| Directed by | Aashiq Abu |
|---|---|
| Screenplay by | Original Screenplay: Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Additional Screenplay: Hrishikesh Bhaskaran |
| Produced by | Aashiq Abu Rima Kallingal |
| Starring | Tovino Thomas Rima Kallingal Roshan Mathew Shine Tom Chacko |
| Cinematography | Girish Gangadharan |
| Edited by | V. Saajan |
| Production company | OPM Cinemas |
Gist of the Story
In a deserted home that is rumored to be cursed by the ghost of a young woman that committed suicide after being betrayed in love, a young, eager, and free-spirited novelist arrives to stay.
Detailed Plot
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer moves into a house inhabited by Bhargavi, a ghost. Bhargavi kills herself after an unfruitful love relationship. Sashi Kumar, her lover, flees. Basheer chooses to pen Bhargavi’s narrative. Her parents and friends provide him with details about her. The writer initially dismisses the rumours about the mansion and the ghost, but he soon starts to encounter unusual occurrences. However, as the plot develops, the spirit herself reveals Basheer her narrative in various ways. The author then starts investigating what occurred to Bhargavi and who was responsible for Sashi Kumar and Bhargavi’s deaths.
Artistes’ Performances
Originally portrayed by legendary actor Madhu, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer’s character is now played by Tovino Thomas. Tovino performs with delicacy. In Tovino’s depiction of the writer, who appears to be going through an internal crisis yet faces it when he speaks to others close by, there is moderation and maturity. Bhargavi’s Rima Kallingal exudes greater adoration. In Bhargavi’s flashback scenes, Rima appears graceful and conveys the romanticism she has for her next-door neighbour Sasikumar through her eyes. Talented performers who play Sasikumar and Nanukuttan, respectively, in the film, such Roshan and Shine Tom Chacko, give strong performances.
Direction / Technical Side
Filmmaker Aashiq Abu and his crew have remade “Neelavelicham,” based on a brief novel of the same name by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, on a gigantic scale. Remakes always run the risk of being compared to the original, but remaking a film, even a classic like Vaikom Muhammed Basheer’s 1964 film Bhargavi Nilayam, would open up a world of possibilities, especially in terms of how it is filmed and presented to modern audiences. Aashiq Abu, who directed Neelavelicham in his adaptation of Bhargavi Nilayam, would have found this to be appealing. Romance, horror, and suspense were all present in the groundbreaking movie Bhargavi Nilayam. Neelavelicham is 2 hours and 14 minutes long yet contains all of the identical scenes as the first film.
Aashiq Abu and his team’s sincere endeavor is Neelavelicham. He doesn’t alter the story, which is difficult for a director to accomplish. Aashiq transports the audience to this realm flawlessly and holds your attention for a long time with the help of Girish Gangadharan’s bizarre frames and Bijibal and Rex Vijayan’s music. Aashiq most likely makes his lasting contribution to the reinterpretation of this classic at this point. The director tried hard to make it appealing on several times, despite it not being a great retelling.
Verdict; Neelavelicham is a well-made film with some good performances and strong support from its art, music, and cinematography departments. The director has tried hard to make it appealing on many levels, despite the predictability. Overall, a Slow Paced First Half and an Engaging and Thrilling Second Half make it a good one-time watch.