Kuberan - A film for the frontbenchers

Sunderdas, who has been frantically trying to stage a comeback after two box office disasters Kudamattom and Varnakkazhchakal has surfaced with a rib tickler Kuberan. However, it turns out to be a tedious tale of same old stereotypes. Right from the story and casting to climax, there is absolutely nothing new in this film to keep the viewers engrossed. The excessive comic interludes most often at the wrong places distract the flow of narration. In short, it is not a treat for the discerning viewers. As there is a low turnout of audience during the very first week of its release, the film is likely to be doomed to oblivion.

Sunderdas who made his debut Sallapam which revolves around the riveting tale of a village belle, that heralded the era of the last superstar Manju Warrier, has not become successful in wielding the megaphone after the maiden directorial venture. He has to believe the bitter fact that a finely crafted script by Lohithadas will not come to the rescue at every crucial stage in his career as a filmmaker. The director fails to add innovative touches to the cliché-ridden situations abundant in the plot, which is rehashed from a string of successful films made during the last decade. Situations are conceptualized in such a way that they become predictable even at the outset. The script written by V C Ashok lacks logic in some of its plot points and characterization. The screenplay is simply unimaginative and the treatment half hearted and as a result the film is bound to bite the dust. Comedy track crosses the limit at places.

Set against the breathtaking panoramic sweeps of Kudagu, the film tells the tale of Siddarthan (Dileep) who is struggling to keep his family afloat. His family consists of three orphans. His all efforts to become a millionaire turn futile. The story takes a serious turn as he get aquainted with Pooja (Samyuktha Verma) who pretends to be a psychopath to save herself from her own husband. She takes refuge in his house and starts living with him. Then the movie moves on predictable lines. The rest of the story is about how Siddarthan helps her to tide over the crisis. He is confronted by the villains henchman (Baburaj). As usual, the film ends when the villains are finished off.

The stereotypes from Dileep's role as an impish, lovable merrymaker to the central theme are the bane of his formula ridden fare. Dileep, who has established his own screen persona creating his own distinct slot as a crowd puller with powerful performances does not generate much interest due to the hackneyed plot and oft-repeated story line. In fact Kuberan appears to be a combination of several successful formula stories put together.

The technical team has done a shoddy job and it is surprising to see that the director was not aware of it. The cinematography by Salu George is not up to the mark. Neither the lyrics by Gireesh Puthencherry and music by Mohan Sitara succeeds in making an impact. However, the song which begins with Kannivasantham Kattilmoolum Kannadaragangal is hummable. The new entrant Umashankari is yet another glamour doll to hit the screen. She has nothing to do in this film. Barring a few, the comic scenes in the film appear stale and fail to evoke laughter among the audience. It fails to tickle the funny bone of filmgoers. Since the audience is fed up with this genre of films, it is high time Sunderdas stopped making this kind of half-baked ludicrous stuff, if he values his career as a filmmaker.