Couple of days back, I had the misfortune to see the movie "Calcutta News'. Here are my impressions on it. Feel free to post your comments, and make me happy in the process.
Here it goes:
The confused storyteller
What will happen if one tries to sit on two stools simultaneously? Blessy tries just that in his much touted film 'Calcutta News' and of course, falls miserably. The consummate story teller that the Malayali has seen in 'Kazcha' and 'Thanmatra' has disappeared and in his place, there stands a man trying desperately to juggle too many balls for comfort. And the effort shows.
As in 'Palunku', the script lacks cohesion and unity of purpose. Of course, 'Calcutta News' fares much worse. There are so many loopholes, rather gaping holes in the script that "willing suspension of disbelief" cannot be achieved, however hard one may try.
The story, as the title indicates, takes place at Kolkata. Ajit Thomas, a Malayali born and brought up in the city is a reporter with the news channel Calcutta News comes across a newly-wed couple from Kerala during the Durga Puja festival. A few days later, the body of the husband, killed in mysterious circumstances is found.
That sets the story going. Ajit, played by Dileep, goes in search of the innocent village belle, and gets entangled in her problems. Krishna Priya (Meera Jasmine), an orphan from Palakkad, was tricked into a marriage by Harikumar (Indrajith) who brings her to Kolkata to sell her to a sex racket.
As the hero, Dileep has to save the damsel from all her distresses. And he tries his best and succeeds. Even when she is kidnapped by the fleshtraders to Sonagacchi, the 'biggest red street' in Asia, Ajit follows with the faithful camera mobile, which like a dutiful dog in the films of 60's, rescues its master and its would be mistress. Let alone Sonagacchi, just think of the probability of a police raid at Beemapalli in Thiruvananthpuram. Stretching the imagination also should have limits!
It seems, Blessy was aware of the shortcomings of his script much earlier. Nothing else can explain the pathetic comedy (from Messrs Innocent and Co) and the black magic used to get the story moving.
Not a single character in the movie is well etched. The heroine is such a simpleton that she sings along with a Salil Da song from a transistor while having tea from a roadside shop and finds happiness in reverse speech ( something akin to 'chorichu mallal' ). Except for the queer haircut, Dileep does nothing rememberable in the film.
After the show, somebody was heard asking the question, what was Dileep's character's name? It is a true reflection of the 'impact' of the film on the viewers. Eminently forgettable. The saving grace of the film is the wonderful visuals captured by S.Kumar.
Having honourable intentions is good. But, in a work of art, one expects a little more. A touch of creativity, something that touches the heart. Though Blessy fails in this, he has delivered a product much better than the kangaroos and dinosaurs still roaming the Mollywood.
As in 'Palunku', the script lacks cohesion and unity of purpose. Of course, 'Calcutta News' fares much worse. There are so many loopholes, rather gaping holes in the script that "willing suspension of disbelief" cannot be achieved, however hard one may try.
The story, as the title indicates, takes place at Kolkata. Ajit Thomas, a Malayali born and brought up in the city is a reporter with the news channel Calcutta News comes across a newly-wed couple from Kerala during the Durga Puja festival. A few days later, the body of the husband, killed in mysterious circumstances is found.
That sets the story going. Ajit, played by Dileep, goes in search of the innocent village belle, and gets entangled in her problems. Krishna Priya (Meera Jasmine), an orphan from Palakkad, was tricked into a marriage by Harikumar (Indrajith) who brings her to Kolkata to sell her to a sex racket.
As the hero, Dileep has to save the damsel from all her distresses. And he tries his best and succeeds. Even when she is kidnapped by the fleshtraders to Sonagacchi, the 'biggest red street' in Asia, Ajit follows with the faithful camera mobile, which like a dutiful dog in the films of 60's, rescues its master and its would be mistress. Let alone Sonagacchi, just think of the probability of a police raid at Beemapalli in Thiruvananthpuram. Stretching the imagination also should have limits!
It seems, Blessy was aware of the shortcomings of his script much earlier. Nothing else can explain the pathetic comedy (from Messrs Innocent and Co) and the black magic used to get the story moving.
Not a single character in the movie is well etched. The heroine is such a simpleton that she sings along with a Salil Da song from a transistor while having tea from a roadside shop and finds happiness in reverse speech ( something akin to 'chorichu mallal' ). Except for the queer haircut, Dileep does nothing rememberable in the film.
After the show, somebody was heard asking the question, what was Dileep's character's name? It is a true reflection of the 'impact' of the film on the viewers. Eminently forgettable. The saving grace of the film is the wonderful visuals captured by S.Kumar.
Having honourable intentions is good. But, in a work of art, one expects a little more. A touch of creativity, something that touches the heart. Though Blessy fails in this, he has delivered a product much better than the kangaroos and dinosaurs still roaming the Mollywood.
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