Boring

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Munnariyippu, means 'caution' or 'warning', but the warning is not about some shocking or nerve jangling event or occurrence. Cameraman-director Venu has a different agenda in this film that stars Mammootty in the lead.Anjali Arakkal (Aparna Gopinath), a freelance journalist, earns her living by ghost writing autobiographies of the rich and famous. Her latest client is the jail superintendent Krishnamoorthy (Nedumudi Venu) who is to retire from service shortly. When she goes to meet him in the jail, she meets Raghavan (Mammootty), a prisoner accused of a double homicide. He has served his sentence but continues to stay in the jail as he has nowhere to go.Anjali interviews him as part of the research for Krishnamoorthy's book. She finds that he is an interesting person and has jotted down his thoughts in a diary. She uses this material to write an article on him for a leading English magazine.The article wins her a book deal from a publisher in Mumbai to translate Raghavan's autobiographical writings.Anjali gets Raghavan released and finds him a place to stay. She provides him with pen and paper, telling him to write whatever he feels like. But days go by and the paper remains blank. Anjali gets increasingly angry, annoyed and agitated as time goes by.The equation of their relationship does not change much as they come to know each other better. Anjali had found Raghavan an interesting subject to write about. Raghavan does not open up to her any more than one would to a casual acquaintance, even though he entrusts her with his life's earnings.The screenplay and dialogues by Unni R give us clues to where we are heading, but much still remains a mystery.Renji Panicker and Joy Mathew play senior journalists who guide Anjali, who can be quite ambitious and ruthless. They say things that mentors are supposed to say. They underline the changes taking place in the profession.Prithviraj appears in a cameo as the prospective groom for Anjali.The star cast is in top form with every character etched perfectly so that every character is memorable no matter how fleeting an appearance he/she makes.Munnariyippu is one of the most intriguing films made in recent times.

"Munariyippu" starts with a very interesting backdrop for the title credits - of a dead lizard being carried away by ants. This right after a disclaimer that "No animals were harmed in the making of this film". I found it very farcical. But then they stretched it for so long, focusing on it while ants carried that lizard from one end of the screen to the other for a good 5 minutes, that one got distracted and bored by the end of it.This is exactly my complaint against the rest of the movie. It takes a very interesting premise, maybe what can be justified as a farce/satire, but turns you off by stretching it way too long."Munariyippu" as a story concept is very intriguing and interesting. The first half takes some time to set in, which is fine if not for the (what I qualify as) pseudo intellectualism, references to Kafka and the irreverence of "new generation" to political philosophies and such. Aparna Gopinath comes across a little out of her comfort zone, but then we start getting used to her aspiring and talented journalist Anjali. As the movie progresses, we start getting irritated with her as well, which I believe is the intention of the director too. The journalist get-togethers, Anjali's apartment, the Maggi dinners, the details are actually well captured. But we wait for the "action" to start, for the story to get going. But unfortunately that never happens.There are some really funny characters, like the library assistant, the kid from the restaurant, the "cameo" character, who seem there only for the comic relief but still gel in well. I wish that if the director understood the need for comic relief, he had also foreseen the need for a quicker pace. Just like Anjali's micromanaging of Mammootty's writing in the second half, I felt like going and checking with the director of when things will start happening. Alas, by the time it happened, I had already guessed what would be the end, no thanks to the usher who opened the doors in time to warn us that the movie is going to end while we were still waiting for this "happening".Mammootty stands out as usual by giving a very sober and subtle performance as the innocent, tormented man who is funny yet mysterious - as if a mix of his earlier jailed characters from "Mathilukkal" and "Yathra". Aparna Gopinath does fine. The other actors have also done a good work especially Renji Panicker and Nedumudi Venu. The locations are unique, a different view of Kozhikode.Overall, the slow pace of the movie, takes the zing out of the story. Despite all the good acting, "Munariyippu" disappoints as a full length feature film. Wish they had kept it crisper. Lets hope Venu's next movie has a better story and a more "entertaining" pace.

Munnariyippu will be treated as a movie for those who have high evaluation skills.Or it can be said as a perfect movie for movie lovers.Veteran director Venu has proved his exceptional directional skills again.The script by Unni.R. is engaging throughout.Mammootty and Aparna Gopinath are seen throughout the movie with their combination scenes and they compete with each other in emoting their characters.The suspense element is unpredictable, but definitely it will disappoint some viewers who expect a little more explanation.But there comes the importance of the movie name Munnariyippu' meaning "Warning", so 'Expect the Unexpected'.The movie is a cult one and a perfect treat for all who love to see a good cinema.

Munnariyip, A movie which will haunt you for a long time after you left from the movie hall. A movie about C.K Raghavan and his views about the freedom. A Stunning movie with a flawless script and brilliant acting by the pioneer of Indian cinema Mammooty. Special mention to the director for the way he narrate the movie. Such a masterpiece in the recent times.A movie which allows the audience to be a part of it. movie leaves many unanswered questions at last. By thinking one can understand what the movie is all about. This stuff can be considered as mammooty's best work in last 5 years. This one is for all the movie lovers out there. don't miss it.