Which Malayalam film did you watch recently ?

[Murali Srinivas]

Ustad Hotel

Easily the best malayalam film in the recent times. Go for it!!!

Saw it yesterday. Though belonging to a genre of films like Swades and our own Thevar Magan, where the protagonist who is dreaming of making it big in a foreign country ends up in his home town realising that there is much to do here, the plot has been nicely handled. Taking the real life incident that happened at Madurai and intervening it with the local flavour of Malabar, Anwar Rasheed shows a glimpse of his potential that was never evident in his previous three directorial outings. In stark contrast to his earlier ventures like Rajamanikkam, Chotta Mumbai and Annan Thampi, here the story is told in a delectable manner.

Thilakan as a comeback of sorts is excellent as usual and Siddique as his son does his job well. Veteran Mammukoya leaves his mark and Nithya Menon the heroine is ok. What can one say about Dulquar! The boy has a charm and comes out as a natural. He has a deep resonating voice that should stand him in good stead.

To sign off let me use the words, what dear brother Ajaybaskar had messaged me after seeing the movie [though I don't fully endorse it]

Mammookka can now retire peacefully!

Regards