The movie stars Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi [ Images ]. The premise developed by veteran S N Swamy may not be original but, the execution does take it a few notches above the standard stuff dished out these days.

It is the story of 'a hapless father avenging the brutal rape and murder of his teenaged daughter.' The story is made interesting through the initial intrigue and vigour provided by the screenplay.

We see the police searching every vehicle for three fugitives who have supposedly killed three people, an influential businessman, a serving police officer and a youth. The son of the home minister and the daughter of the city police commissioner support them and help them reach the residence of the high-flying lawyer Soorya Narayan (Mohanlal), which is considered safe for them as the police would not dare to touch them there without proper paperwork.

It is here that something that transpired in the past makes Vishvam (Suresh Gopi), Monai (Biju Menon) and Pazhani (Harisree Asokan), fugitives in the eyes of law. The screenplay does take its sweet time to establish the omnipotence of Surya Narayan, but thankfully, it does not jar very much as it is balanced.

The tempo is maintained till the end of the first half but after that, it becomes predictable. The story somewhat resembles the Pashupathy starrer Vairam; the only difference is that Vairam brought parental angst to the fore, while here the narrative works in a thriller mode.

In short, this film heavily depends on the actors to pull it off after the initial excitement dies down. So, Mohanlal has to use his aura to the maximum which he does, making his fans happy.

Suresh Gopi in the subdued rustic role wins hands down. Biju Menon and Harisree Asokan are mostly mute supporters.

It is pleasantly surprising to see Harisree not in a separate comic track. Jyothirmayi, in the meaty role of Dr Rani Mathew, does well.

We wish editor G Murali had used his scissors more in the second half. That said, the movie works.

Rediff Rating: Paresh C Palicha in Kochi (less)

The movie stars Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi [ Images ]. The premise developed by veteran S N Swamy may not be original but, the execution does take it a few notches above the standard stuff dished out these days.

It is the story of 'a hapless father avenging the brutal rape and murder of his teenaged daughter.' The story is made interesting through the initial intrigue and vigour provided by the screenplay.

We see the police searching every vehicle for three fugitives who have supposedly killed three people, an influential businessman, a serving police officer and a youth. The son of the home minister and the daughter of the city police commissioner support them and help them reach the residence of the high-flying lawyer Soorya Narayan (Mohanlal), which is considered safe for them as the police would not dare to touch them there without proper paperwork.

It is here that something that transpired in the past makes Vishvam (Suresh Gopi), Monai (Biju Menon) and Pazhani (Harisree Asokan), fugitives in the eyes of law. The screenplay does take its sweet time to establish the omnipotence of Surya Narayan, but thankfully, it does not jar very much as it is balanced.

The tempo is maintained till the end of the first half but after that, it becomes predictable. The story somewhat resembles the Pashupathy starrer Vairam; the only difference is that Vairam brought parental angst to the fore, while here the narrative works in a thriller mode.

In short, this film heavily depends on the actors to pull it off after the initial excitement dies down. So, Mohanlal has to use his aura to the maximum which he does, making his fans happy.

Suresh Gopi in the subdued rustic role wins hands down. Biju Menon and Harisree Asokan are mostly mute supporters.

It is pleasantly surprising to see Harisree not in a separate comic track. Jyothirmayi, in the meaty role of Dr Rani Mathew, does well.

We wish editor G Murali had used his scissors more in the second half. That said, the movie works.

Rediff Rating: Paresh C Palicha in Kochi (less)

Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and a playback singer (less)

Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and a playback singer (less)

Viswambharan died early Wednesday at a private hospital here, a family source said. He was 69.

Viswambharan was ailing for some time, and his condition worsened Tuesday. The funeral will take place at Palakkad.

In a career spanning close to four decades, Viswambharan directed close to 60 Malayalam films. He quit movie making after Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha , which was released in 2002.

Viswambharan started as an assistant director. For a decade, he worked with veteran Sasikumar before turning a full-fledged director in 1976 with Ozhukkinethire .

Since then he has given numerous box office hits. Superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal hit stardom with Viswambharan's films.

