Akasha Gopuram - Movie Preview

After his recent debacles in commercial cinema, Mohanlal is finally coming up with a role that will once again portray his versatile skills to enliven the characters to perfection. K P Kumaran's 'Aakasha Gopuram' will be a milestone in the actor's career as he plays Albert Samson, an character built on the famous classic ‘Master Builder’ by Norwegian playwright Henrik Johan Ibsen. The film with a unique theme of romance, lust and greed is made as a tribute to Ibsen in his death centenary year.

‘Aakasha Gopuram’, set in an imaginary town tells the story of Albert Samson (Mohanlal), a middle-aged architect who is ready to sacrifice anything for art. Though, he has pulled up his way to fame, his determination only on his career success for fended Samson and his family from leading a meaningful life.

Samson in his early years has struggled much to reach up to his ambitions. Then, he worked with his employer Abraham Thomas, who supported him in his endeavors. Samson started building churches and after a while, easily climbed lanes of glory, when he attempted building villas. He even exploited Abraham, his former employer, to reach the top, which in turn has made the later, his assistant. Samson managed to marry Alice, the daughter of a British Duke but with the death of her parents and her children, she ceased sympathizing with Samson and started leading a frustrated life. Samson also very soon realized that just like his own life, not every thing was good in the houses that he had built, along the years. Thomas, now dying, wanted his son Alex to have more independence in the firm but Samson fearing the caliber of the younger generation of architects refuses to allow Alex either to design original houses or to leave the firm.

Samson's life takes a new turn as Hilda Varghese, a spirited young woman who has idolized Samson for years, comes up to claim the ‘kingdom' that Samson has offered her when she was just a girl of twelve. This promise was made when Samson built a large church in her hometown, ten years before and climbed to the top of its tower during its dedication ceremony. And now Hilda sincerely has come to collect her kingdom. To fulfill her wish and for making a perfect architecture for self satisfaction, Samson begins to built a tower -a big one, poised to reach the sky - 'Aakashagopuram'.

'Aakashagopuram' also has a rare distinction that it is one of the few international co-productions made in Malayalam. National and international award winning director K P Kumaran, returns to big screen after a gap of 6 year with the film.

“I had been trying to do this film for the last ten years. I did even plan the film against an Indian milieu, to be shot at Simla, Ooty and Moonar , but it never materialized. It was then the British company under Taizoon F. Khorakkiwala came forward to support the production. It was really a dream come true for me'', says Kumaran whose famous filmography includes Thotram, Athithi, Neram Pularumbol, Rugmini and Kattile Pattu among others. ‘Master Builder’ is a powerful psychological play written by Ibsen in his later years. The play even has some surrealistic elements. “I have tried to retain the basic character of the play, and the film is an adaptation of the play”, adds the renowned director.

Newcomer Nithya makes her debut performance as Hilda. Shweta Menon plays Alice while late Bharath Gopi plays Abraham Thomas in the film. Also in the cast are Sreenivasan, Manoj K Jayan and Geethu Mohandas in supporting roles.

The best of talent from India and UK have come together to create this engaging classic. The movie is shot entirely in various locations in UK by cinematographer Santosh C Thundiyil (Krish, Pinjar, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai fame). Sabu Cyril is the production designer of the film while B Ajith Kumar does the editing.

One of the major highlights of the film is the music of John Altman, an Emmy award winning British composer (Goldeneye, Shall we Dance.). He has composed a song I'm black.... for the film which is beautifully choreographed and picturised on Mohanlal and Shwetha by Sandeep Soparkar.

Produced in the banner of Medient international limited, 'Akasha Gopuram' will now grace the theatres by the third week of March.

Mohanlal and Lohithadas Team Again

Mohanlal and Lohithadas has been a great team which managed to create some of the best filmi works in Malayalam. Starting with 'Dasharatham' and 'His Highness Abdullah', of the early nineties, they had created more than a dozen classy hits till 'Kanmadham’ in the late nineties.Now after almost a decade, the best of the talented artists and scriptwriter in Malayalam are again planning to unite for a film that will be launched in a couple of months.

Lohithadas has tentatively announced the title of the movie as 'Bheeshmar'- the same title in which he had announced another Mammootty starrer , an year back. Johny Sagariga is planning to produce this movie, which is in its final discussions.

Mohanlal got Best Actor Award - Critics Award

Shyamaprasad's 'Ore Kadal' and debutant director Babu Thiruvalla's `Thaniye' shared the award for the best film in the Critics Awards announced this week.
‘Nivedyam' directed by Lohithadas was chosen the second best film by the jury. Mohanlal was named the best actor for his performance in `Paradesi' while Lakshmi Gopalaswamy's roles in `Paradesi' and `Thaniye' fetched her the best actress award.

Shyamaprasad was named best director of the year while renowned director Adoor Gopalakrishnan would be conferred with `Chalachitra Rathnam' award for his contribution to cinema. The award comprises a purse of Rs 30,000 cash and citation. Nedumudi Venu won the second best actor for his lead performance in ‘Thaniye’ while Sreenivasan was given a special award for acting and best screenplay.

The awards in the music section went to East coast Vijayan for best lyrics and M Jayachandran for best music direction. The recipients of the other awards that were announced includes Parvathi (second best actress) for ‘Flash’, Azhagappan (cinematography), Vijay Yesudas (male playback singer), Swetha Mohan (female playback singer), P C Mohanan (editing), Kalavoor Ravikumar (director, best children's film), Bhama (best debut actor), Sreelal Devaraj and M Mohanan (debut directors).

The awards, instituted by Kerala Film Critics Association will give away in a ceremony, later next month.

College Kumaran Review - Good Entertainer!

A very good entertainer from our Lalettan. From the first 2 days the report shows that the movies is going to be a super hit of the year 2008. You can enjoy 2.45 hr wihout boring.

The film is a rollicking ride through the life of Kumaran alias Captin Sreekumar, an ex military officer, who is presently running the campus canteen of Mahatma College.

Spending his days entirely for and with the students Kumaran popularly called as Kumarettan, is the life and soul of the campus. Kumaran is the only person who can influence the students of this college to any extent. He is like a gang leader who is always in front to support and raise the needs of students, be it the agitation demanding the recognition of courses before the Secretariat or the strike against Prof Vikraman (Rizabava) who runs special tuition in the time of college classes. Even the principal Narendranath (Janaardhanan) and manager Shivaraman Nair(Nedumudi Venu) turns to him, whenever the students starts fights on petty issues and politically targeted strikes.

Kumaran's father Karunakaran Nair and his sister died in a fire that happened in the canteen ten years back , and there after Kumaran left the army to be with the students and the college, which he maintains like his own home. But there were many who hated Kumaran and his freehand in the college administration. The spearhead among them was Sethunathan, the educational minister, and the chieftain of all illegal business activities related to education. A former chairman of the college, he raved to buy the college from the manager Shivaraman by hook or crook. And for this he hatched many plans which get spoiled always by the timely intrusion of Kumaran. Madhavi (Vimala Raman), the college's English professor, was another person who felt that Kumaran is the major reason behind the students getting pampered and spoiled. But very soon the tables are expected to turn against Kumaran as he get enmeshed in a bigger trap, Will Kumaran be able to survive the commotion? Can he save the college from Sethunath? See the film for the answers.

Also the film got nice songs. The song starting "Kanakuyil.." is already got in top list.

Definitely a good entertainer of the year.