Kerala   

Adventures of a doctor and a don

Bhargava Charitham Moonam Khandam

Sreenivasan's script and acting, with Mohanlal in the lead, resulted in the super-hit film Udayananu Thaaram last year. So, when the director Joemon made Bhargava Charitham Moonam Khandam, based on Sreenivasan's script, pairing the actor and Mammootty in the lead roles, film-goers had high expectations. But the film fails to impress.

Dr. Santharam (Sreenivasan) is a psychoanalyst, who has just returned from a tour abroad. At a reception in his honour, he boasts that he can cure every mad man in the world, including George Bush, Saddam Husain and Osama bin Laden.

Hearing of this claim, the dreaded underworld don Current Bhargavan (CB), played by Mammootty, comes seeking his help. Always clad in designer jackets and a hat and accompanied by a couple of long-haired bodyguards, CB has just become a misfit. His problem is that he has lost his will and confidence to fight his rivals. His fingers shiver while trying to pull the trigger.

Meanwhile, Anupama (Padma Priya), a journalist, manages to publish photographs of CB in a magazine and gives the story that he is responsible for the disappearance of an honest police officer attached to the narcotics cell. Dr. Santharam had earlier photographed CB in various poses, making the latter believe that it was part of the treatment. Bhargavan thinks that it is the doctor who has passed on the photographs to the journalist.

Fearing for his life, Dr. Santharam flees the place, but is pursued relentlessly by CB. In the course of this pursuit, Santharam joins a circus company. In one scene, he is blasted off from a cannon during a show. This is one of the very few funny episodes in the film. The resolution of the problems of Bhargavan and Dr. Santharam through their ``comic adventures'' and the nailing of the true villain form the rest of the film.

Others in the cast include Sai Kumar, Rahman, Salimkumar, KPAC Lalitha and Nikitha. The story is by Joemon and Sreenivasan. Camera is wielded by Manoj Pillai, and Ousepachan scores the background music.

G. Jayakumar

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

LDF sees early end to admission dispute
Plan Board moots two-pronged strategy
Proposals to expand protected areas revived
A tradition fading into oblivion
Youth on a cycling mission
Comprehensive dairy package sought
Adventures of a doctor and a don
Aid to kin of deceased Keralites
Farm award nominations till September 30
Majestic poise
Onam special
Skilled craftsmanship
Meeting a demand
Sabarimala temple opens for Onam
IG's report goes against Joseph
Merger of Air India, Indian expected by March next

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu