I don’t have absolutely anything against mindless entertainers.After all, cinema is an escapist fare and as long as they manage to entertain the audience it doesn’t matter how good or bad the story is..But what will you do if a movie (which is scripted and directed by one of the cinematic geniuses whom you admire the most) is at the same time mindless and fails to entertain you? That is exactly what Minnaminnikootam is.It is such a trash that makes you cringe to your seat and put you in deep slumber!

Minnaminnikootam starts the ‘classmates’ way,goes to the flash back mode and then comes to the present in the climax scene.Ya…right from the beginning it sounds clichéd no?This is the main flaw of Minnaminni.. it is clichéd,predictable and except for a few gags from Jayasurya and Roma is plain boring. Kamal’s intentions are clear,to make a movie about a group of friends who are I.T.professionals (who quite often behave like teenage boys and girls, and their main job is to sit and chat in the Office ‘Canteen during working hours!) and their woes in life.But what Kamal lacks is a strong story line which keeps the viewers hooked to the movie.

Coming to the performances…The movie has a dozen of stars from the youth brigade though the story revolves round the lead pair of Narein and Meera which infact is the biggest blow as far as the audience is concerned!While the supporting cast of Jayasurya,Roma,Indrajith,Samvrutha have done their roles effectively both Meera and Narein seems to be miscast in their respective roles.Narein lacks screen presence ,his acting is pretty bad (at times amateurish, esp in the ‘drunken’ scene!).Meera’s role is nothing but an extension of what she did in Vinodayathra,Calcutta News and a dozen of other recent films.She over emotes at times and becomes irritating often..Anoop Chandran and Radhika have nothing much to do except to look pretty in the posters designed for the movie!

The songs by Biji Bal and Anil Panachooran is a big let down.Technically also the movie is weak.Cinamatography by Manoj Pillai is just ordinary.

Bottom Line: This Minnaminni is not worth your time and Money!

It’s a common misconception that if new comers are acting in a movie the cost of the movie will be low. Even if the newcomer is hero , the other actors in the movie, would not reduce their salary. Film price could not be lowered. Rental rates for the camera could not be lowered. Hotel rooms cost could not be lowered. So every other cost other than newcomers salary is fixed and could not be bought down. On the other hand if we have Mohanlal or Mammootty or Suresh Gopi or Dileep as hero, they would have to be given a big amount as salary. But if these persons are lead actors then we can negotiate good amounts as foreign distribution, satellite, TV and many other rights, which will recover the cost we have paid these actors. Where as if it’s a new comer I would not even get 5 lakh rupees as rights. That’s the reason why producers hesitate to have newcomers as leads. And since newcomers don’t have initials, the movie won’t stay much in the theatres.[Interview : Manian Pillai Raju - Part II]

Every once in a while director Kamal makes a movie with new comers and they become popular. Nammal which had Siddharth, Jishnu, Renuka Menon and Bhavana was a big success while Goal which had Ranjith Menon, Aksha Pardesi and Muktha George did not do that well. Roshan Andrews’ second movie Notebook starring Roma, Sreedevi, Parvathi and Sooraj did very well, even though we did not think very high about it.

With Cycle becoming a hit, it gives us the new actor Vineeth Srinivasan and adds market value to Bhama and Vinu Mohan. We are excited about the movie’s success since we need fresh faces to deal with such stories. Since these actors are youngsters they cannot do the roles of the orphan-turned-Hindustani-classical-expert-cum-good-hearted-goonda or English-speaking-ACP. If public starts encouraging new actors, some of our superstars can stop making bad movies just to meet the quota.

But even if the movie becomes a hit, it does not ensure a steady career for all the stars. Among the Nammal cast only Bhavana became big and from the Notebook cast it was Roma. The cast of Goal went missing with Muktha George remaining as an occasional blip in the radar. We don’t know how many stars of Cycle will be pedaling same time next year, but even if one or two become bankable stars, it is good for the story tellers and listeners.

One of the first movie reviews about Chocolate was published here at vc by our guest contributor Movie Mazaa or MM for short. MM used a few words and metaphors which were later liberally found in reviews published by web sites of main stream media or MSM for short. (Watch out for the words in bold)

MM wrote

Chocolate is as scrumptious as it possibly can get. It’s a film that has its target audience chalked out in precise and exact strokes, and as such does a great job catering to its taste. Pretty darn funny at times, and wickedly humorous at others, it definitely won’t set new standards in film making, but would remain a true wild entry in the genre.

