Balettan

Cast: Mohanlal, Sudheesh, Devayani, Nedumudi Venu, Jagathi, Kalabhavan Mani
Language: Malayalam
Banner: Sunitha Productions
Director: V.M.Vinu
Producer: M.Mani
Camera: Aanadakkuttan
Story: T.A.Shahid
Screenplay: T.A.Shahid
Dialogue: T.A.Shahid
Lyrics: Gireesh Puthenchery
Music: M.Jayachandran
Distribution: Aaroma Release
Year: 2003

Mohanlal, one of the finest actors in the country, is going through tough times at the box-office. He is desperate for a hit and Balettan is another attempt by him to re-invent himself in a family entertainer. The director of the film, V.M.Vinu has included lots of comedy in the first half and turns the second half into a steamy tearjerker.

However the script on the whole does not live up to these better moments as too many characters, mainly comedy artists, pop in and out in the first half. It is obvious that the director has been watching too many sob stories including Lohithadas’ Valsalyam while making the film.

Balachandran (Mohanlal) is an accountant in a coperative bank, happily married to Radhika(Devayani) and has two children. Balettan as everybody lovingly calls him is a do-gooder and simpleton. His father, a retired postmaster (Nedumudi Venu), dies after confessing to Balachandran about his second wife and two daughters. Balettan keeps this as a secret and looks after his stepsisters without the knowledge of his wife and brother Sudhi (Sudheesh). The rest of the story is all about how Balettan tries to protect his father's image by telling lies which leads to flashpoints in his personal life.In the climax Kalabhavan Mani makes an entry as the person who sets everything right for our Balettan!

The plot is strictly hogwash as it follows a familiar path throughout and there is no twist anywhere in the film. Mohanlal is the only sparkling act in this slowcoach of a movie. Even Jagathy Sreekumar who never lets you down is becoming repetitive. It looks as if he is in a hurry to complete his comedy track and rush off to another set! Devayani has nothing much to do in a stale sacrificing wife role. The music of M.Jayachandran is good.

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