Bangkok Summer Malayalam Movie
A film that has been entirely shot in Bangkok - the USP of the Pramod - Pappan film 'Bangkok Summer' didn't sound so enterprising. If someone still believes that they can draw a film literate crowd into a theatre by flashing snapshots of a hot and happening city in another corner of the world, I should say they have got their facts wrong.
And in 'Bangkok Summer', the inevitable happens. Beneath the flashlights, glitz and glamour of the capital city of Thailand, Rajesh Jayaraman has crafted a story that could well have been shot anywhere else. Why Bangkok? They could tell us that the city has a dark underworld that is imperative for the story to happen. They could tell us of the boxing rings where blood is shed every moment of the day. They could tell us of the hustlers and the booming flesh trade in Bangkok. And yet, why is it that we don't buy it?
The film has Sreehari arriving in Bangkok in search of his brother Madhavan (Unni Mukundan), with whom he had lost contact for the last couple of months. Their mother is on her death bed, and would wish to see Madhavan one last time, before she leaves. On reaching Bangkok, Sreehari realizes that things aren't as easy as they seem. However, he soon runs into Madhavan, who reveals that he is on the run from one of the most dreaded underworld pins in the city.
The reason why Madhavan has rubbed a few baddies the wrong way is Ganga (Richa Panai). her brother, a business man based in bangkok is murdered and within no time she finds money lenders hot on her heels. Pay up, or else, join the meat market, is the ultimatum that she is given. But of course, God sends are everywhere, and here it is Madhavan who descends straight from heaven.
The film lacks believability and on several occasions continuity as well. The jerks and jumps in the narrative could throw you right off your seat in no time. And for anyone who has been watching films dime a dozen, the surprise twist that arrives in the second half is anything but that.
Bangkok Summer has one of the strangest villains I have ever seen. This guy is all macho, with a slipshod hairdo and quite intimidating tattoos all over a chiseled body. But alas, the moment he opens his mouth it all ends. The dubbing for the actor is so awful that it reaches somewhere between a caw and a croak and gets stuck there.
Rahul Madhav and Unni Mukundan had done infinitely better in their debut films, Vaadamalli and Bombay March 12 respectively. They are totally at a loss here, and like unsaddled horses roam hither and thither without any purpose. As for Richa Panai, there are miles to go before she gets to hit the target.
There is nothing exciting about this pumped up action adventure that holds the viewers hostage for an odd couple of hours and more. Even if you were in a mood of extreme self-torture, I would still advise you to wait for the DVD!
