Watching Priyadarshan talk and talk about how this movie is his 'baby' makes me feel disgusted!
I mean, how can he claim a movie made my one of his respected colleagues and one of the most prominent film directors of Malayalam cinema's 'golden era' - Fazil. Manichitratazhu, roughly translated as The Ornate Lock was one of the most splendid masterpieces of Malayalam cinema that was released in 1993. The movie went onto win the hearts and appreciation of the filmgoers and also went onto grab awards left and right. Definitely one of those few movies that was both a critical as well as a commercial acclaim right from the word 'go'.
The most important feature of this movie from a directorial view was that many fine directors like Priyadarshan, Siddique Lal, Sibi Malayil all assisted Fazil handling the second units. Eventually the movie was completed in 27 days flat.
Now in 41 days, Priyadarshan too ran a tight ship and got the film wrapped up which in itself is a big feat indeed. However there are bigger shoes to fill - for asking anyone to do the role done to almost-perfection by Mohanlal is a tough ask - and Priyan thinks his boy Akshay Kumar can do the trick. We have to see that. And then getting a rather raw Vidhya Balan to come out of the shell and match Shobana's national award winning performance is the real 'make-or-break' point of the whole enterprise. Surely I do not expect this to happen, and neither did Priyan as he claimed in his one interview.
Rounding up, the rest of the cast includes talents like Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Shiney Ahuja, Asrani and also Amisha Patel (hopefully, she gets a chance to do something worthwile in here).
So get ready for the spooky psychology thriller which I really really hope Priyadarshan does not make a mess of it trying to give it a more Bollywood grandeur.
The film is a very original but complicated story with complicated characters but told in a very simple manner. Keep it simple and the rest should fall in place. One of the stories where the script holds the magic. As long as Priyadarshan sticks to these basics, there is nothing that can keep this movie from hitting the bulls eye.
And the good thing is that this in no way is a remake of CHANDRAMUKHI, the Rajini masala version which ripped apart the soul and heart of the whole movie andmade a typical Rajini potboiler - entertaining for some, laughter factory for the others.
But whatever it turns out to be- I hope Priyadarshan gives the credit where it is due rather than going on claiming that these remakes are all his flicks.
BHOOL BHULAIYAA (2007)
Release date: October 12,2007
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Shiney Ahuja, Amisha Patel, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Asrani, Vineeth.
Music: Pritam
Director: Priyadarshan
