Mohanlal, Padmapriya and Murli; Director: Shajoon Kariyal; Producer: Johny Sagariga Film Company; Music director: Raveendran

At last the Mohanlal starrer "Vadakkumnathan" has made it to the theatres. Directed by Shajoon Kariyal, the film was lying in the cans for quite some time.

Now it has also got the distinction of being the debut film of lyricist Girish Puthencherry as a writer and the last film of composer Raveendran who passed away in March 2005.

The film belongs to Mohanlal and Raveendran. The music of the film was a rage when it was released more than a year ago and the popularity of the tunes may be revived with the film's release.

The story is about Bharath Pisharody (Mohanlal), a Vedanta scholar who has authored numerous books on the subject and teaches in the prestigious Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kaladi.

The character has stereotypical eccentricities associated with such people that are misinterpreted as signs of egotism. He mysteriously disappears on his wedding day and is presumed to be dead. But he is found and brought back after five long years from Haridwar by his family.

The mystery behind Pisharody's disappearance is what the story is built around. Some parts of the film, especially the violent climax, give the feeling that it might have been ghost written by Ranjith.

It is Mohanlal's performance that holds the film together and makes it watchable fare. In the beginning, it looks classy, like his earlier films - "Bharatham", "His Highness Abdulla" and "Kamaladalam".

But "Vadakkumnathan" follows close on the heels of "Thanmatra". Comparisons between the two are inevitable and the latter wins hands down.

Actress Padmapriya has a pleasing screen presence but she doesn't have a well-defined role.