Fifteen years after the famous gangster drama ‘Big B’, Mammootty and director Amal Neerad have teamed up yet again for yet another action-packed Malayalam film ‘Bheeshma Parvam’ which released worldwide on March 3. The film came when fans were eyeing and cannes for ‘Bilal’, a sequel to ‘Big B’, as the return of the actor-director combo. However, the Covid-19 pandemic took the director quite an unexpected detour from his pet project and made another film in the meantime.
As indicated in the title, a scintillating adaptation of Bhishma Parva of Mahabharata has a huge star cast featuring the young crop in the Malayalam film industry apart from ‘Big M’ Mammootty. Shine Tom Chacko, Soubin Shahir, Srinath Bhasi, Sudev Nair, Dilesh Pothen and Jinu Joseph – all played their roles to perfection. Rave reviews are swirling and here’s a look at the major takeaways from the film.
Michael of Mammootty, despite not being the eldest, rang the bell in Mattancherry, Kerala, along with the godfather, a quintessential patriarch of the Anjutil family. The men of Anjutil enjoy an upper hand in decision-making where women live ‘happily’ as faithful wives and bread makers. Like Bhishma Pitamah, Michael’s claim that he has euthanasia and maintains bachelorhood is reason enough to try and craft the rest of the plot.
The film is a reminder that a patriarchy has the potential to respect women. Thanks to a thought-provoking screenplay by Amal Neerad and Devdath Shaji, Michael is one of the rarest breeds to believe in gender equality and stand up for women wherever he is perceived as helpless, meek and gentle. Huh.
The protagonist has a baggage from the past, when circumstances forced him to murder two men who killed his older brother, Pyle. Pyle married Fatima in an inter-religious marriage. The then law student was kept behind bars for years. Next, Michael descends into the skin of a non-monstrous gangster and savior of all.
As in the case of Mahabharata, a section in the Anjutil family becomes hostile and repentes of Michael’s actions. The script figuratively separates the ‘Kauravas’ and the ‘Pandavas’. In the end, those who stood by Michael won the battle of good over evil. The plot never resorts to one-man shows, which gives the good and villainous members of the clan enough room to put their best foot forward (in terms of performance). The villainous tribe adds a member of another family, who puts Michael’s vengeance on their side.
While the acting, direction and screenplay departments have done a good job, the cinematography and background score have done an important job to set the right mood. DOP Anand C. Chandran has deftly incorporated the warm frame, even the warm tones, to fit the bill. Sushin Shyam, who is known for his musical compositions till now, retains the never ending spirit of the film through his 2 hours 24 minutes screen time.
The film thinks beyond Mahabharata and 1980’s Kerala. ‘Bhishma Parv’ talks about honor killing, corruption, power politics and sibling rivalry which is not tied to any particular period or people.
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