Special Notice : No spoilers, No suspense breaking, No fake reviews allowed. If you have seen the movie you can put the positives and negatives of the movie. Saying negatives without watching the movie is not at all allowed and One word / sentence criticisms should also be avoided.

Spanish Masala is about a Malayali boy falling in love with a Spanish girl while in Spain. Dileep (the protagonist) who comes to Spain with his group of mimicry artists wants to live a new life, and to fulfill this, he runs away from the group to find another job. Later, under some circumstances, his talent for cooking gets him the job of a chef for the Spanish ambassador. There he meets the ambassador’s daughter (played by Daniela Zacheri) and falls for her. The rest of the story showcases their mutual affection and how they marry each other.

Review Coming Soon

But, after the first show, the confusion of whether it is a sequel or not does not exist any more, as the movie that portrays Saroj kumar(Sreenivasan), drags along from where Roshan Andrews had put a semi colon in “Udayananu Tharam”. Saroj Kumar who was saved from flops by Udayabhanu in the previous movie goes back to his old habits, behavior and life style. The first half of the movie tries to tie people to the chairs with comedy, but ends in failure with its very low standard of dialogue delivery, especially in what is supposed to be jokes. Another interesting fact of the story is that, unlike “Udayananu Thaaram”, which created Saroj Kumar as a mixture of many superstars of Malayalam movies, in “Padmasree..”, we see Saroj Kumar as the total mirror image of a super star who rules our movie industry. Right from the titile to the scenes, we understand the “satirical” aspect of the movie is mocking the accomplished and famous actor with many snippets of scenes taken from the super star’s real life.

When Jagathi Sreekumar, Mukesh and Salim Kumar come as Pachaalam Bhaasi, Babykuttan and Rafeeq, Fahad fazil, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Suraj Venjaramood are the added elemets in “Padmasree..”. Though Fahad does an appreciable job as a new sensible director, Suraj Venjaramood as the head of Saroj Kumar Fan’s association is not different from what he had been doing all through his years in Malayalam movie industry. His slapstick comedy couldn’t bring any wave of laughter in the theater. Vineeth Sreenivasan, who had given us new rays of expectations in acting through “Chappa Kurishu”, disappoint us through his below average style in delivery of dialogues. The screenplay which has to be the back bone of any movie, is a disaster here which can be the possible reason of the downfall of this movie with dramatic dialogues that too with poor timing. The songs, composed by Deepak Dev is a source of relief amidst other pitfalls as the three of them assure rhythm and melody. The suspense of the movie, among many other things, was more like a doused fire cracker.

The good aspects being the songs alone and may be a “satirical” peep into an actor’s life, “Padmasree Bharath dr.Sarojkumar” has not done much. If you prefer to watch a movie just to kill time, This movie is a good choice.

Rating: 4/10

Expectations were mixed with confusions when the trailer dressed the actors and actresses in 1970′s style. The songs that had hit ten thousands in Youtube, rushed families into theaters right on first day. Akku Akbar, a socially committed director, who had once swooped the audience into thought about the carefully ignored and unseen struggles of wives through “Veruthe Oru Bhaarya”, again was successful in mesmerizing the cinema lovers through this experimental venture, “Vellaripravinte Changathi”.

The movie unfolds with mocking arrows aimed at the present mixing of ‘masala elements’ into story line to create a commercial success. Manikunj (Indrajith) has come to Chennai to make a fortune in Malayalam movie industry. In a temporary job in Gemini lab, to clean the reels of old malayalam movies, he finds the film roll of a yet unreleased movie shot in 1970′s. This film roll with Shahjahan (Dileep) and Mary Vargees (Kavya Madhavan) in the lead roles, rolls the rest of the movie.

We have witnessed a number of movies that had pictured cinema inside cinema and most of them have swept crores in Box Office; “Udayananu Thaaram” and “Best Actor” being the prominent ones. But “Vellaripravu..” is distinct and different in its methodology of story telling. A sophisticated story, credits to Anil.G.S, could not be more easily told. Though some audience feels the film lags in the first half, with unexpected twists and turns that nurture suspense and thrill, the second half takes the audience into the levels of excitement that any one doubt a love story could render.

Kudos to the director Akku Akbar for the risk he had taken on his shoulders to align the blocks of such a complicated theme in an elegant panache. The songs, written by Vayalar Sharath Chandra Varma and brought into life with Mohan Sithara’s tune, had been in the top of music charts since its audio release. Shreya Ghoshal and Kabeer had sung “pathinezhinte” and Poornasree has given the childhood innocent touch to “thekko thekkorikil”.

