Lion

Cast: Dileep, Kavya Madhavan, Jagathy, Innocent, Sai Kumar, Harisree Ashokan, Salim Kumar, Kalasala Babu, Shammi Thilakan, Riyaz Khan, Vijayaraghavan, Karthika, Madhupal, Saji Soman
Language: Malayalam
Banner: N.N.S Arts
Director: Joshi
Producer: Naushad
Camera: P.Sukumar
Story: Uday Krishna, Sibi K Thomas
Screenplay: Uday Krishna, Sibi K Thomas
Dialogue: Uday Krishna, Sibi K Thomas
Lyrics: Kaithapram
Music: Deepak Dev
Distribution: Shan Entertainments Release
Year: 2006

Dileep’s Lion is a rip-roaring fun-filled family movie set against Kerala’s coalition politics. It is undoubtedly a roller-coaster ride of pure unadulterated masala from director Joshy. The problem is that there is nothing new in the plot, proceedings and climax as they are predictable. But it is Dileep’s screen presence, comic timing and above all his on-screen chemistry with Kavya Madhavan which makes this political thriller watchable.

Writers Sibi.K.Thomas and Uday krishna has taken all the recent political incidents in Kerala including people's fight against Coca-Cola's water-guzzling plant at Plachimada village in Palakkad district are weaved into the script including the conflict between a politician father and his son (similarities to veteran Kerala Congress leader Balakrishna Pillai and his son Ganesh Kumar).

Chandanakkatil Bala Gangadhara Menon (Kalasala Babu) is a powerful scheming politician and minister in the ruling coalition government. He is the Minister for Education and is highly corrupt and devious. He is aided in all his ventures by two son’s-in-law (Sai Kumar and Shammi Thilakan) an IAS and IPS officers! On the other hand, his only son Krishna Kumar (Dileep) is an upright, honest student leader who opposes his father and his nefarious activities.

Finally, when Krishna Kumar realizes that he cannot do anything good to the people and state without having power, he contests against his father and wins the elections to become the Home Minister of the state. He decides to clean up the Augean stables and bring about a clean state devoid of any corruption and goondaism. Meanwhile he is in love with Shari (Kavya) a teacher and marries her much against the opposition of his father. How Krishnakumar goes about cleaning the system and proving his pet theory that – “Leadership is an action not a position” forms the rest of the story.

Lion is an escapist fare with a comic-book like fantasy story with all masala coatings. There are two dream songs shot in the picturistique New Zealand streets and mountains, crooned by Dileep’s favourite singer Udit Narayanan. The comedy of Jagathy Sreekumar is dignified while the huge supporting cast of Shobha, Vijayaraghavan, Salim Kumar, Harisri Asokan, Innocent and others prove themselves adequate in their miniscule roles. Kalasala Babu is outstanding as Bala Gangadhara Menon.

Dileep is undoubtedly the scene-stealer of the film with some best written punch line dialogues and his body language after he becomes a minister is commendable. Kavya Madhavan looks like a sumo fighter as she looks too bloated especially in song sequences. The two songs tuned by Deepak Dev with background score of Ouseppachan is added highlight of the film.

On the downside, there is nothing new in this political masala and is lengthy at 2 hours 40 minutes. Some trimming might help to make it a bit more racy. If you are looking for some fun Lion adds up to a time-pass political mass entertainer.

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