It is said that miracles cannot be designed, they just happen. But actor Dileep has almost designed a miracle as the producer of the Malayalam film Twenty: 20, in association with the the actors' forum Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).
In the bipolar world of Malayalam Cinema, ruled by two giants -- Mammootty and Mohanlal -- it would be suicidal to cast both of them in a film and fail to give them equal importance. Dileep achieves this impossible feat with his trusted team of writers -- Sibi K Thomas and Udayakrishna, and veteran director Joshiy.
The film is made as a fundraiser for AMMA, where every actor worth his salt makes an appearance (even if it is blink and you miss kind of role).
Now, coming to the most intriguing part of the process, that is the plot; you maybe forgiven, if you feel this is going to be run of the mill stuff in the beginning.
A retired Supreme Court Judge Vishvanathan (played by Madhu) returns to his Tharavadu to spend his autumn years with his family. You get a sense of deja vu thinking that there will be conspiracy and mayhem by his relatives eyeing his wealth. But there is surprise in store for us as the story moves into uncharted waters. Arun (Indrajith), one of the grandsons of the Judge is accused of killing a fellow student during a ragging incident at a medical college in Bangalore. This brings in an upright police officer in the form of Suresh Gopi.
The plot then lays the platform for the entry of the two megastars in the roles they are most loved for -- Mammootty as a very successful lawyer Ramesh Nambiar (protege of Judge Vishvanathan) and Mohanlal as another variant of the feudal Themady Devan Prathapa Varma, who stylishly folds his mundu before getting into action, though later he is seen in blazers and trousers.
It is the game of one-upmanship between the three heroes till the end when all the pieces of the jigsaw fall into place.
Dileep's role can be termed as an extended guest appearance in the second half. Jayaram too has an important cog in the narrative wheel. But we doubt whether the screen time provided to him does justice to the actor.
The comic brigade -- Innocent, Harisree Asokan, Cochin Haneefa, Kalpana, Jagadeesh, Jagthy Sreekumar, Salim Kumar, Suraj Venjaramood and Bijukuttan -- is in full force here. They make the atmosphere jovial when the going gets heavy.
The female leads except for Bhavana have very little to do in this enterprise. Gopika and Kavya Madhavan vanish from the scene very quickly.
It is disappointing to see that youngsters like Prithviraj, Jayasurya and Kunchako Boban are reduced to group dancers in Nayanthara's item number.
We may have heard that too many cooks spoil the broth but, if handled with care, they can spread interesting smorgasbord. And Twenty: 20 proves this fact.
Rediff Rating: 
