Kanal review

Mohanlal, that name is enough for malayalees to wait for a film and hope big time from it. That is a great thing and at sometimes it’s a curse as well. Because it makes his film almost a safe bet at box office which guarantees the money back to the producer and also making his star value to grow more and more. That is why he is still at the top of that table of most valuable stars in Mollywood. But that is a curse in the sense that people always expect something very big from his films and he cannot satisfy them fully every time as it is not in his hands. He is an actor who surrenders fully to his director and trusts him completely. Today the film Kanal had come to the theaters here conceived by one on whom Mohanlal put his full trust. Yes, it none other than one of the most talented director in Mollywood, Mr. M Padma Kumar. He had done one film with Mohanlal earlier in 2010 and it was a super success titled as Shikkar which told a thriller subject.

Kanal is also a thriller and the expectation rises with that. Suresh Babu who wrote the script of Shikkar was penned this one as well. It the story of four persons who had connections with Middle East in the course of their life and focuses mainly on one person named John David played by Mohanlal. John David who is animator by profession meets one called Anantha Rman during a train journey. Anantha raman is in a disturbed mental state due to some personal problem related to his financial position and family matters. So John David offers his help to him to solve the problems and that journey with John David make Anantha Raman to witness something really bad and that incident turns his life. Who is John David, what is his motives and what is he going to do and the film tells you that.

Anoop Menon Is playing the character named Anantha Raman. First thing First, M Padma Kumar had really done a great job as a director and did complete justice to the trust people had on him by giving a sterling film to us. It was a real comeback from the director as he had given a film with social relevant subject and also gave Mohanlal a character to perform rather than showing his mass appeal. Padma Kumar had firm grip on the narration of the story right from the beginning and till the end he maintained that grip. His skill has been exemplary while carrying the mystery element in the film. Suresh Babu’s screenplay was very well conceived by this fabulous director and can be said that is one of the best from this team. And to the Man of the Match, yes it’s Mohanlal. As John David he gave one of the best performance of him in recent times and as everybody tells about his acting, he really lived as John David and his each expressions gives life to that character. Mohanlal was a complete package and made us wonder how this man act so easily and effortlessly and pull off a character with such complex nature to such perfection..!.. A living Wonder indeed..!..

Other actors like Anoop Menon, Atul Kulkarni, Pratp Pothen, Honey Rose, innocent, Nikita, Sheelu Abraham etc also done well and Anoop Menon had given equal screen space with Mohanlal in this film. Sheelu Abraham who came in this film as the wife character of Anoop Menon had given a really matured performance and after performing a lighter role in She taxi , Sheelu once again showed us that she had in her, the talent to give versatile performances.The film tells a relevant subject and moves in a medium pace till the end. There are twist and turns in the subject and the depth of the story that makes it good. Music was done by Ouseppachan and Vinu Thomas and they not done too bad. Vinod Elampally’s camera work also blend really well with the narration. Kanal can be said as a different experience and showed before us a genre of film which is never seen before in Malayalam cinema. It is a revenge thriller at the same time a mystery thriller with family elements and emotion. You will not be disappointed for sure after watching it as it is a fresh experience for you.

Rating : 3.5/5