As a whole, Malaikottai Vaaliban is an ambitious and unorthodox movie that is best appreciated as a visual extravaganza as opposed to a reasoned and emotional trip.
Gist of the Story
A roaming renowned fighter engages in combat, passes through communities, and has his life turned around by the people he encounters along the route.
| Directed by | Lijo Jose Pellissery |
|---|---|
| Screenplay by | P. S. Rafeeque |
| Story by | Lijo Jose Pellissery |
| Produced by | Shibu Baby John Achu Baby John Vikram Mehra Siddharth Anand Kumar M. C. Philip Jacob K. Babu |
| Starring | Mohanlal |
| Cinematography | Madhu Neelakandan |
| Edited by | Deepu S. Joseph |
| Music by | Prashant Pillai |
| Production companies | John & Mary Creative Century Films Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments Saregama Amen Movie Monastery |
Detailed Plot
Together with Chinna and Ayyanar (Hareesh Peradi), Malaikottai Vaaliban (Mohanlal) is an undefeated warrior who goes to various terrains to vanquish various opponents. He runs across his opponent, Chamathakan (Danish Sait), during one of the battles; in the village of Mangodu, he crafts Mangottu Mallan (Guinness Harikrishnan). Vaaliban beats Mallan as anticipated, having a long-lasting effect on Chamathakan’s life. Chamathakan chooses to pursue Vaaliban tenaciously in order to exact retribution in return. After that, Vaaliban goes back to Malaikottai, his village, and confronts the British. Nevertheless, fresh issues surface in Malaikottai, creating a split in the connections he has thus far fostered. This forces Vaaliban to find out the truth and have a last showdown.
Artistes’ Performances
In terms of performances, Mohanlal’s acting talents has undoubtedly been utilized by Malaikottai Vaaliban. The second half of the movie, which finds the character in the midst of an emotional crisis, offers you glimpses of the other side of the performance, while the first part of the movie mostly concentrates on his charm and ease as an accomplished wrestler. The movie benefits greatly from his comfort level during battle scenes.
In his role as Vaaliban’s dual-shaded master, Hareesh Peradi is in fine form. Ayyanar, who mentors the youthful Vaaliban, is played convincingly by Hareesh Peradi. Danish Sait, a comedian from Bengaluru, makes his Malayalam film debut in the film, playing an unusual role. The performer emotes effectively and has also been dubbed in his own voice. Katha Nandi, who made her debut, is just as captivating as Jamanthi.
Direction / Technical Side
Lijo Jose Pellissery is the director of the fantasy action movie Malaikottai Vaaliban, which features Mohanlal as the title character. Inspired on Gulliver’s Travels, the movie tells the story of Vaaliban, an unbeatable warrior who travels to numerous countries and meets strange people in strange situations. With its amazing art design, costumes, special effects, and cinematography, the movie is a visual extravaganza. The action scenes are expertly choreographed and exhilarating, while Prashanth Pillai’s music is upbeat and captivating.
Still, there are several issues with the movie. The pacing is erratic and sluggish, and the narrative is weak and uncoherent. Although the movie makes an attempt to strike a balance between comedy, drama, and fantasy, it is unable to produce a compelling story. A few of the sentences are forced and cliched, and the characters are shallow and undeveloped. The spectator is unable to feel sympathy for Vaaliban or his friends, which further detracts from the film’s emotional effect. There are a lot of unsolved questions at the film’s hazy and disappointing conclusion.
Verdict;
Malaikottai Vaaliban, all things considered, is an ambitious and unorthodox movie that displays the technical mastery and inventiveness of Lijo Jose Pellissery and his crew but lacks substance and enjoyment. Action and fantasy moviegoers could like the movie, but those looking for a compelling story with well-developed characters might find themselves let down. Instead than following a logical and emotional path, the movie is best appreciated as a visual feast.