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Paresh C Palicha reviews the Malayalam movie, Sakudumbam Shyamala.
It is difficult for established actors to get out of the image they have set for themselves. Talented actress Urvashi is one example. After making a successful comeback, she has started playing a funny mother.
Even new directors who sign Urvashi try to exploit this image, the latest being Radhakrishnan Mangalath, the director of the Malayalam film, Sakudumbam Shyamala where Urvashi is a housewife playing mother to Kunchako Boban. She even becomes a minister in this movie.
Like the title suggests, Urvashi plays the title role in this film and dreams of sending her son to the US for employment. She is even at loggerheads with her brother (Nedumudi Venu) who is the collector of the city. The animosity between brother and sister arose after she eloped and married the man of her choice when her brother had fixed her marriage with his friend who works in America.
As Urvashi's husband Vasudevan (Sai Kumar) is her brother's subordinate, Urvashi's brother leaves no opportunity to humiliate his brother-in-law.
Shyamala on the other hand becomes a revenue minister. This development allows the story to ruminate on a few topical issues.
To pad up the wafer thin storyline, her son Akash (Kunchako Boban) is introduced. He is a television news channel editor. His lady love played by Bhama is a news reporter who specialises in sting operations.
To give credit where it is due, the humour does work at places but jangles on our nerves most of the time. The film does try to tackle a few current political situations but fails to make us involved in the same.
Though Urvashi is the USP of the film, her character lacks a solid core, which may have given the story some depth or substance.
Nedumudi Venu seems to be overdoing things under pressure to equal Urvashi's comic talent. Kunchako Boban's character almost seems to be sidelined and used just for including a couple of song and dance sequences.Then there is Suraj Venjaramoodu doing his stuff as Shyamala's political mentor and adviser to give the comedy a little more fillip.
Sakudumbam Shymala tries to cash in on Urvashi's comic image but is repetitive and boring.
Rediff Rating: 