Chocolate is in no mood to lay itself down on a platter for a critical scrutiny, I agree. It doesn’t merit an elaborate analysis either. However, even a faint mark with an inquisitive scalpel would reveal chauvinism at its extreme in almost all the guffaws that it offers.

Shafi as the man at the helm has a real smart penchant for hit-craft as they call it and the film moves at a lightning pace towards a mirthful finish. Here he is a man with an excessively silly script and nothing much to say. And yet, and this is the most important point, he tremendously entertains.

IndiaGlitz wrote

Living by his words for the nth time, he again delivers another super hit that strictly entertains. His Ramzan flick ‘Chocolate’ is not a subtle film – It has only a thin line thread, and the script takes many too-predictable turns. Yet despite the lack of surprises, ‘Chocolate’ is indeed a hilarious comedy riot that knocks you over the head with its well directed sequences. With its target audience marked out in precise strokes, the film very well caters to their tastes and appeals without doubt.

But Shyam is also politically incorrect as they come. He insults the gang, tells offensive chauvinistic jokes, and generally goes out of his way to offend their leader Anna

Even though ‘Chocolate’ doesn’t set new standards in film making, it does provide just the right sort of escapist entertainment we’ve come to expect from films of this genre. Make  sure you  secure a seat at the earliest to enjoy this  hilarious  fun, which will definitely make you  give a smile that will linger.

Shafi  shows his real smart penchant for hit-craft  which he applies brilliantly  to hold the flick together  and present it at a lightning pace towards a jovial finish. It’s one of those films, that aren’t as much about the ending, as it is about the journey, which is hilarious, heart-warming and pleasant. And yet the most important point is that the flick tremendously entertains

Sify wrote

Shafi’s script is what makes the film work, its minty cool along with the comedy in the first half which is rip-roaring, and the drama within a play in the climax makes it sweet. He has been able to make it a non-stop entertainer with humour, romance and sentiments mixed in the right proposition. Added to that the Alex Paul- Vayalar Sarathchandra Varma teams music like the song Ishtam alle Chollu…, and the chic looking campus have made it rocking.

Pritviraj as Shyam has come out with his most lovable performance, letting his hair down and also proving that he has a gift for comedy and dramatic subtlety, which has remained neglected all these years. Pritvi’s petticoat scene is a riot! Roma is strikingly sweet while Samvrutha and Remya are OK. Jayasurya has played second fiddle to Pritvi, while Salim Kumar is once again able to bring the house down with his comic timing.

On the whole Chocolate is not only sweet, but hot –‘n’- happening. Go for it and enjoy!

Unni Nair writes

What would you expect from the director of films like One Man Show, Kalyanaraman, Pulivaal Kalyanam, Thommanum Makkalum and Mayavi? No doubt a full-length, colourful entertainer with an interesting story and ample dosages of humour, songs and well-choreographed dance sequences. Well, that’s exactly what Shafi gives you in his sixth and latest offering, which too is on the way to becoming another box office success. Chocolate, true to its name, is a yummy kind of film, one that you’d love to savour to the fullest extent. It’s colourful, entertaining and youthful to the core.

The songs have been choreographed well, in true Shafi style and sync perfectly with the theme and the mood. “Kalkanda Malare…” and “Ishtamalle…” are good ones. Technical aspects are excellent. Debutantes Sachi and Sethu, who penned the story and the script, deserve to be appreciated for having come up with so exciting an entertaining a subject. Bravo Shafi, Sachi, Sethu, Prithviraj, Roma and everyone else! To sum up, Chocolate is a clean entertainer, a perfect film for a festive season! Go and watch it with your family!

Paresh Palicha in Rediff writes

The premise may sound weird when read, but Shafi miraculously pulls it off with gusto. He has pulled off a lighter role with uncanny ease, effectively silencing all those who felt that the young actor was becoming a tad repetitive with his intense roles.

