It is quite unfortunate that Malayalam cinema is in the recycle mode. And it is even more unfortunate that the people doing these kind of movies are the veterans, who were considered the torchbearers of good cinema. Like Siby Malayil.

Flash, his latest outing with Mohanlal, is nothing but a blend of yesteryear's classics like Fazil's Manichitrathazhu and Kamal's Ulladakkam. To make thing worse, the director uses tacky technical wizardry in an effort to make the film look trendy.

The plotline is sure to take you on a nostalgic trip. There is a Tharavadu reeking with internal feuds over property. There is a paralysis stricken patriarch. There is the return of the prodigal son that creates ripples of anxiety in other relatives. And then there is a damsel in distress. Of course, there are many more things that pepper the story with comical interludes.

Our hero is a typical 'all in one' -- for starters, he is the CEO of Gen Next IT Company, as well as the Indian head of an international charity organisation. The Scotland Yard seeks his service whenever they face a deadend in their investigative cases. But the most important and secretive thing is that he is a qualified criminal psychiatrist practising only on special recommendation.

As far as story is concerned (though there is hardly any), the psychiatrist is called into the Tharavadu by his subordinate Priyan (Indrajith) to treat his cousin and prospective bride, Dhwani (Paravathi of Notebook fame). What follows is a murder mystery.

Our hero solves the entangled web by stalking the patient, taking her photographs on his cell phone and a whole lot of stuff.

Mohanlal tries to be charming by making exaggerated movements of his hands, as if trying to hypnotise the audience into liking what is going on the screen. But he clearly does not succeed.

Paravathi has screen presence. With the gamut of emotions she has to display, she looks surprisingly convincingly.

No other actor has anything worthwhile to write about. Even the veteran Jagathy Sreekumar, wearing a weird wig, is reduced a character reminiscent of his role in Hallo.

It is hard to believe that Flash is the work of the talented Siby Malayil. The film is a huge letdown.                      

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