A good film with excellent direction and central performance hindered slightly by average script.
Positives:
Dileep: Dileep is excellent as 'Aala' in a never before seen action, mass avatar. An utterly convincing power-packed performance. We are able to see an in-form Dileep which has been missing post Kammara Sambhavam. It is a performance for the fans which is reminiscent of old-school feudal lord Malayalam films. Some great pieces of dialogue and dialogue delivery coupled with apt physical mannerisms.
Direction: Arun Gopy has directed well, mixing aesthetic frames with apt music and sound mixing. As a Dileep fan, Arun Gopy has managed to deliver some excellent general and hero elevation sequences. Special thanks goes to him for showing Dileep in a desirably serious, non-comedic, mass, action role.
Dileep & Tammanah: This new on-screen duo works well, their scenes are able to create the intended impact. Chemistry coupled with writing/dialogue are done well.
Hero Scenes: Acting, music, cinematography and direction combine well for all hero elevation moments. Editing is also very well done here allowing for sleek transition frames.
Soundtrack/Songs: Of a good standard. BGM for Dileep and Tammanah sequences as well as hero elevation sequences are especially well done - the intended impact is created.
Fight Scenes: Well done and executed well by Dileep with apt mannerisms.
Negatives:
Script: Script is nothing particularly special, however, due to every other department (acting, direction, cinematography, music, action) being executed to an above average / excellent standard, this can be overlooked.
Editing: Climax action sequence editing was not smooth.
Overall:
A very well made, experimental, large budget movie which should be supported in the Malayalam film industry.
For those reviewing negatively and attacking script/Udaykrishna:
Beeshma Parvam is movie which was successful despite cliche script and story because the making effort was appreciated - the story is average at best. Even if we look to Bahubali 2, it too is a cliche story which you can predict from the off-set, no surprises whatsoever and with weak VFX, yet people celebrate it due to the making, ambition and emotion. Lucifer was another movie with an average story but presented well by Prithviraj. All 3 movies mentioned here have weak stories, but the positives (performances, making, music, cinematography) triumph it - same goes for Bandra. If you looked any of these films critically from a story perspective, none would score above a 6, so then if we are taking films from an emotional, mass element and technical standpoint, they should all have the same criteria.
Even going back to Udaykrishna's 'hit' scripts, these were also very average stories - CID Moosa, Runway, Pulimurugan, Twenty:20 etc. These films don't particularly offer great or outstanding stories but they are made well and entertaining. Most of today's Malayalam movies have average scripts too but they hide under the concept of 'realism' - Home, Jaya Jaya Hey, Pachuvum Albuthavilakkum etc.
Watch Bandra for it's grand size, concept, making and utilisation of Dileep. A film especially for old-school Malayalam film and Dileep fans as well as those who appreciate cinema.
Positives:
Dileep: Dileep is excellent as 'Aala' in a never before seen action, mass avatar. An utterly convincing power-packed performance. We are able to see an in-form Dileep which has been missing post Kammara Sambhavam. It is a performance for the fans which is reminiscent of old-school feudal lord Malayalam films. Some great pieces of dialogue and dialogue delivery coupled with apt physical mannerisms.
Direction: Arun Gopy has directed well, mixing aesthetic frames with apt music and sound mixing. As a Dileep fan, Arun Gopy has managed to deliver some excellent general and hero elevation sequences. Special thanks goes to him for showing Dileep in a desirably serious, non-comedic, mass, action role.
Dileep & Tammanah: This new on-screen duo works well, their scenes are able to create the intended impact. Chemistry coupled with writing/dialogue are done well.
Hero Scenes: Acting, music, cinematography and direction combine well for all hero elevation moments. Editing is also very well done here allowing for sleek transition frames.
Soundtrack/Songs: Of a good standard. BGM for Dileep and Tammanah sequences as well as hero elevation sequences are especially well done - the intended impact is created.
Fight Scenes: Well done and executed well by Dileep with apt mannerisms.
Negatives:
Script: Script is nothing particularly special, however, due to every other department (acting, direction, cinematography, music, action) being executed to an above average / excellent standard, this can be overlooked.
Editing: Climax action sequence editing was not smooth.
Overall:
A very well made, experimental, large budget movie which should be supported in the Malayalam film industry.
For those reviewing negatively and attacking script/Udaykrishna:
Beeshma Parvam is movie which was successful despite cliche script and story because the making effort was appreciated - the story is average at best. Even if we look to Bahubali 2, it too is a cliche story which you can predict from the off-set, no surprises whatsoever and with weak VFX, yet people celebrate it due to the making, ambition and emotion. Lucifer was another movie with an average story but presented well by Prithviraj. All 3 movies mentioned here have weak stories, but the positives (performances, making, music, cinematography) triumph it - same goes for Bandra. If you looked any of these films critically from a story perspective, none would score above a 6, so then if we are taking films from an emotional, mass element and technical standpoint, they should all have the same criteria.
Even going back to Udaykrishna's 'hit' scripts, these were also very average stories - CID Moosa, Runway, Pulimurugan, Twenty:20 etc. These films don't particularly offer great or outstanding stories but they are made well and entertaining. Most of today's Malayalam movies have average scripts too but they hide under the concept of 'realism' - Home, Jaya Jaya Hey, Pachuvum Albuthavilakkum etc.
Watch Bandra for it's grand size, concept, making and utilisation of Dileep. A film especially for old-school Malayalam film and Dileep fans as well as those who appreciate cinema.