Apr 18, 2005 07:56 PM
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(Updated Apr 18, 2005 07:56 PM)
It has become a routine for Kamal Haasan to write and act in a serious and a comedy movie alternatively. After writing and directing “Virumandi” himself, Kamal Haasan is back with “Mumbai Xpress”, which is ghost directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao with Story, Screenplay and Dialogues being written by Kamal Haasan.
Will not Fit in Comedy Time
Kamal Haasan’s comedies are always different in a way that they follow a thread and you need to know and must have understood what happened before to understand what is happening now. The scenes peculiar as it cannot be enjoyed as clippings in TV comedy shows like “Comedy Time”. The story of the movie can be written at the back of a post card but what makes such comedies stand apart are its screenplay and dialogues. In that context, Mumbai Xpress is crafted with a complex yet a less confusing screenplay and some sparkling one liner all through the ride.
As a critic, one may look a movie from all different angles and write a complete analysis report on such movies but at the end the entertainment is the final question to be answered in the report. And though I accept there are some minuses, they can be easily forgotten as the movie assures joyful, entertainment till the end without any usual masala elements.
Move On Kamal
Kamal Haasan again plays an innocent victim of all errors that happens and his characterization helps a lot to imbibe more funny moments in the screenplay. But as an actor, I would say, he should move on and should try a different character sketch next time in a comedy. Of course considering his skills in reinventing himself, the days are not far away. I would say the writer Kamal surpasses the actor Kamal in this movie.
Screenplay
The screenplay has been painfully written with lot of confusing knots, threads and all building up the complexity of the story till the end. So far the most confusing yet enjoyable screenplay was written for “Michale Madhana Kama Rajan” and according to me the next is this. Many feel this complexity is a minus point but according to me, this is the factor which keeps us glued to the screen after some jarring moments between Kamal and Manisha in the second half. The movie starts quite slowly and immediately gains momentum as and when Kamal joins the kidnapping gang and from then follows a roller coaster ride of neatly woven moments till the end of the first half.
Dialogues
Dialogues play a major role in such situational comedies. The biggest expectation for the movie is because for the first time we don’t have the successful comedy pair Kamal-Crazy Mohan in this movie but we don’t miss him much in this movie in spite of his absence. The confusing dialogues related to the names A, B, C and many other threaded dialogues are straight from the text books of Crazy Mohan’s dialogues. But Kamal has tried action comedy too which is less tried in comedies these days. The crane climbing scenes, the following scene and Vande Mataram song are the best moments in the movie which are action oriented comedy, the scenes which may evoke laughter beyond all lingual barriers.
Performances
Now coming to the performances, everyone has done a great job except Manisha, she seems to be out of place in this movie. Pasupathy as the gang leader is great in his reactions to the tortures given by his fellow members in the gang which brings the houses down. The chubby little boy also has done a great job. All other supporting casts Ramesh Arvind, Naser, Santhan Bharathi, Saurabh Sukhla has done their job well.
Background Score – Illayaraja
I am surprised to see that no reviews so far, mention anything about extraordinary background score by Illayaraja. Though there are no songs except a breezy romantic melody in the second song, Kamal utilizes IR for his BG score which is a very integral part of comedies too. Though initial planning moments are filled with bits and pieces from the song “Kurangu Kaiyil Malai”, IR shows the power of his full throttled symphony orchestra in the Crane action scene and following chasing scenes in the first half and also gives a nice subdued orchestral interpretation of “Poo Poothathu” song in one of the romantic moments in the second half of the movie. The BG score adds a rich fresh sound to the comedy.
Minus Points (Forgettable)
Characterizations of Manisha Koirala
Kamal falling in love with Manisha is highly illogical and that too even after knowing about her from her conversations with Naseer through Phone is not believable.
Why the movie ends in a way it ends. Though all the problems are seemed to be solved, I don’t understand what happens at the end with all the cast dressed in black suits dancing in a party.
The cinematography by Siddarth is a big disaapointment we can’t complain as it is shot in Digital format. I don’t what value does this dull visuals add to the comedy. But his camera jerks and angles in action sequences are good.
On the whole, a wholesome entertainer and a must watch at least once.
