Novel Malayalam Movie
There is nothing novel about Novel, the debut directorial venture by Vijayan East Coast, though it is not a totally insufferable film. For those with a romantic disposition, the film is definitely worth a watch, though it cannot be termed outstanding in any way.
Novel takes us on a romantic trip into the lives of Sethunath and Priyanandini, whose romance is etched in a dramatic manner. Sethunath is a businessman, well settled in life. But in his heart of hearts he is a poet and a lover of music. He frequently visits some recording studios. In the course of one such he happens to come across Priyanandini, a young singer. Things happen in such a way that the two are drawn closer to each other. A romantic affair is born.
For Priyanandini, Sethunath is a real friend and his presence is enough to light up her face and heart. For Sethunath, Priyanandini comes as a source of inspiration that urges him once again to take up his pen and start writing. Their love-story progresses smoothly until Sethunath's wife Manju, who had been abroad and who was seeking divorce from Sethunath as they found themselves to be an ill-matched couple, turns up.
Manju's brother is married to Sethunath's sister and he wants Manju not to let Sethunath marry Priyanandini. He doesn't like the idea of a young girl marrying Sethunath and becoming the heir to all the wealth and property that could be enjoyed by his sister. Manju behaves according to her brother's dictates and this complicates things for Sethunath and Priyanandini.
Performance-wise Jayaram is his very usual self as Sethunath. Sada is OK as Priyanandini, though she seems unimpressive at many places. Shaari as Manju is good while Bindu Panicker as Sethunath's sister and Devan as his brother-in-law don't have much to do. Jagathy Sreekumar as Subramaniam Swamy, Sethunath's constant companion and Personal Assistant doesn't leave much of an impression, though he has done his role perfectly well. The others in the cast are OK, though Nedumudi Venu's character, that of the hero's uncle, could have been worked out better.
Being a musical of sorts, Novel has some romantic songs, penned by the director himself. The songs have been composed well and shot in a romantic manner too. "Onninumallathe…" is already popular and the other songs too impress. The problem with the film is that there is nothing new in it, and also that film viewers in Kerala today don't like to see sentimental stuff and the film has too much of sentiments in it. Being slow-paced also goes against it.
To sum up, Novel is an average romantic story marked by average performances by the lead artists and others. The scenarists could have put in more of an effort and then the film would have been better. It's not an insufferable bore. It's not an inspiring love-story either. Just a romantic film, that's all!