What follows is a rollicking ride through campus humour, which sometimes borders on innuendoes, but nevertheless flows seamlessly without any feeling of awkwardness. In fact this film can be an advocate for an inclusive society as we see our man struggling to find a urinal to relieve himself. But looking for depth will be futile. So relax and enjoy things while the going is good.

But the overall bouncy effect does not dissolve till the end. Things move swiftly under Shafi’s baton and don’t jangle on your nerves.

(Reader Nikhil sent us this review of Chocolate)

Shafi’s Chocolate tells the story of a boy, who comes to study in a women’s college. Prithviraj plays the lead Shyam Balagopal who carries nine suspensions and seven police cases during his graduation. Roma is the heroine Ann Mathews. The movie starts with the PTA meeting happening in the St.Mary’s women’s college (Sacret Heart College, Thevara) to make it a mixed one. Veteran actress Shari makes a come back through this movie, and she plays the role of the principal. Due to the parents’ protest, the college authority turns down the decision but allots one boy as per the rule for the PG course. The main gang of Ann, Nandana (Samvritha) and Susan (Ramya) are against the arrival of a boy where the opposite gang welcomes it.

After his arrival, there happens a lot of funny moments and even a ‘ragging’ against him. It results in the suspension of Ann and Shyam. But the initial war between Ann Mathews’ gang and Shyam gives way to friendship and the college election result becomes a turning point in the story. Prithviraj carries the film on his shoulders and Shafi handled Shyam with care. Roma’s performance is not up to that of Notebook but she handled the bold Ann Mathews very well.

After Classmates, Keralites get the chance to see some nice romance on the screen. Prithviraj and Roma carries good on-screen chemistry and it is handled well by Shafi. Samvritha gives a commendable performance and Ramya’s role is just an eye candy one. Jayasurya plays the role of a young fashion designer (Ranjith) who falls for Nandana. But his role is only a supporting one. Unlike Classmates, Chocolate does not carry a strong story line, but it overcomes Classmates in the entertainment value.

Among the crew, the debutant writers Sachi and Sethu deserves the first applause for the gripping script. But the second half could have been made even better . Some scenes are predictable and the unnecessary fight scene could have been avoided. The climax scene is innovative and it suits the film’s mood. Salim Kumar also contributes to the comedy part, but there is a comic scene from Salim Kumar on the drama stage where he tries to improvise Chandrika’s dialog, which misfires unexpectedly.

With Chocolate, Shafi proves that he can also make visually appealing movie if there is a good script with him. He has improved a lot from his previous venture Mayavi. He took care of the song picturization too. My favourite scene in the film is Shyam’s first day in the classroom. He couldn’t take his eyes from the surrounding girls and this scene provides enough laughter even without any dialogue. Prithviraj’s performance in this scene is enough to shut the mouth of his critics who says that he is weak in doing comedy. It seems he had done enough home work for Chocolate.

The art director Salu.K George deserves a special mention for making the film really colorful. The film has four songs, but Alex Paul’s music is a let down except the romantic melody “Ishtamalle…” which is really hummable and shot well. All the songs are apt to the situation. But I think the last one, “Thamarayum..” could have been avoided. The background score slightly resembles “Ente Khalbile” but it is used well in apt situations.

In short, Chocolate is a must watch with the family for its end to end entertainment value, with a unique theme. The film is sure to get many repeat viewers among the youth and is going to become this year’s mega hit.

(Image Courtsey: Rediff.com)

(Cross posted at Movie Mazaa)

Chocolate is as scrumptious as it possibly can get. It’s a film that has its target audience chalked out in precise and exact strokes, and as such does a great job catering to its taste. Pretty darn funny at times, and wickedly humorous at others, it definitely won’t set new standards in film making, but would remain a true wild entry in the genre.

St.Mary’s All Girls’College is set to welcome its first male student Shyam (Prithviraj) amidst loud protests from the PTA authorities as well as a group of tomboyish students headed by Anne (Roma), Nandana (Samvrutha) and Susan (Ramya). It’s a war that ends in love as always, with a certain degree of sweetness and charm about it.

The tenor is always buoyant and the characters are immensely adorable and hence it’s hard to take offence at the crudest of the jokes. It would seem quite funny that a college film would barely have a shot inside a classroom and that too for the sole purpose of a real raunchy rejoinder. The girls do what they do best – look pretty, all three of them; while Prithviraj finds himself quite at ease being the object of their affection. It’s one of those feel-good films where you let your good sense fly out of the exit door and rest assured that everything would turn out perfect in the end.

