Thiruvananthapuram: The meteorological department has warned of heavy rains in 11 districts of the state today. Orange alerts have been issued in all these 11 districts. Yellow alert will be issued in Thiruvananthapuram and Wayanad today. The orange alert was issued in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The next day, rain warnings were issued in 11 districts.
Heavy rains were reported across the state yesterday, causing damage in various parts of the state. Minister K Rajan said that the state is ready to face the rains.
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: WAYFARER FILMS AND CYN-CYL CELLULOID.
MUSIC DIRECTOR: JAKES BEJOY.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: THENI ESWAR.
EDITOR: DEEPU JOSEPH.
SOUND: RASUL POOKUTTY
DURATION: 115 MINUTES.
REVIEW BY ARUNJYOTHI R.
What’s GOOD:
The main theme of the film and how the plot is portrayed.
The direction of Ratheena PT.
Well written screenplay.
The realistic performers of every actor.
Mammootty’s brilliant acting.
Background Score.
Cinematography.
Editing.
What’s BAD:
The film is slow paced.
Felt a lag in between.
Resemblance to the episode ‘Oor Iravu’ by Vetrimaaran in Paava Kadhaigal.
A subplot towards the ending could have been executed better.
Detail Explanation, REVIEW:
Won Plus Factors:
The script, making and the performance of actors made the movie Puzhu special. These two factors were incredibly strong to make this movie one of the best films of recent times. From the very beginning how the theme of the film was portrayed and how the story started to unfold and how the makers had ended the film were fascinating to see.
Here the story penned by Harshad was unique, his vision and the facts of present social scenarios were written effectively. The reality of caste and its issues was written beautifully in the story, here the thoughts and ideologies of the writer are clear. Without any bias the thinking of human beings based on caste was shown in the form of actual reality. The courage and the vision of the writer need to be appreciated, though the story he had exhibited the darker side of human beings when it comes to caste. The entire story was written in a balanced manner, and all the events in the plot until the climax were having the proper connection to justify the theme.
The writer Harshad had also joined Sharfu and Suhas in writing the screenplay. As I said, the plot of the film, in the beginning, was starred with some simple scenes and slowly the movie was moving into a thriller backdrop. So how the script had changed the tone and how the screenplay had entered into a thriller dimension was interesting. While watching the mid-portion of the film I was having slight confusion about what the movie is trying to say, but all that confusion was cleared out at the time when the movie indicated the actual theme. So the writers had taken enough time to establish the story and the various happenings towards the end will give us a shock. Some true reality about the caste and the thinking of human beings was told realistically throughout the film. The dialogues between the characters also pointed out some actual truth about the caste issues in our present society. So the screenplay was organised with the right events and occurrences and it had created enough curiosity. From the very beginning, the character played by Mammootty was given a mysterious feel. His approach toward his son, his thinking, and doings and even his look was giving the sense of eagerness to know what he is trying to prove. So the specific quality given for the character of Mammootty was matching the script to make the situations more influential. The climax was shocking and the writers had made it brilliant, the proper way of reasoning was given and it was convincing.
The direction by Ratheena PT was unbelievable, it was hard to believe that she was a newcomer. It’s her first film and she proved her brilliance and I am sure that she has the potential to come up with some incredible works. How she made this film according to the script proves her skills, she had managed to complete this film effectively without making any errors. In her direction, nothing gets diverted from the actual theme, she was cleverly making this film realistically and her making style was having the power to dominate to give an intense cinematic experience. How she had successfully used the acting talents and skills of Mammootty will make us wonder, by seeing the acting it is clear that she had given the right instruction to every actor. The negative touch on the character played by Mammootty will surprise everyone and here how the director has portrayed his character is intriguing. In the making, the movie follows a slow-paced way of storytelling and the movie till the last thirty minutes obeys this same slow-paced pattern but it doesn’t affect much in the viewing experience. The direction of Ratheena PT was having the strength to hold our attention, in between I felt some lagging but still, I couldn’t feel to skip forward. The content was the actual reason and the politics which the film discusses will surely make the viewing enjoyable and thrilling.
