Movie- August 15
Producer- M.Mani
Director- Shaji Kailas
Cast- Mammootty, Nedumudi Venu, Shwetha Menon, Laloo Aalex, Siddique, Balachandran Chullikad, Thalaivasal Vijay, Jagathy Sreekumar, Saikumar etc.
Music- Rajamani
Cinematography- Pradeep Nair
Story, Screenplay, Dialogues- S.N.Swamy
Review by – Unni / www.Kerala9.com
If you go to see ‘August 15’ with ‘August 1’ in mind, you’re likely to be disappointed. And even if you hadn’t seen ‘August 1’, ‘August 15’ would seem just average stuff. The script could have been better; more emphasis could have been given to the characterization aspect.
‘August 15’ has Mammootty playing Perumal once again. The Crime Branch officer who had embarked on a mission to save the Chief Minister in ‘August 1’, is once again on a similar mission. The State Chief Minister (played by Nedumudi Venu) is targeted by a professional killer (played by Siddique). Perumal is out to save the Chief Minister. How he does it forms the plot of ‘August 15’.
The plot is not bad. But scenarist S.N.Swamy and director Shaji Kailas should have shown more care towards developing the plot, in a comprehensive manner. It should be remembered that ‘August 1’ still has its appeal not just because of the character of Perumal. Of course Perumal was simply dashing. But the film owes its success and popularity to the presence of Sukumaran and the way his character, that of the Chief Minister, was moulded. The professional killer, played by Captain Raju, too was a highlight of the movie. But in ‘August 15’, the chief minister doesn’t make that kind of an impact and the character of the professional killer too deserved more attention. The only supporting character that gets noted is Jagathy Sreekumar’s, but the character simply vanishes at some point. There seems to be lots of things lacking as regards ‘August 15’ and hence, for those who expected a slicker version of ‘August 1’ and for those who love Shaji Kailas films, ‘August 15’ is a disappointment. It’s just tolerable stuff, scenes being created in the most clichéd of manners and characterization aspect being neglected to a great degree.
Performances
Mammootty is smart as Perumal, but his performance seems to lack something. The fire that characterized the Perumal of ‘August 1’ is missing. Siddique as the unnamed professional killer is also good, but he could have been better, had the script been better. Jagathy Sreekumar, as long as he is there in the film, is good. The others are all good, but there’s no outstanding performance from anyone.
Technical aspects
The cinematography, editing and art-work of course suit the theme, but to be frank I had expected a higher level of technical brilliance and better frames, especially since the film is directed by Shaji Kailas. Editing could have been much better.
Music
Rajamani’s background score jells with the theme and the mood.
Script
S.N.Swamy has done an OK kind of work with the script. In fact the script could have been better, much much better. It’s the characterization aspect that seems to have been affected. The professional killer, played by Siddique, which should have been the highlight of the film, could have been worked out in a better way. Jagathy Sreekumar’s character and some other characters simply vanish once the film is on action mode.
Direction
Shaji Kailas is good as director, just about good. But the pace, the element of thrill and the slick editing and technical brilliance that characterize Shaji Kailas films seems to be missing. He could have done more justice to the subject.
Overall verdict- Forget ‘August 1’, ‘August 15’ would seem tolerable.
Rating: 2.5/5
Click Here To enter August 15 Photo Gallery
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