Mallu sing :: Review

‘MALLU SINGH’ directed by Vysakh is the story of a search for one’s long-lost friend and how the search evolves after they land up in the land of five rivers. Vysakh is known for his rip-roaring and hilarious entertainers and ‘MALLU SINGH’ sits right up there with a fine story-line and amusing episodes. Hari(Unni Mukundan) has been missing for more than seven years and Ani(Kunchacko Boban) wanted to find him. Hari was Ani's friend from childhood; besides Ani's little sister Ashwathi's (Samvritha Sunil) wedding was almost finalized with Hari, her cousin. So Ani sets forth to Punjab with great expectations of finding Hari. He was not sure why Hari had to disappear especially when he knew the depth of Hari’s love for Ashwathi. He found his mother in tears most of the time and watching her, he decided that he must reach Hari somehow. In Punjab, he arrives in Mallu Street and to his wonder, he locates Hari. But Hari's name is Harinder Singh, he courts a beard and turban and his attire is purelyPunjabi. Even in his behavior, Harinder Singh alias Mallu Singh looks a typical Punjabi. Ani wanted to make sure about Hari'sidentity and so decides to stay putfor a longer period. While contemplating the hurdles he has to overcome in a strange land to learn the truth, help arrives in the form of Karthi(Biju Menon) and Pappan(Manoj K Jayan). Together, the three go in search of proof to make sure that Mallu Singh is Hari.Somewhere along the line, Suseelan(Suraj Venjarumoodu) joins the threesome making the situation worse. Suseelan came toPunjab to start a hair cutting saloon but on finding that no onein Punjab cuts his hair, took up cycle repair as his occupation for survival. Their probes and inquiries lead them through manyadventures and they are featured very humorously in MALLU SINGH. The movie has lot of flashbacks and interludes and the different threads are sewn together to reveal the final work . Unni Mukundan as 'Mallu Singh' looks very natural with his beefy appearance and he doesn’t disappoint as an actor either. Thiscould be an opener to bigger things for Unni Mukundan. Audience are sure to lap up his performance as the Sardar. Kunchacko Boban as Ani proves that his rising stature as an actor is no fluke with yet an other impressive performance. In fact, Chackochan’s role is probably central to the theme and he doesn’t disappoint. Manoj K Jayan and Biju Menon have done remarkably well and the expressions on their faces in certain sticky situations make youlaugh again and again long after the end of the film. Suraj Venjaramoodu is funny as usual and comes out with some nice quips. The females in the movie are Samvritha Sunil, Meera Nandan, Rupa Manjari, Shalin and Aparna Nair and they have put in their best efforts in their respective roles. So is the case with Saikumar, Siddique, Suresh Krishna and Geetha. Asif Ali's cameo role is fine. Story is written by Sethu and cinematography is by Shaji. Music direction is by Jayachandran. Editing by Mahesh Narayanan. Technically its in to rate. For Vysakh who has ‘POKKIRIRAJA’and ‘SENIORS’ to his credit, ‘MALLUSINGH’ will surely add a few more feathers to his director’s cap. Verdict: Avarage