The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : An opportunity lost

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Thursday, Oct 05, 2006
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

An opportunity lost

Pathaka

The film has a tremendous subject — character assassination by ugly and manipulative television journalism.

An upright Minister, George Tharyan, played by Suresh Gopi, is maligned by airing doctored footage, showing him as having an intimate relationship with a news reporter.

This is the handiwork of his friend, Farruk Shah (Sai Kumar), to become minister in his place.

After resigning, Tharyan hits back by starting his own television channel and exposing Shah and his cronies in the ministry, played by Kollam Tulasi, Shammi Thilakan and Devan.

Navva Nair, as victim of unscrupulous television journalism, is impressive.

Sheela plays the mother, and an authoritative woman, of Suresh Gopi. Great injustice is done to her, because of the short, inconsequent role. She is yet to get a good film in her second innings in Malayalam films.

The hands of the director K. Madhu seem to have been tied by lack of improvisation in the story by Robin Thirumala after the first half. The film promises a lot in the beginning, but ends up like any other Suresh Gopi film, dwelling on the revenge theme, told in repetitive, deafening dialogues.

Many television channels have done sting operations in the recent past. K. Madhu seems to have lost a golden opportunity in showing how good or bad they are.

Suresh Gopi's role is as good or bad as in his last 10 films. Sindhu Menon, as police officer, is refreshing in her somewhat different role.

Lalu Alex's role of chief minister is a stereotype. Manoj K. Jayan's role as faithful friend of Suresh Gopi is praiseworthy. Sai Kumar is run of the mill again.

R.R.S.

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