Vellinakshatram Movie Reviews

Recently, I am getting moved by the books I am reading and movies I am watching. I mean the influences are moving things physically. The movie cassette of Vellinakshathram was in my cupboard for quite some time, probably a year or so but never bothered to watch it. (It was among the last few cassetts I didn't watch.) The other day, I bought a magic novel called 'Vellimana written by Sunil Parameswaran'. It may be another magical coincidence that I watch Vellinakshathram after reading Vellimana and found that the novel had some elementary inspiration from the movie. I thought, interesting!

Director Vinayan's favorite genre is horror. Akasa Ganga, Vellinakshatram and Yakshiyum Jnanum, the director seems a clear pro for horror movies. One of the pluses for the horror movies is that even the worst of horror movies will find some audience. Basically all people love to live the horror time again. I believe it is a kind of mental practice to prepare the human body for an unknown eventuality.

Vellinakshatram is a story of 'rebirth' of souls who was buried mercilessly in the past life, say from the era of Tippu Sultan. Ashwaty from the Lakshmipuram palace is going to get married against her wishes. On the night before the marriage however she elopes with Vinod, her boyfriend. They get married and eventually get the acceptance of the palace. When Ashwaty was expecting a baby, the palace was all in joy as rest of the couples in the family were all childless. Their joy short lived as the mother died giving birth to the child. After few years, the newborn was showing signs of a ghost. Rest of the story is about the 'wreck adventures by the ghosts', the efforts to get rid of ghosts and revenge by the ghosts.

The director tries too much to create horror but only successful half way. Some of the techniques like the rotating bed are many decades old. Graphics are not upto standard but we have to give consideration to the budget a Malayalam films holds to create such images. The director however could have made better effort to plant some good logic which is missing in the story plus a flow. With a better screen play the movie could have been much better. The way the child was buried in the first place is silly and is the funniest incident, which, if written well had the potential to become a shocking scene! There are other situations like that as well. Anyway, as such the movie is just average to good nothing more.

Prithviraj did his role well, with justice to a role which doesn't require much of emotions. Meenakshi is good. Karthikais limited to a short role but important one. She is very impressive in the role. The child artist, Taruni is very good. Jagathy, Jagatheesh and Salim Kumar did their usual comedy role ok, but with less affect. Siddique as the villain didn't have much to do. Thilakanshows his class even in such a short role.

Cinematography is ok. Graphics are not upto mark.

Music is one departemnt where the film excels. Most of the songs are very good. The song 'Pineapple penne, Choclate piece...' is still in circulation and is sure to live many years to come. Fast paced choreography contributed as well.

Overall, Vellinakshatram is an ok to watch movie if you are ready to ignore the logic. Also you should not keep any much expectations. Just time pass.

Now, for the connection to Vellimana, the rebirth thought is shared, some names of characters, the dead and buried mother and child, floating through the tunnel and the water, romance near the pond...there are good similarities. Then wait, even there are write ups that the movie is an inspiration of other English movies. So, who knows who takes ins-piration from where? Let all the accusations be buried and the ins-pirations as well, so that there are space for new stories and more.

My rating: 2.5 stars

• 
  • Flag This Review
  • Irrelevant
  • Fake
  • Junk
• Thank You! We appreciate your effort.

INTRODUCTION

My condolences for all those who have watched this movie and those who haven't so far, please be aware! After watching this movie, every one asked my why I went for it.

If they had asked me the same question to me before seeing it, I would have had a miraculous escape. But that was not the case. I got myself killed without even dying! This movie surely is a bad example for all other horror movies released in Kerala as well as in India.

The director Vinaya comes with a lots of crap with the lines printed on them - ''A different Vinayan movie''. You will know why they are different after seeing this movie. It just got no logic in it and the story line is touching nowhere. We have to search for horror in this horror movie with search lights - tell me if any one have a Nokia 1100 - use the torch to search!

Only some songs were better - ''Pine Apple Penne'', ''Chandana Mukile'' and ''Chakarakili'' were good. But there was a ridiculous song in it with the kids running around.

