'Bheeshma Parvam' review: Mammootty's film marries 'Mahabharata' with 'The Godfather'
What's the story
The combination of Mammootty, known for his majestic screen presence, and Amal Neerad, a much-revered director, is enticing.
Their last collaboration, Big B, was a smashing hit.
Neerad's direction and story merged with Mammootty's efficient performance made it a gripping watch.
Hence, their second film together, Bheeshma Parvam, was (deservedly) much-awaited.
But, has it passed the muster?
Here's our detailed review.
Plot
What is the film all about?
Michael (Mammootty), the leader of a clan, thrives on intimidation.
In his mind, his family members fear him and thus are under his control, but they do not want that anymore.
This silent rebellion gets translated into them approaching Michael's enemy camp and eventually joining them.
Admittedly, the basic premise is not exactly that novel yet the film stands out.
Details
Mammootty fans shouldn't miss 'Bheeshma Parvam'
Bheeshma Parvam is your typical Mammootty fare. It is all about him and he makes sure viewers are glued to the screens.
The veteran actor understands the responsibilities that come with seniority and executes the same through his body language, dialogue delivery, and expressions.
Mammootty also stuns us with the stunts. Mind-blowing, sir!
The dialogues are fire, which adds to the mightiness of Michael.
Pluses
Other positives: Supporting cast, late actors
The supporting cast comprising talented actors like Shine Tom Chacko, Sudev Nair, Soubin Shahir, and Nadhiya Moidu lend able support to keep the proceedings riveting.
The presence of late actors Nedumudi Venu and KPAC Lalitha make us emotional and teary-eyed. This is probably the last time we are seeing them in action on celluloid.
Both the actors will be thoroughly missed!
Personal
'90s kids will thoroughly enjoy the film
Bheeshma Parvam is set in the 1980s and makers have included elements belonging to that era in it. Things like VCR tapes, Walkman, and the Onida TV commercial take us on an enjoyable nostalgia ride. It's a treat for the '90s kids in that sense.
Observation
Cinematography, background score especially need to be applauded
Anend C Chandran's cinematography is phenomenal.
His close shots that capture Michael's emotions and the camera angles focused on his glares and grins make the character pretty formidable. Even viewers would feel scared to approach him.
Chandran is aided by Sushin Shyam's intense background score, which magnifies his art. The thumping sound every time Michael goes berserk needs a special mention here.
Verdict
This is our conclusion of 'Bheeshma Parvam'
However, Bheeshma Parvam is not all perfect. It has its flaws, too, and the main one is its sole focus on Mammootty ONLY.
The sincere attempts of other actors get masked due to this, which seems unfair.
Barring this, Neerad's taut direction makes the Malayalam film a compelling watch. Watch it in theaters to get a wonderful cinematic experience.
Verdict: It bags 3.5 stars.