Some of his hits include Chakara , Ee Sabdham Enathe Sabdam , Thirakel Alapesamyam , Kattu Kuthira , Ezhupunna Tharakan and Gajakesariyogam (less)

Viswambharan died early Wednesday at a private hospital here, a family source said. He was 69.

Viswambharan was ailing for some time, and his condition worsened Tuesday. The funeral will take place at Palakkad.

In a career spanning close to four decades, Viswambharan directed close to 60 Malayalam films. He quit movie making after Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha , which was released in 2002.

Viswambharan started as an assistant director. For a decade, he worked with veteran Sasikumar before turning a full-fledged director in 1976 with Ozhukkinethire .

Since then he has given numerous box office hits. Superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal hit stardom with Viswambharan's films.

Some of his hits include Chakara , Ee Sabdham Enathe Sabdam , Thirakel Alapesamyam , Kattu Kuthira , Ezhupunna Tharakan and Gajakesariyogam (less)

Viswambharan died early Wednesday at a private hospital here, a family source said. He was 69.

Viswambharan was ailing for some time, and his condition worsened Tuesday. The funeral will take place at Palakkad.

In a career spanning close to four decades, Viswambharan directed close to 60 Malayalam films. He quit movie making after Puthooramputhri Unniyarcha , which was released in 2002.

Viswambharan started as an assistant director. For a decade, he worked with veteran Sasikumar before turning a full-fledged director in 1976 with Ozhukkinethire .

Since then he has given numerous box office hits. Superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal hit stardom with Viswambharan's films.

Some of his hits include Chakara , Ee Sabdham Enathe Sabdam , Thirakel Alapesamyam , Kattu Kuthira , Ezhupunna Tharakan and Gajakesariyogam (less)

The wedding is the third for both Tharoor, 54, and Dubai-based Pushkar, a Kashmiri. "Flying to Dubai for a motivional lecture and Mr.

Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar's Kashmiri wedding (reception). Looking forward to it and to Kashmiri food," wrote the actor, who also hails from Kashmir, on microblogging site Twitter.

The couple left for Dubai Aug 24 where a typical Kashmiri style reception would be held. The three-day reception is scheduled August 29-31 at an undisclosed location.

From there they will fly to Spain for a few days before returning to Delhi to host a dinner reception on Sep 3 (less)

The wedding is the third for both Tharoor, 54, and Dubai-based Pushkar, a Kashmiri. "Flying to Dubai for a motivional lecture and Mr.

Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar's Kashmiri wedding (reception). Looking forward to it and to Kashmiri food," wrote the actor, who also hails from Kashmir, on microblogging site Twitter.

The couple left for Dubai Aug 24 where a typical Kashmiri style reception would be held. The three-day reception is scheduled August 29-31 at an undisclosed location.

From there they will fly to Spain for a few days before returning to Delhi to host a dinner reception on Sep 3 (less)

"Politics has not been a career for me. I have other things to do to keep myself busy in life," Amar Singh told IANS in an interview.

After having introduced many actors to politics, Amar Singh is now slowly foraying into their world. The high profile former Samajwadi Party leader has donned a character in Dev Anand's "Chargesheet".

Coming up after that is a Bengali and a Malayalam films. "'Chargesheet' is complete.

Now I will be doing another movie. It is a Malayalam movie, which will start sometime in March," Singh told IANS in an interview in New Delhi.

He will feature "Sesh Sanghat", a production venture by his friend Jaya Prada who was expelled from the Samajwadi Party along with him, as an ex-minister. The film is in Bengali and Singh will be seen supporting the tribal movement by helping a police officer, played by Jackie Shroff.

Jaya Prada plays the female lead in the film which has National Award winning director Ashok Vishwanathan at the helm. "My Bengali movie is against land grabbing and is sympathetic to the cause of Naxalites," Singh told IANS.

"Bombay Mittayi" takes a humorous look at youths who become pawns in the business of superstition. It also stars actor-dancer Neelambari Perumal along with Vinu Mohan, Telugu actor Venkatesh, Bollywood actress Dimple Kapadia and comedians Jagathy Sreekumar and Harisree Asokan.

Singh's camaraderie with Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is well-known. When asked if he would like to be seen with him in movies too, Singh said: "We are seen all the time (less)