From rxpgnews.com
Lohithadas lets fans down in 'Chakkaramuthu'
By Paresh C. Palicha, Indo-Asian News Service,
Nov 22, 2006 - 2:08:22 PM
Cast: Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Jishnu and Sai Kumar; Music: M. Jayachandran;Director: Lohithadas; Producer: Seven Arts International
When a Lohithadas film makes it to the marquee, spirits soar and if it has his favourite actor Dileep that is an added bonanza. So, if his new film 'Chakkaramuthu' turns out to be disappointing, do we blame him or our expectations?
The story is about Aravindakshan (Dileep), a much-sought-after tailor working in a shop owned by Kumaran (Cochin Haneefa). Despite his retarded appearance, Aravindakshan has his own way of dealing with things.
He is in love with Unni Mol aka Anitha (Kavya Madhavan) since childhood. The audience is made to believe that this love is reciprocal. But the director has other ideas. He introduces a suave contemporary lover of Anitha in the form of Jeevan (Jishnu) in the film's second half.
From here on, the proceedings take the look of love stories made in the eighties - with the girl hiding the relationship from parents (here it is the single mother), they opposing it, the girl running away (with the help of her childhood chum) to her lover, and then realising that he is a bad guy.
Dileep's character may remind us of 'Kunjikoonan' but the way he goes about it is still refreshing. He deserved a better deal in this film.
Kavya Madhavan gets more mileage out of this film than the hero, especially in the second half when the complete focus of the story is on her character. She proves to be worthwhile but her characterisation is not in the same league as Manju Warrier's in 'Kanmadam' or even Meera Jasmine's character in 'Kustooriman', the woman-of-substance characters created by the same director.
It is also relieving to see Sai Kumar in a positive role after a long while as the jovial police officer who is Kavya's understanding uncle.
Jishnu is the surprise package. Though his role is blurrily etched, he succeeds in grabbing attention.
These good performances, however, do not save the film from proving a stale disappointment.
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