'Mariyam Mukku' is one movie that was eagerly expected as it was the debut directorial offering of James Albert, the hit screen writer of ‘Classmates’. With Fahad Fazil and a different tale in its centre, the movie was supposed to make wonders. But largely faltering on the script side in its later half, it just manages to end up as a watchable offering which but has its moments.
Fahad Fazil is in the center of events as Felix, the son of Velutha bernad, who is left orphaned at the age of ten. Thereafter, it was Mariyanasan(Manoj K Jayan) the main fish vendor of ‘Mariyam Mukku’ who took care of him and made him a bold but ruffian youth. Felix is ready to do anything for his saviour Mariyanasan and is on a revenge to Holy Mary who has left him an orphan. He is ever ready to discolour Church festivals and related holy activities. He has got a gang composed of few from the seashore village who act on his orders. But with the arrival of Salomy(Sana Althaf), his old childhood friend, Felix goes for a sea change. They soon fall in love and starts to ignore Mariyanasan, which makes him a foe of the later. Mariyanasan decides to end Felix, but the holy Mariyam has got many other plans for them which is going to change the face and life of the village.
The movie has an interesting base story to tell, more about beliefs and life of fisherman, which is embroidered in a sweet love story in the modest. With lavish production values and plenty of men in its frames, it has worthy scenes to keep you engaged all through its first half, though some may not connect as envisioned by the makers. The caricaturist specimens of the village are plenty in Gulf Charlie(Dinesh), and Vivarakkaran Nazrethu to name a few. James Albert has been able to include all his first hand experiences of his village into the screens which forms the major highlight of the movie .The later half takes a different turn and looks half backed but manages to keep you in seats.The culmination points lacks any punch and is downright predictable. It needed a more experienced directorial hands to elevate to the needed effect. Anyhow, as of now, the movie ends up as a passable fare, which may be more appealing to the family viewers.
Fahad Fazil lives up to the role, but doesn’t have much fresh sequences to perform than anything we haven’t yet seen from him. Sana Althaf, is ok in her debutant lead role and may spend some more time in Mollywood. Joy Mathew as Anglo Indian Sayippu and Prathap Pothen as the church vicar are in their regular roles while Manoj K yana has got another role to cherish. The rest of the cast play to the demand of their roles. As a first time director James Albert is able to make the best use of his technical crew with Gireesh Gangadharan capturing all the nuances of the seaside life with elaan and giving the movie a class look with his beautiful frames amidst rains and sands. At 135 minutes, the editing by Ranjan Abraham is also in sink with the needed mood of the tale. The art direction and costumes are superb and needs to be applauded. The songs by Vidyasagar are hummable and wisely picturised with ‘Ee kadaaline kolu’ our pick from the rest. The BG sores are also effective .
In the final say, ‘Mariyam Mukku ‘ is a one time watch for its scale of life portrayed and storylines. It could have been better and may have earned more in the Box Office, had it been more deftly handled in the later half. Anyhow , as of now , the movie will not be a complete downer for its debutante director James Albert. Though there are stiff oppositions this week, ‘Mariyam Mukku’ can be rightly prescribed for families.
Rating -6/10
