Makante Achan Malayalam Movie

Definitely not one of Sreenivasan's best films, Makante Achan lacks some real inspired moments that could have made it work at some level. Here, it doesn't move much beyond remaining a theatrical dud that takes itself a bit too seriously. Jan 22, 2009 By Veeyen

With an overdramatic, way-over-the-rooftop former half that is less hilarious and more loud, and a mushy latter half inflated with sentimental hogwash, Makante Achan is a comedy that simply isn't funny enough, and a drama that is never dramatic enough. As the initial appeal of watching the real life dad-son duo on screen wears off, the film offers you only fleeting pleasant diversions to keep you strapped to your seat.

Daddy Cool (Sreenivasan) is obsessed with making Sonny Cool (Vineeth Sreenivasan) an engineer while the boy's targets in life lie elsewhere. And when the boy does a Slumdog Millionaire almost, ending up the winner on a reality show, parental aspirations go for a supreme toss. Caught up in the midst of all this commotion is Mommy Cool (Suhasini) who wouldn't even dream of negotiating on shedding those buckets of tears.

With a storyline almost as thin as air, Makante Achan is stretched to unbelievable lengths, until it snaps. I am not really turning a blind eye to the pertinent theme at hand, but if only it had the depth of a text message at least.

There isn't really a lot to laugh your guts out at. Except perhaps for the long winding drama towards the climax that unfolds on a studio stage, where a family washes its clean linen in public for the whole world to see. Daddy confesses, Sonny repents, Mommy weeps a bit further.

On second thoughts, perhaps this could have been a bit of fun. What could have been a carton of laughs and giggles is instead dead empty. Which is why after a while the film just lies squashed, like a bug under the boot.

The anticipation that hovered all over this production does seem to work against it. I could sense my disappointment gradually grow to disbelief and finally turn into a total disregard for the whole affair.

If I were to count the blessings of last night, it would be that the movie just manages to float without actually sinking into oblivion. I know that isn't speaking much, but it never gets beyond that point. You do feel like having bitten into a half-baked sweet cake that sticks all over your teeth and leaves your mouth messy and you regret having nibbled at it in the first place.

Sadly, this isn't a film with great performances either. Sreenivasan goes overboard to the point of being quite hammy at times. Vineeth is infinitely better and comes up with a restrained performance that's charming and quite delightful. It's wonderful to see Suhasini back in Malayalam after a while, and the ever dependable actor is as fabulous as ever in quite a mundane role that calls for none of her competence.

Definitely not one of Sreenivasan's best films, Makante Achan lacks some real inspired moments that could have made it work at some level. Here, it doesn't move much beyond remaining a theatrical dud that takes itself a bit too seriously.