Dileep as Shahjahan appears in a totally novel role that demands efforts to be put on and he has done justice to it. Dileep reminds of the evergreen hero Prem Naseer and Sathyan at times, which had beautified Shahjahan. Manoj K Jayan has, as usual, left an impression on mind both as villain Basheer and innocent Krishnan Perambra and also had supported the protagonist with his stunning acting. Kavya Madhavan with her beauty and talent, makes Mary Vargees close to heart and waters our eyes with her love for Shahjahan.

Though there had been criticisms that the movie was released on a wrong day, the rush of families into theaters undoubtedly authenticates that its a true family entertainer with a powerful story being its back bone.

VERDICT: The movie is not the cup of tea for the ones who expect an item dance or slapstick comedy or unrealistic action sequence but is surely a “Christmas cake” for families and cinema lovers.

RATING: 8/10

The movie was released all over Kerala on June 24^th as Salim Kumar felt the real accolade was acceptance of Abu by the common people. He did not go wrong in there. Everywhere the movie was given warm welcome, and stupendous acting of Salim was appreciated.

Adaminte makan Abu is a poem of love and faith. Its the story of two elderly couple who live with a single wish of making the sacred Hajj pilgrimage. Abu, who sells Aththar and Unani medicine, is a man in his last stages of life. The only wish left with him is to go for Hajj pilgrimage with his wife. Though the rule says, Hajj is to be done by only the rich and the able ones, Abu sweats his blood to make the required money. Aysumma (Zarina Wahab), his wife, also helps him by selling milk and eggs from her cattle and hens. Coin by coin, note by note, they save their life’s earnings. They were registered into the year’s Hajj pilgrims list by the unselfish, considerate manager of Akbar’s travels, Asharaf (Mukesh). At a point, Abu and Aysumma are forced to sell their cattle to make enough money. They had to sell the giant jack fruit tree of theirs to Johnson (Kalabhavan Mani) for the final pile of money required.
The poor couples wishes, hopes and dreams were shattered when the jack fruit tree that was sold was found to be rotten. Even though, Johnson gives them the promised money, Abu refuses to accept it as it was against the rules of Hajj to take the money which did not belong to them. Poor Abu,was left only with broken dreams and a loving wife.

Zarina Wahab had done just to Aysumma, with flawless acting as the 65 year old innocent village lady,who loves her husband so much. She has taken care to bring the gestures of a typical old woman in Aysumma.

The movie also features Nedumudi Venu as a friend who comes to help Abu at all times when he was in need. Hyder, portrayed by Suraj Venjaramood, shows slight hints of an undiscovered talent of acting, still in deep slumber somewhere inside him. A break from his usual monotonous comedy had been a relief.

The cinematography by award winning Madhu Ambatt and Back ground music by Isaac Thomas Kottukapally please both eyes and ears. The scene in which the jack fruit tree is felled, creates a thud inside the audience mind as well. Also, the sold cattle gazing sorrowfully at Aysumma, who had looked after them as her own kids, touches our hearts too. All these merge us more with emotions and trauma of Abu and Aysumma. There are various parts where nothing but silence becomes dialogues and songs.

All through the film, Sathar, Abu’s son is mentioned. Though not shown, he is implied to be the only cause for the sufferings of Abu and Aysumma. Sathar stays in Dubai with his family, totally freed himself from the obligations as a responsible son. This points to the apathetic attitude of the present day youth towards the family. The film at some points, raises its eyebrow against the forlorn conditions of society due to corruption, environmental degradation, lack of morality etc.

Salim Ahmed, does not give any hint anywhere that Adamninte makan Abu is his first film. His unblemished script had formed the backbone of the 101 minute long film. Also, he is the producer.

Adaminte makan Abuhad bagged National awards for best film, best actor, best cinematography and best back ground music. Salim Kumar became the 7^th malayalam actor and 1^stcomedian to be awarded Bharath award.

State also honoured Salim Kumar with best actor award and the film was selected as best film.Isaac Kottukapally was awarded for best back ground music and Salim Ahamed for best Screenplay.

Though,with the help of make-up, Salim Kumar appeared as a very old,tired man,the jury at National Film awards committee did not know much about Salim Kumar and mistook him as an old man,which caused Pattanam Rasheed to lose the award for best make-up.

For someone,who loves to watch pleasant movies that have some inborn meanings, Adaminte makan Abus the best choice.