The performance of Mammootty is the next thing which carries the film forward. I was stunned to see his acting, no errors and no mistakes. The entire performance of Mammootty in Puzhu can be defined as a complete package of true acting. There are many scenes in the film which showcased his real skills, his perfect timing in delivering the dialogue was wonderful. According to the different types of scenes, he exhibits the right expression, his natural facial expressions and looks had made the important scene to give an extra impact. The controlled way of acting and the different handling method in showcasing the situations was easily done by Mammootty. In the scene in which he coughs, the scene in which he shows the fear, the scene in which he controls his son, the scene in which he advises his son, the scene in which he provokes, and the scene in which he does the unexpected brutal things were equipped with the natural acting of Mammootty. So without any doubt, I will say that the film Puzhu delivers his best acting in recent times and his character ‘Kuttan’ rather called ‘Sir’ will give you a shocking and unforgettable experience. Appunni Sasi as Kuttappan a.k.a. KP appears to play an important role and he has given his best. He had undertaken the character neatly, and till the end, the way he acted out was matching for the character. His amazing dialogue delivery and various modulations in telling the dialogue were intense, his voice was adequate to point out some actual truth of human thinking. Also his combination scenes with Parvathy carried the movie strongly till the end, also their chemistry had worked out. In the film, he plays the role of a stage drama artist and he has shined with some good acting skills. Parvathy Thiruvoth as Bharati was excellent with her acting, her calm way of talking and pleasant way of handling the situations was wonderful to watch. Her few combination scenes with Mammootty were also, her character was crucial but to perform she was having less still she had carried a sensible natural way of acting throughout the film. Vasudev Sajeesh Marar as Rishikesh aka Kichu needs to be specially mentioned, his acting was precise. The sufferings he faces and different emotions he goes through also how he moves his life in toxic parenting were acted out genuinely. Nedumudi Venu, Anil Nedumangad, Indrans, and Kottayam Ramesh had done justice to their respective supporting roles.
Lost Minus Factors:
1: In the above-mentioned positives, I had mentioned that the movie is following a slow-paced way of making. So in between while watching some may feel a lag, or why this is unnecessarily dragging. The movie is taking enough time to establish the story so this slow-paced way of storytelling is demanding for a film like this so one may have to show a little bit of patience in between.
2: The theme of this film is strong and this same theme has been discussed in many films. But here detailing, the premise of the film and the life of the character played by Mammootty makes it different. But still, the core theme of the Puzhu was giving me the resemblance to ‘Oor Iravu’ by Vetrimaaran in Paava Kadhaigal. The ending and it’s idea in the film Puzhu were slightly similar to the climax of ‘Oor Iravu’ in Paava Kadhaigal.
3: Towards the end, the film is conveying an important subplot. It was very crucial in the film but I felt that the makers had not effectively executed that scene. It could have been elaborated more and the character who appears in that scene felt weak, the reasoning was convincing but the execution was weak.
4: I felt the character of Appunni Sasi as Kuttappan needs to give more space like the character of Mammootty. Appunni Sasi character was explained well but still the makers could have given a little more scenes. Also Parvathy’s character Bharati was deserving of more scenes, she was having very few scenes. I thought her character could have explored more, the writers and director haven’t utilised her character well.
So What’s Hot?
1:Performance of Mammootty and other actors.
2: The theme of the film and its script.
3: Direction of the newcomer Ratheena PT
4: Technicality.
So What’s Not?
1: Slow narration
2: Subplot in the climax was ineffective.
What’s behind the film:
Another winning factor of this film is the background score, cinematography and editing. The background score stood higher to hold my attention, it was dominating to give an extra boost and impact for the crucial scenes. For every scene, Jakes Bejoy had given the appropriate background score and every important scene had ended with the right tunes to set the mood. Also, the background score towards the end was set brilliantly, and the feel and depth of the scenes in the climax were balanced with the right background tunes. Therefore, the climax had given an extra influence and those tunes had helped the ending look more vibrant. The cinematography by Theni Eswar was matching the premise of Puzhu, his visuals were contributing to making the occurrences powerful. The close-up shots he pointed out in the face of Mammootty came out well to exhibit his outstanding acting. The lighting for the indoor scene was good, the entire climax visuals were strikingly shot with the right angles and the slow-motion shots in those scenes were wonderful to watch. The editing was nice, the duration never felt long, and I haven’t felt mismatches in the transition of scenes.
Final Verdict:
So overall the film Puzhu had given me a satisfying cinematic experience and I enjoyed watching this film. The script and the making were powerful and the theme which the film portrays will surely draw your attention. The performance of Mammootty had made this movie wonderful, also the natural performance of other actors had helped to give a convincing feel. The richness in the background score, cinematography and editing is also an attraction. The theme and the climax will definitely shock you, the movie was successful in showcasing some present actual reality. The world of casteism is still around us and the film Puzhu had victoriously entered into it without any fear and had pointed out some truths which needs to be discussed, so I will recommend you to watch this film with your loved ones.
Dubai: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has passed away. He was 74 years old. He had been in treatment for a long time. He was the second President of the UAE. Sheikh Khalifa became the President of the UAE after the death of his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in 2004. Sheikh Khalifa bids farewell to the ruler who led the growth of the UAE. 40 days of mourning have been declared in the UAE.
All government and private-public events for three days were completely canceled in the country. Sheikh Khalifa’s half-brother Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed will be the next ruler of the UAE. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa. The Chief Minister said that his care for the welfare of the Indian community, including the Malayalees in the UAE, will always be remembered. The Prime Minister has declared a day of mourning in India as well.
