After the super success of Runway, Dileep and Director Joshy come together
again in 'Lion'. It is undoubtedly a rip-roaring fun-filled family movie
set against worst political trends which exist in Kerala.
Chandanakkaattil Balagangadharan (Kalashala Babu) is the State Education
Minister of the ruling coalition government. He is highly corrupt and
devious. His sole aim is to advance his political career and accumulate
wealth, and he is even ready to sacrifice family values to achieve his
goals. He is aided in all his ventures by two of his son’s-in-law
(Sai Kumar and Shammi Thilakan) an IAS and IPS officer respectively.
On the other hand, Krishna Kumar (Dileep), the only son of Balagangadharan,
is an erect, sincere student leader who opposes his father and his immoral
activities. He does not approve of the ways adopted by his father to
achieve his objectives. Finally, when Krishna Kumar realizes that he
cannot do anything good to the people and state without having power,
he contests against his father and wins the elections to become the
Home Minister of the state. He decides to bring a stable and clean state
devoid of any corruption and bribery. Roy (Saji Soman), Rafeeq (Binish
Kodieri), Baby (Sreejith Ravi) and Ajith (Madhupal) are his close supporters.
Meanwhile
he is in love with Sarika (Kavya Madhavan), the daughter of an erstwhile
servant of Balagangadharan. She had misgivings about Krishna Kumar,
but in course of time understands that he is not in politics for self
advancement like his father. A last he marries her much against the
opposition of his father. How Krishnakumar goes about cleaning the system
and proving his pet theory that "Leadership is an action not a
position" forms the rest of the story.
It is undoubtedly a roller-coaster ride of pure unadulterated masala
from director Joshy. The problem is that there is nothing new in the
plot, proceedings and climax as they are predictable. But it is Dileep's
screen presence, comic timing and above all his on-screen chemistry
with Kavya Madhavan which makes this political thriller watchable. His
body language after he becomes a minister is praiseworthy.
Kalasala Babu impresses as the corrupt politician. Jagathy does justice
to the role of PA to the corrupt Minister. Dileep himself takes care
of the comedy department and is ably supported by Jagathy, Innocent,
Cochin Haneefa, Salim Kumar and Harisree Ashokan. Kavya looks too bloated
especially in song sequences. The two songs tuned by Deepak Dev with
background score of Ouseppachan is an added highlight of the film.
If you are looking for some fun no doubt Lion adds up to a time-pass
political mass entertainer.
