Orma Mathram is the film, which tells the pathetic story of a father and mother who lose their only child. Madhu Kaithapram who received the national award for the best debutant director is back with this Dileep starrer. He entered the industry, assisting Jayaraj who is famous for low budget films.
The film starts with the subject of abortion, its guilty conscience, inter religious marriage etc. Then the movie sails through the problems of maintaining a middle class life, Dileep's vision problem which will eventually lead him to blindness and then the child gets missing, child labor, a Jewish couple who still don't know where they belong, what more can you ask for.
Orma Mathram attempts to stretch out a story of how people met with loss and misfortune adapt to the situation. The film, which is symbolic at times, is purely unobtrusive. The movie has knitted together many social issues as if to get some awards. Orma Mathram follows the pattern of treatment of 80's art films.
Ajayan, played by Dileep and Safiya enacted by Priyanka decide to get abortion, as they believe that another child might divide their love between the children. Ajayan, a clerk with Additional Public Prosecutor Radhakrishna Warrier played by Jagathy Sreekumar, is struggling to earn his living and does many jobs. Later he finds out there is a serious vision disorder, which the doctor says was incurable and could slowly make him blind. In a dramatic twist, Ajayan gets separated from his son. The incident changes Ajayan and Safiya's lives, and the couple considers it as a punishment for their unholy act of foetal homicide. The couple who lived with out belief in any religion starts to revisit their faith.
The events that follow are not surprising or much interesting. Many scenes and characters were unnecessary, but if they were removed, there won't be a film. The subject the director took had immense opportunity but was not used well. This third film by Madhu Kaithapram is low paced and it ended in a trite fashion.
Viewers may compare Orma Mathram with the brilliant film Adaminte Makan Abu as they have seen this low budget movie only a month earlier. The latter was genuine and highly emotional.
In a sentimental scene, Dileep cries out, this performance shows his histrionic skill have not gone a bit above Sallapam were he handled scenes like this. Priyanka looks apt. Dhanya Mary Varghese, Nedumudi Venu, Salim Kumar, and Jagathy Sreekumar were almost wasted. The character done by Harisree Ashokan is good. Background music was like those old award films, people used to watch in Dooradarshan. Camera handled by eminent M.J Radhakrishnan is a plus.
In his latest film Madhu Kaithapram, tried to chew more than what he can eat. The director seems to have heavily inspired by Blessy. Shades of many Blessy films like Kazcha, Thanmathra, Palunku, and Bramaram can be seen through out the movie.
With lions share of seats vacant this film does not seems to work out. After Film star, Orma Matram is the next disappointment for Dileep. People who are looking for fun and cheers can stay away.
4 / 10