Despite its pretensions, Chocolate doesn’t melt in your mouth and belongs to another family altogether – it’s either a sour jelly or a sugary lollipop, I’m not sure which. It’s a bizarre film, in that the screenplay plummets deep into illogicalities and the gags are often lewd and downright offensive. The narrative stretches along a faint line of rationality that ultimately breaks and leaves you stranded in a delirium. . Shafi as the man at the helm has a real smart penchant for hit-craft as they call it and the film moves at a lightning pace towards a mirthful finish. Here he is a man with an excessively silly script and nothing much to say. And yet, and this is the most important point, he tremendously entertains.

I loved the peppy songs, regardless of the very outlandish lyrics. Sharath Vayalar and Alex Paul are not at their Classmates’ best, but they do help retain the upbeat mood right through. Azhakappan’s camera is sharp and swank as it swishes up and down the campus contours with style and some real snappy editing by Lokanathan ensures that it’s all crisp as a crunchy bite that’s really worth a nibble.

Chocolate is in no mood to lay itself down on a platter for a critical scrutiny, I agree. It doesn’t merit an elaborate analysis either. However, even a faint mark with an inquisitive scalpel would reveal chauvinism at its extreme in almost all the guffaws that it offers. Unintentional perhaps, but awful nevertheless. But then as someone said, there’s no moral here, just a lot of stuff happening.

Shafi’s Chocolate is a syrupy concoction all right; if you happen to be an aficionado of sugar, delve right into it.

Photo courtesy:rediff.com

His latest movie, Chocolates is a campus based and tells the story of a male student joining a girls only college. Prithviraj, in Chocolates, has an opportunity to deliver his first solo hero hit.

Shyam is doing his post-graduate studies. He is the only male member in an all women’s college. As per University rules all women’s colleges can admit one male student for post-graduate studies in each subject. That’s how Shyam came to be in this college. Not that he did it of his on volition. His scholastic record during undergraduate days was nothing to write home about, consisting as it did of seven police cases and eight suspensions. It took quite a bit of arm twisting by his mother Vanaja, who taught Sociology in the college, and the active connivance of the principal to get him into the college.

Vanaja always thought that it was the company he kept that got her son into all the troubles, and getting him into an all women’s college was the surest way of getting rid of such company. But with Shyam’s arrival in the college everything on the campus goes for a toss. Anne, Nandana and Susan who had up till them lorded it over their colleagues decided to go one up on Shyam. The interesting things that happen subsequently form the story of Chocolate.[chocolates]

Debutants Sethu and Sachi are handling the screenplay department and the music is by the hit duo of Alex Paul and Vayalar Sharath Chandra Varma. . Prithviraj has not really demonstrated his comedy skills, apart from that wry smile, and we wonder if this role would be a good fit for him. Then Shafi is a director who knows the pulse of the audience and maybe he will extract something new from Prithviraj. Jayasurya, who was the co-star of Prithviraj in hit movies like Classmates and Swapnakoodu also stars in this movie. There are three heroines in this movie – Roma, Samvritha Sunil and Remya Nambisan — and this could be the first pentagonal love story in Malayalam

This movie is releasing along with superstar movies like Paradesi and Nasrani and so it faces good competition in the field. Currently this movie could be the dark horse of the Ramzan/Navrathri season.

Update: See Also: Chocolate Review 

Photo courtesy: rediff.com

The natives are not doing bad either. Remya Nambisan has two movies, Anthiponvettam and Shalabham while Padmapriya too has two movies, Suhruthu and Veeralipattu. The other heroines we will be seeing in the near future include Vimala Raman (Kolkotta News), Priyanka (Kichamani MBA), Mythili (Subhadram), Roma (Chocolate), Bhama (Nivedyam), Udayathara (Patham Udayam), Divya Vishvanath (Indrajith), Indraja( Indrajith), Urvasi (Suhruthu), Lakshmi Sharma (Ayur Rekha), and Samvritha (Kalchilambu).

Looks like Kavya’s plan of sticking only to Malayalam movies playing heroine to Dileep and Prithviraj did not work after all.