Refreshing is a word that seemed to lose its value as far as Malayalam cinema was concerned. So, you are reluctant to use it even when you feel the urge to. But, you cannot help being happy as you are watching the Malayalam film Malabar Wedding, the maiden directorial venture of two Priyadarshan [Images] proteges Rajesh and Faisal.

The title may be misleading as you may think that this is yet another film with song and dance weaved around a wedding ceremony. The first fifteen minutes of the movie will dissolve all your apprehensions as the premise is laid out for you.

The theme is based around the custom of "Sora Kalayanam" (particularly in the Malabar region), where a gang of friends play pranks with the bride and groom during the wedding. It goes on to show how the pranks have serious repercussions in the lives of gang members and their families when they get married.

After introducing the lead members and plotline briefly, the film goes on full throttle in a 'gag a minute' mode. The tempo is consistently maintained till the pre-climax stages where it expectedly sags and gets into serious mode.

The gang is led by Manukuttan (Indrajith), who is supported by Mammookoya, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Bijukuttan and others.

The film begins with the preparation of a wedding where the gags are played and the culmination thereafter.

Manukuttan's plans to marry are thwarted by the villagers at the inquiry stage itself as everyone has to settle scores with him. Finally he gets a girl of his liking in the village itself. She has returned from Kolkatta and has a mysterious past. Gopika has done this role with miniscule screen time.

Ramesh Madhavan's [Images] script has few glitches and lacks the desired intensity in a couple of places.

The climax seems to be heavily inspired by Priyadarshan's classic Chitaram. But it is still refreshing as it does not have the news reports intertwined into it.

Indrajith is good in a role that does not require him to be intense and pumped up. He is ably supported by a band of comics. It is heartening to see Mammookoya having a full length role in a film. Suraj Venjaramoodu has become the staple of every film in recent times. So, he looks a bit jaded, but still inducing laughter as required of him.

Malabar Wedding is a laudable effort from the first time director duo Rajesh Faisal that could have done with some refinement.

Rediff Rating: