Superstar Mammootty and director I.V. Sasi team up after ages in "Balram
Vs Tharadas", bravely bringing together two legendary characters
played by the same actor in two different films.
The answer to the question - does the plot work? - is a definite 'yes'.
Sasi has handled the difficult task of weaving a cohesive storyline
around the two characters with élan.
But the film does falter occasionally, like when it tries to parade
the star quotient instead of its characters. However, the circumstances
that bring Balram and Tharadas together are convincing.
The story revolves around a box of arms discovered in an area under
construction, leading to complications with a criminal-police-politician
nexus.
Mammootty plays Balram, the no-nonsense police officer, one who figured
in "Aavanazhi" of the 1980s. Promoted in this film to the
post of a deputy superintendent of police, he is given the charge of
investigating the arms case.
The evidence leads to Tharadas, played again by Mammootty as the suave
smuggler of the 80's hit, "Athirathram", who has now become
an international criminal.
The character of Tharadas lacks emotional depth. Even his love for
Supriya, played by Katrina Kaif, which was supposed to be the pivot
of the story, appears artificial. Just a song picturised in Dubai to
indicate romance does no justice to the sub-plot.
Mammootty's performance,
which can't be rated top-class, does rise to the challenge of playing
both the parts without faltering even if Katrina is reduced to eye candy.
The supporting cast - Mukesh, Jagdeesh and Kalpana - render noticeable
performances. Young actor Arun, politician-actor Rajmohan Unnithan and
Siddique, too, play their parts with ease.
The overall treatment is reminiscent of the 80's potboilers with a
potpourri of various ingredients. Also, the film brims over with an
abundance of locations and characters. Though the locales spell lavishness,
the action sequences lack choreography.
However, the film is technologically superior to other contemporary
releases and is even touted as the most expensive movie made in Malayalam.