New Delhi: At least 27 people have been killed in a fire that broke out in a three-story building in Delhi. The fire broke out in a building near Mundka metro station in north Delhi. Firefighters rescued about 70 people trapped inside the building. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sameer Sharma said the death toll could rise.
PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.
Raipur: Pilots of a helicopter killed in a helicopter crash at the airport in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on Thursday evening. Captain Gopal Krishna Panda and Captain AP Srivastava were killed in the accident, police said. The helicopter caught fire while the pilots were trying to land it. Both pilots in the helicopter were killed in the crash. There were no passengers.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Prashant Agarwal said the incident took place at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur under Mana police station around 9:10 pm during training. The cause of the accident is not clear. Authorities said they would conduct a detailed investigation.
The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister expressed his grief over the tragedy and paid tributes to the pilots.
New Delhi: Rajiv Kumar will take over as the Chief Election Commissioner on the 15th of this month. This follows the retirement of the current Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Kumar. Rajeev Kumar is currently serving as the Election Commissioner. Union Law Minister Kiran Rijiju said on Twitter that the President had approved Rajiv Kumar’s appointment. Rajiv Kumar will take over as the Election Commissioner on September 1, 2020. He was previously the Chairman of the Public Enterprises Selection Board. Rajiv Kumar, a member of the 1984 IAS batch, retired from the civil service in February 2020.
New Delhi: An Air Force officer has been arrested in Delhi for spying. Devendra Sharma was arrested by the Delhi Police. Police found him trapped in a honeytrap trying to leak Air Force secrets. Police suspect that the accused has links with the Pakistani spy agency ISII.
For the past few months, Devendra Sharma has been linking to the profile of a girl from Pakistan. The Delhi Police Crime Branch team found that many secrets and information of top officials were leaked to this account which could affect national security.
Police also found suspicious transactions in his wife’s bank account. Based on this, the investigation is progressing. The available information has also been passed on to the Crime Branch of the Military Intelligence.
Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister Veena George has said that everyone should be aware of the hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) reported in some districts of the state. Although it usually affects children under the age of five, it is rarely seen in adults. The risk of this disease is low but it can rarely cause meningitis. Therefore, if you notice any symptoms, you should seek the services of a doctor. Babies should be given plenty of water to drink. Care should be taken not to spread the disease to other children. The minister said there was nothing to worry about.
What is Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease?
Hand-foot-mouth disease is a viral disease of the hands, feet, mouth, and lips of children. This disease is also known as tomato fever.
Symptoms
The main symptoms are fever, fatigue, arthritis, and redness and swelling of the hands, feet, mouth, buttocks, and knees. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of severe persistent fever, severe fatigue, malaise, or obstruction of blood circulation in the limbs.
Infection
The disease is transmitted directly from one infected person to another. It can be transmitted from infected babies through nasal and throat secretions, or through contact with saliva, skin bubbles, or feces. Sick babies can be infected by even touching toys and clothing.
Treatment
The disease usually goes away in a week to ten days. Once the disease is present, it is treated according to the symptoms. This will help reduce the baby’s discomfort and control the symptoms.
Care
The body of an infected baby should always be kept clean and hygienic. Do not blow bubbles while bathing. You can give clean cold food to reduce the difficulty in the mouth. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. Care should be taken not to scratch the pimples on the body. Do not allow other children to use clothing or toys.
Defense
Children should be taught to wash their hands thoroughly with soap after defecation and before eating. When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth and wash your hands immediately to prevent the spread of the virus. Baby caregivers should wash their hands thoroughly before and after touching. This will prevent the disease from spreading to others. Infected children should not be left in anganwadis or schools. Avoid interacting with other children in the home during this period.
New Delhi: A special team has launched an inquiry into the death of basketball player KC Lithara. Lithara’s mobile phone will be checked by the team. The head of the investigation team said that they will seek the help of experts for this. Coach Ravi Singh, who is accused of killing Lithara, has been suspended indefinitely.
Lithara’s family blames the coach’s behavior for her daughter’s death. The East Central Railway has said it will take stern action if Ravi Singh is found guilty. A spokesman for the Railways said that the Railways was not helping the coach in any way and there was no possibility of a departmental inquiry into the case.
Malappuram: A case has been registered against Samastha secretary MT Abdullah Musliar for banning a girl from the venue. The Child Rights Commission has voluntarily registered a case against Abdullah Musliar in the incident. The commission sent notices to Abdullah Musliar and Perinthalmanna CI in the incident. The Malappuram District Child Protection Commissioner was also asked for an explanation.
The commission has directed that an explanation be given directly on the 25th of this month. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan had demanded that action be taken on the matter. He said it was a crime to insult a girl in public and demanded that the authorities take up the matter voluntarily.
