Mayabazaar

Cast: Mammootty, Sheela, Tisca Chopra, Kalabhavan Mani, Rajan P. Dev. T.G. Ravi, Suraj Venjarammoodu, Salimkumar, Sabitha Anand, Saikumar, Bijukuttan, Master Akhil, Lalu Alex, Yamini Sharma
Language: Malayalam
Banner: Akhil Cinemas
Director: Thomas Sebastian
Producer: Saji S Mangalathu
Camera: Manoj Pillai
Story: Govind-Ramdas
Screenplay: T.A Razaaq
Dialogue: T.A Razaaq
Lyrics: Vayalar Sarathchandra Varma
Music: Rahul Raj
Distribution: Omkar Release
Year: 2008

Debutant director Thomas Sebastian's Mayabazaar is perhaps aimed at the hardcore fans of Mammootty. The hero maintains his drop dead good looks intact, takes on the baddies as easily as chewing a gum, mouths incisive punchlines and even tries some nice dance movements. Fair enough, but the problem with the film is that apart from trying to pepper it with masala, the film is a mangled mess.

Mayabazaar is the name of a street where spare parts of condemned vehicles are being sold. Rameshan (Mammootty) is a highly virtuous soul who lives there and is a local do-gooder. He is also a good samaritan who carries lunch packets to the ailing patients in the nearby hospital. There is a rival gang in action led by Bhadran (Kalabhavan Mani), who are into some shady deals.

The entire first half has Rameshan and Bhadran taking on each other during regular intervals, mainly over a pretty girl Maya (Tamil actor Sheela who will now be known as Maya in Malayalam). Bhadran is desperate to get her, but she is completely smitten by Rameshan's charms. Several trifle incidents later, as the film move towards intermission, there is a surprise in store.

From then on the story takes an abrupt turn towards a different direction, but ends up nowhere, just like it did after some developments in the first half. That is the basic plot which seems to move ahead after some twists in between, but fail to reach anywhere.

Once again Mammootty has been let down by T.A Razaaq, the scriptwriter. The film falters big time due to the amateurish script, mediocre compositions and unimaginative direction.

Manoj Pillai's cinematography stands out in this otherwise insipid affair. Every dialogue and event in the story is aimed at glorifying the hero. The comic scenes between Mammootty and Rajan P Dev reminds of Thommanum Makkalum and those involving Suraj Venjarammoodu, Salim Kumar and Bijukkuttan are trite and often boring.

Mammootty, who has portrayed some of the best roles in Malayalam, has clearly played to the gallery and it looks like it is strictly for his die-hard fans. Maya, who plays the heroine, has nothing much to do and whenever she gets a chance to emote, she hams. Why did Tisca Chopra decide to do such an inconsequential role in the film, after her stunning performance as Darsheel Safary's mom in Taare Zameen Par?

If your concept of entertainment is some mindless fun on screen that defies logic, but with action and emotions in required doses, Mayabazaar may be a watchable in parts. For all others who don't cater to that segment, DVDs of some old gems from Mammootty could be a better option.

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