Monday Oct 15 2007, Trivendrum

Nasrani: The King from Kottayam

Directed by - Joshi

Produced by - -

Music by - Bijibal

Casts - Mammootty, Vimala, Muktha, Jagathy Sreekumar, Bharath Gopi, Kalabhavan Mani

Banner - Horizon Entertainments

Nasrani, the outcome of the creative brains of director Joshi, scenarist Renjith and Mammootty, is all set to appeal to the die-hard fans of Mammootty.Though there is nothing novel about the plot, the film is definitely worth a watch, merely for the presence and performance of Mammoka, who dominates the film in all facets.Nasrani takes us into the life of David John Kottarathil (Mammootty), known popularly as DK who is a rich planter from Kottayam.His marriage with his childhood sweetheart Sarah (Vimala), the daughter of planter Eapen (Riza Bawa), a close friend of David’s father John (Captain Raju), is stalled when Eapen gets killed and John gets the jail for Eapen’s murder, and all this on the eve of the wedding.Now, ten years later, David and Sarah still continue to love and meet each other, though they don’t get married, especially because Sarah’s mother Kochammini (Sreelatha) doesn’t give the green signal.

At this stage Annie (Mukhtha), Sarah’s half-sister, happens to get entangled in a murder case, in which she is the accused, with all evidences against her.DK makes it his top priority to save Annie after he comes to know that Annie is innocent.The rest of the plot moves on to a fast-paced climax.Mammootty as David John Kottarathil is in full form.His performance is the highlight of the film and Joshi and Renjith have made the most of him as a star as well as an actor.

The way he portrays comedy sequences, action sequences and the dramatic shots definitely portrays his acting prowess.The others in cast are Vimala, Captain Raju, Mukhtha, Lalu Alex (as the Superintendent of Police Rajagopal), Bharath Gopi (retired judge Narayana Swami), Jagathy Sreekumar (as the politican Ummachan), Vijayaraghavan (as a scheming politician M.C.Paul), Biju Menon as M.C.

Paul’s son Xavier, have done full justice to their respective characters.The introduction scene of Mammootty, where hero lands in a helicopter in Sarah’s college, is enough to set his fans into loud applause.The actor who had earlier portrayed with élan Kottayam characters of ‘Achayan’ in films like Sangham, Kottayam Kunjachchan etc has once again proved that he can handle such roles with utmost ease.His timing and performance is what make his films tick.Of course there is nothing new with the plot.

At many places the plot reminds us of a mixture of Joshi’s old films.The film is crowded with too many characters.Nasrani however is no match when compared to the best of Joshi films, like New Delhi, Nair Saab, Nirakkottu, Kouravar, Dhruvam etc.Still the film is worth seeing, specially for the performance of Mammootty and also because the film has succeeded in capturing the essence of the Kottayam lifestyle.The technical aspects are in tune with the plot.

In short it is Mammootty all the way and had it not been for the big star’s presence and performance, the film would have been a poor show.