too is well in control…

Direction

Good work Shyamaprasad! The film has been directed in a mode as suits the theme. The final sequence in which the old lady looks out of the window and mumbles ‘Kathakali’, and the Kathakali seen on the roof-top stands out. ‘English’, as I said, is a good work from Shyamaprasad, but definitely won’t rank among his best.

Verdict– Good work; treatment as suits the theme. Good performances

Rating: 3.5/5