Truly Dreadful Film

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

A middle aged Malayali man arrives in Kerala after years in Czheckoslovakia and seeks out some of his old friends with whom he had a great time as a kid in Idukki. They decide to take a trip to Idukki to smoke the high quality marijuana available in Idukki known as IDUKKI GOLD. While each of the friends are tracked down, we are given flashbacks into their childhood.This film had so much potential, I feel like kicking the director and the poor writers for not fully realizing it. It is one of the most poorly written Malayalam films in recent times. The five friends were so thick as kids that they hit it off immediately despite meeting after so many years and each one having his own share of problems. The scenes of them living it up are scarily banal. Think of a really boring party where one or two extroverts try to liven things up by shouting at the top of their voices ("where is the fire?") or somebody cracks a poor joke. The film is full of such moments. Apart from a few amusing moments, the writers seem to be incapable of writing anything even remotely funny or touching. So the film has to be saved by some clever editing, beautiful visuals and lots and lots of nostalgia.The director AASHIQ ABU did manage to line up some really competent actors like PRATAP POTHEN - who is a pretty intelligent guy in real life, he seems to know that the script is crap but tries to look interested and give his best, RAVINDRAN - he was like the DEEPAK TIJORI of 80s Malayalam cinema, he had faded away, but his role as a goofy middle aged bachelor is sure to land him more roles, MANIYANPILLA RAJU - he has always been a solid comedian and he has some of the best lines in the film, VIJAYARAGHAVAN - another terrific and intelligent actor and even he seems to know that the script is crap. I don't know what BABU ANTHONY was doing in this film. He was a villain in the 80s and 90s and he is as stone faced as always.The film does incorporate some interesting historical and pop culture references in the flashbacks. And the scenes of their life as kids in Idukki was mildly entertaining. The film did strike a chord with the older generation - my father and his friend loved the film.And finally, the film has a really cop out ending with a trivial positive message - ITS NOT ABOUT THE DRUGS, IT IS ABOUT FRIENDSHIP! jeez! (5/10)

I never leave a movie incomplete and this time was the most farthest I reached and controlled myself. 2 hours of torture about how old & lonely yet pretentious men fool around with skeletons in their common cupboard.The episodic screenplay was something new from the person who gave us a re-film of three hit movies, 22 Female Kottayam. And it worked well as far as the screenplay is concerned. But, coupled with writing that is so dull in style & setting, the on-screen sequences came out like they lacked commitment. Even the five lead actors put up a poor show; indeed the newcomers have done a terrific job. Lal had a cameo and I loved him, maybe because he's a part of that only scene in the film which is worth.Reminiscing the good old days and reliving has been showcased quite a lot of times in cinema, latest with 2 Harihar Nagar. Sampling the same technique and complementing it with the new-age, hotshot "weed" (drug) or "Idukki Gold" element as they call it, does nothing but overwhelm the whole point. It depicts something bad in a very bad bad way. Teenagers watching this film are bound to receive a wrong message.Now I am not accusing the makers of anything, but it is ridiculous to mix movies with elements of nonsense/taboo that are, in streetwise laudable, but rationally improper and calling the whole mixture new-wave or new-age cinema. There is not a single point of newness in this otherwise goddamn boring film.Music by Bijibal is good, but not happening as was the case in 22FK. Cinematography sucked, so did the editing. Unbelievable references from Dr. Dre's Beats audio headphones to the mockery of whole meaning of friendship. It was certain that the writers were eagerly trying to add humor, adult humor, slapstick into every node, but constantly failing. The ending is so shot to give depth to the whole foolishness behind, but if you look closer, you'll find out the real definition of ridiculousness and gimmickry.BOTTOM LINE: A very bad film. Not recommended to any age group. If I were to change the title, I'd name it "How To Live Without Guilt After Committing A Crime!"Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NODrugs/Alcohol/Smoking: Very Strong | Sex/Foreplay/Porn: No | Vulgarity/Nudity: Mediocre | Violence/Gore: Strong