Movie Review of 'Oru Vadakkan Selfie'

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The Story Frame

Oru Vadakkan Selfie is a story of a carefree, happy-go-lucky young engineering student Umesh (Nivin Pauly) who is infamous for failing in a row in his studies and having the burden of clearing 42 subjects from his three-year stint in his college.

Umesh picking up on the idea shared with him by his college buddy Shaji (Aju Varughese) and  friend Thankaprasad aka Thankamma, a tenth class drop-out (Neeraj Madhav) who is a bus conductor decides to make a short-film believing that it may fetch him luck, fame, money, and one day help him to work with Gautam Vasudev Menon, the noted film maker.

What happens to his attempt to make a short film, how does a beautiful  new neighbor Daisy (Manjima Mohan) and a selfie turns his life topsy turvy add spice to the storyline.

Oru Vadakkan Selfie also showcases how the social media has invaded the privacy of the generation X and how gullible social-media enthusiasts falls prey to people who have vested interest to fulfill. Vineeth Sreenivasan dons multiple hats on and off screen as an actor (Detective Jack in the movie), writer, lyricist and a singer.

Cast: Nivin Pauly (Umesh Manohar aka Uma), Manjima Mohan (Daisy George), Aju Varughese (Shaji), Neeraj Madhav (Thankaprasad aka Thankammma), Vineeth Sreenivasan (Detective Jack ), Vijayaraghavan (as Manohar Umesh's father), Sreelakshmi ( as Umesh's mother), P Sukumar (as Daisy's father), Parvaty T (as Daisy's mother)

Genre: Comedy

Language: Malayalam

Story: Vineeth Sreenivasan

Direction: G Prajith

Producer: Vinod Shornur

Cinematographer: Jomon T John

Music: Shaan Rahmaan

Film Editing by: Ranjan Abraham

Art: Ajay Mangad

Distributors : L J Films & Popcorn Entertainments, Australia

Theatre Release: 27^th March, 2015

Duration: 142 minutes

Reviewer's Thumb Mark

Off late, it is observed that the Malayalam film makers have become obsessed with the concept of force fitting the vices of the social media into every  second movie they come up with. Oru Vadakkan Selfie also has to deliver a long sermon on the flipside of social media - fake names, fake financial transfers, proxy servers, falling in love with people unknown etc. There is nothing wrong in it but then every week if you are dished out the same recipe with a new banner, cast and actors it becomes an over dose to the viewers.

The movie begins with the story of Umesh (Nivin Pauly) and later on meanders into many other sub plots (Harinarayan's (Diasy's boyfriend) diaapearance, land grabbing by a Gounder in Pallani, CID handling a case of economic offence and impersonation, suicide, marital dischord)  and ends up as the story of Diasy (Manjima Mohan) and her miseries in life.

Umesh, an Engineering student is known for his history of failing in 42 subjects in a row and for his street smart attitude to arrange question papers from his sources before the exams. Nivin Pauly is good as an irresponsible son and an aimless youth surrounded by equally dumb and happy-go-lucky friends.

The movie does have a lot of funny moments like: when Umesh asks his college mates "I have a doubt since my childhood, may I ask? What is theta?"; the one-liners 'Maranamass and the 'Kolamass' of Shaji (Aju Varughese); dialogues mentioning their fathers "ithu polorennum entte veetillum undu" (I too have one such piece in my home as well); greeting friends by saying "Enthelaa"; Dollar Harita etc.

Aju Varughese is definitely the centre of all hilarious moments but then it seems he has become the replica of Suraj Venjaramoodu and has nothing distinct of his own to offer. Manjima Mohan as the hapless lass emotes less and could have been better.  

Vineet Srineevasan as Jack the Tracker tries hard to play this not-so-realistic character. If he had spent more time to track where the story line is going he would have either shelved it or would have definitely come up with a better version of Oru Vadakkan Selfie.

The songs - 'Enne tallenda ammava jnan nanna oola", "Aararo niyaaro", Chennai pattanum enikkum kittanum", "Parvanna vidhuve povathu evide" and its music are good.

Oru Vadakkan Selfie is a collage of jokes and one liners picked up from here and there and presented to the viewers marinated with a weak storyline by Vineeth Srineevasan, Prajith and friends.

It can be watched once if you want to laugh without bothering much what the story is all about.

Life Connoisseur Movie Rating:  2/5