Big Heroes but NO Impact - A Huge Failure on OTT?
Legendary malayalam author MT Vasudevan Nair has had a significant influence on the language, ensuring that it remains interesting and approachable for future generations of Malayalis. His poetry, humor, and simplicity in writing have enthralled readers of all ages and interests. An anthology film named Manorathangal (Mindscapes) was made in his memory to celebrate his nine decades of life and pay homage to his legacy. The movie, which was directed by well-known directors like priyadarshan and Santosh Sivan, aims to revive the allure of MT's tales. Reactions to the collection are, however, divided.
While some adaptations do a good job of capturing the spirit of MT's work, others struggle with forced nostalgia and out-of-date surroundings. For example, biju menon plays a middle-aged man visiting his ancestral house in the opening film Shilalikhitam. However, the overuse of melodramatic music and the mismatching scenery make the attempt to replicate an older era appear forced. By exploring MT's personal themes and relationships in her introductions to each film in the collection, Kamala Haasan adds a special touch.
Prominent performers like mohanlal and mammootty also make an appearance; mohanlal plays an old man, while mammootty stars in a movie based on MT's stories from Sri Lanka. Some modifications, nevertheless, seem antiquated, as Olavum Theeravum. Mahesh Narayanan's Sherlock, starring Fahadh Faasil and Nadiya Moidu, is the most notable adaption. Its endearing and humorous depiction of the life of an expat is noteworthy. In Shyamaprasad's Kazhcha, parvathy thiruvothu plays a lady who fights for her freedom in a society that limits her options. Interesting actor duos like Fahadh and Nadiya and Asif ali and Madhoo are also included in the anthology.
The series hasn't quite taken off, even though it stars big names like mammootty, mohanlal, Kamal Haasan, and Fahadh Faasil. social media is devoid of conversation about it, giving the impression that the series never happened. Viewers of today want gripping, interesting stories that keep their attention throughout. Unfortunately, even for an OTT audience, Manorathangal is sometimes boring and uninteresting. The anthology does a good job of honoring MT Vasudevan Nair's profound impact on malayalam film, but as a web series, it falls short. It offers little to engage viewers in the present era, therefore it doesn't completely hit home with them.