PaleriManikkam-OruPathira Klapathakathinte kadha
By Cine Critic |
7th December, 2009| 16:30:48

Paleri Manickyam is based on a famous novel by T P Rajeevan's on a murder investigation. The movie is based on a real life incident that happened around the 1950's in Kerala. Director Renjith, latest Mammootty starrer Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Katha as an outstanding, exceptionally brilliant and intelligently executed film.

The Story Starts from Haridas( Mammootty), an investigative officer based in Delhi comes to the village along with Sarayu Sharma (Gauri Mangal), a criminologist. They both try to solve case involving the murder of a lady named Manikyam. The murder that happened about 53 years ago sees the woman being raped and brutally murdered on the eleventh day of her marriage.It was the first case to be reported, of a lady being murdered after the first communist party Government began its reign in Kerala. The officers question various suspects, but due to the lack of evidence against any one, they are bound to release all of them.Things move on, from one character to another and it all takes a twist with the introduction of Ahmed Haji (Mammootty), a rich landlord who lived in the 1950’s. The revelation that Haridas makes about Ahmed Haji sort of startles and shocks Sarayu. And from here the story takes off, to end in a totally unpredictable and impressive manner.
 
Mammootty gives some sparkling performances in his different roles and it is great to see him back in form after a series of duds, especially as Ahmed Haji, a character portrayed in shades of grey. Swetha Menon's performance as Cheeru is scintillating; she is at her sensuous best and looks genuine. But the performances of the other two leading ladies (Maithily and Gowri Munjal) are average. The rest of the cast, including Sreenivasan, Siddique and T. Damodaran among others, have done their roles quite well.

Ranjith is very much in control of the proceedings and has done an excellent work as the director, eliciting excellent performances out of the artists. The narration plus the way Ranjith has merged the past and the present gives a different kind of feel to the film. The characterization is also good. The way he makes references to social and political realities too deserves special mention. Manoj Pillai's brilliant camerawork deserves an extra round of applause. Music by Sharath and Bijibal syncs perfectly with the mood of the film.

Paleri Manikyam is an interesting story, without the trappings of usual commercial cinema, it would be a different treat. Paleri Manikyam, of course, has some flaws and scope for further improvement, but the writer-director's ability to handle such an intricate tale needs to be appreciated wholeheartedly. All in all, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Katha is a top investigative story, told in a refreshingly different way.

Verdict: Brilliant