Anyways, the first song managed to be a hit and the movie just rid on that. It was a highly anticipated one in the beginning, but none of the viewers can be too much idiotic to see this one with friends - all will hit you on the head for the trouble.

THE PLOT

Vinod (Pritviraj) is in love with Aswathy (Karthika) the youngest member of the famous Lakshmipuram royal family. When Aswathy`s mother and other members of the family refuses to get her married to Vinod who is really a poor person, she elopes and marries him.

When she becomes pregnant, her mother becomes ready to accept them into the house. Later a child is born to them and Aswathy dies during the delivery in the most ridiculous way. The daughter is looked after by the other members of the family who manages to find out the fact that the girl is possessed.

But Vinod doesn't believe them and a home nurse Indu (Meenakshi) is brought to look after the girl. But Indu is also poseessed and she got the spirit of the mother of the girl in the last birth.

Flashback:- Prithviraj and Meenakshi plays husband and wife, the former being the commander-in-chief of the army of a king who is fighting against Tipu Sultan. That really is a long flash back - every one were laughing so loud in the theatre!

These fellows are about to face defeat and the king goes to the East India company for help. The British commander asks Prithviraj's wife for exchange of the help he gives and he is granted the wish.

But as she tries to kill him, she is beheaded and Prithviraj is also shot dead. Their kid is also buries alive with her mother. Now the spirits of mother and the daughter wants revenge from one of the descendants of the royal family in this birth in return. What about Prithviraj? He believes in non-violence? Don't worry if you don't completely understand the logic. No one will!

PERFORMANCE

Prithviraj looks so ridiculous in the role. This is the worst role he can ever get. When he kicks some one, they just flies in the air and he gets extra powers while getting hit by lightning. He chose a real bad film to act in. What did he think after reading the script of the movie?

Karthika was really good even if she didn't have anything to do after the song ''Pine Apple Penne''. Meenakshi is not bad, but her facial expressions sometimes resemble an LG flat screen colour television or a 17'' flat screen colour moniter.

The kid Taruni (from Advertisements of - Rasna, Tavera, Colgate, LG etc) was good even with not much of knowledge on the language. All the collection the movie got may have been due to some people getting impressed by cute smiles and may be also for seeing Meenakshi.

Salim Kumar was not much impressive in the movie as he laughs, but we fails to - watching him is like watching the ghost himself. Jagathy Sreekumar and Jagadheesh were not bad, but the comedy was not at all of hte high class.

Siddique as the villain did have some bad make ups but he is OK. Jayasuriya just comes and goes in a few seconds. Thilakan was impressive in the role that suits him the most!

CONCLUSION

Vinayan has got some idea from the film ''The Omen'' as well as the Malyalam horror movies like ''Aakaashaganga'' - what he has done is collecting everything bad from each and every movie and naming it ''Vellinakshatram'' and putting it on our head.

The special effects are the worst thing - it got the graphics of a 1970s Hollywood movie or worse than that which makes me say that the movie ''Jaani Dushman'' movie was far better than this stupidity. Some of the scene looked like an old cartoon serial ''Nandu Apna'' (Kaatile Kannan in Malayalam) telecasted in Dordharshan!

Who needs shock treatment in mental asylums if you have movies like these! This can also be used in jails. If you hate any one, please get a CD of this movie and give it to them so that they can rest in pieces! If any one gives you this CD, just ask - ''Hum Aapke Hain Kaun'' - it is quite hard to believe that one of your friends gave you this CD without any warninng!

Genre: Horror

Released: 2004

Director: Vinayan

Music: M Jayachandran

Lyrics: S Rameshan Nair

Singers: Yesudas, Jayachandran, Vidhu Prathap, Jyolsna etc

Starring: Pritivraj, Meenakshi, Karthika, Taruni, Salim Kumar, Siddique, Jagathi, Jagadeesh etc...

THANKS FOR READING THE REVIEW. DO RATE THEM AND LEAVE A COMMENT BEHIND BEFORE YOU DIVE OUT OF THE REVIEW

• 
  • Flag This Review
  • Irrelevant
  • Fake
  • Junk
• Thank You! We appreciate your effort.