Pothen Vava

Cast: Mammootty, Usha Uthup, Gopika, Nedumudi Venu, Bijukuttan, Samvritha, Rajan P Dev, Sai Kumar, Shammi Thilakan
Language: Malayalam
Banner: Lal Creations
Director: Joshi
Producer: Lal
Camera: Sanjeev Shankar
Story: Benny P Nayarambalam
Screenplay: Benny P Nayarambalam
Dialogue: Benny P. Nayarambalam
Lyrics: Vayalar Sarathchandra Varma
Music: Alex Paul
Distribution: Lal Release
Year: 2006

Mammootty and Joshy team up for "Pothen Vava" about a person brought up without a proper name and religion.

Usha Uthup, the original diva of Indipop, plays an important role and is an added USP of the film penned by Benny P. Nayaramblam.

It offers a heady mix for sure. But how much kick do we get out of it? Yes, you get high initially with Usha showing an energy reminiscent of Philomina's character in the "Godfather".

This is followed by Mammootty's grand second entry (the first one happened before the flashback) and incessant flow of witty dialogues, which builds Vava's character.

You stay excited as the film proceeds to tell a promising story.

It is about Vava (Mammootty) born to a Christian mother (Usha Uthup) and a Nampoothiri father (Nedumudi Venu). They were divorced when he was just a baby. The court gave the baby to the mother and said he would have the right to choose his religion when he is mature enough.

The choice does not seem to happen and Vava continues his nameless, religion-less existence, till one dramatic event forces him to become Christian.

But his mother puts down the condition that Vava should seek his father's permission before taking the final plunge. Till this the going is great. The downward spiral begins post-intermission when Vava chases down his father, who has now become a renowned Carnatic singer.

The hero saves his father after a life-threatening road accident. It turns out to have been an attempt on the singer's life for his property and suddenly you find yourself face to face with a theme typical of the Sai Kumar-Babu Raj team.

This film could have been outstanding had it not diverged from its initial course and continued as in "Kunjikoonan" and "Chandupottu" (both scripted by Benny P. Nayarambalam). But the filmmaker chose the tried and tested route, leading to the most contrived climax in recent times.

Mammootty does a good job, but when the film becomes packaged material we can only feel sorry for him. Though he tries hard to retain the spontaneity and sparkle of the first half, the situation lets him down.

Why do our heroes have to be Tharvadi Themmadis, why not ordinary folks as they were in the past?

Usha as Mariamma Vakeel is also good, but her presence is not utilised fully. The initial push she gives to the film slowly loses its force. Gopika as Gladys, the former assistant of Mariamma, exudes charm.

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