Otta Mandharam Malayalam Movie
It would forever remain a fact that some themes do appear extremely promising on paper. And yet, when they are finally adapted on to the screen, lack that vital element that makes a film stand out from the crowd. 'Ottamandaram' directed by Vinod Mankara is a classic instance of an appealing idea that goes to rust on screen.
Neela (Sajitha Madathil) is shocked to realize that her husband Bharathan (Nandu) has plans of marrying again, when he realizes that she is unable to gift him with a baby. She suggests that he marry her younger sister Kala (Bhama) instead, so that he would not desert their family and move away. At fourteen years of age, Kala is neither ready for marriage nor motherhood, both of which are imposed on her in a jiffy.
The film, that is reportedly based on a real life incident in Andhra Pradesh, has its objective clearly set, which is to make a pertinent statement on the lives of thousands of girls in the villages of India, who are destined to bear the brunt of an adult life, even before they have laid aside their dolls. As such, the theme hold special significance, and yet as a film 'Ottamandaram' leaves a lot to be desired.
For one, the latter half of the film is more of a yawn, and stretches beyond all possible limits of endurance. The long drawn out sequences are often a test on your patience, and eventually the film simply slips into being preposterous much to the viewer's dismay.
This does not however mean that the film is not watchable, and yet the characters in it get increasingly muted with every passing minute. They move farther away from us, and ultimately occupy a stance where it becomes entirely impossible to relate to them.
Unfortunately for the film, intermittently good cannot simply be considered as good any more, especially in this age and times of cinematic experimentation. And sporadically good is as much far as 'Ottamandaram' gets, even though it spurts off a few sparks initially, promising a much more engaging finale.
The film does not seem to comprehend what its deficiencies are, and pays scant attention to the question as to whether the story that it tells is compelling enough to keep an audience engaged. And with a jerky ending that comes unwary , perhaps this is a film that has got its heart right in place, with a brain that is definitely less so.
There is little to complain with regard to the performances in the film. Bhama delivers a top notch feat as the fourteen year girl who has her life shredded apart, while Sajitha Madathil, the dependable performer that she is, sees to it that the role of the elder sister who has to undergo the throes of a shaky marriage, is in safe hands. Nandu is remarkably good as well.
If at the end of it all, 'Ottamandaram' comes across as a desultory jumble, the film only has its half-baked script to blame. Well meaning perhaps, but uninvolving to the core, 'Ottamandaram' strives hard to be an inspirational heart-tugger that it never becomes.
