Aaraattu Movie Review : A massy entertainer with a so-so story

Story: Neyyattinkara Gopan, an influential 'goon' is stepping in to help Edathala Mathai do an illegal conversion of an 18-acre paddy. But is he really who he says he is?

Review: B Unnikrishnan and writer Udaykrishna have got a couple of aspects of the mass entertainer right: Super star, super star speaking in a local dialect, fights and more fights, several important actors even in minor roles, mega song and dance sequences, an appearance by AR Rahman and lots of cinematic references, particularly Mohanlal’s, that will tickle audiences. But can’t a massy film also have a good, sensible story? Aaraattu suffers in this aspect.

Mohanlal plays Neyyattinkara Gopan, an influential ‘goon’ who has been roped in to settle an illegal land issue for Edathala Mathai (Vijayaraghavan), a wealthy landowner in Muthalakota. He wants to level out an old 18-acre paddy field to - it’s anybody’s guess - build a township. But of course, the RDO (Shraddha Srinath) and the villagers resist it, because it is illegal, and the village is making progress with growing organic vegetables in unused lands, thanks to a group of four young men who call themselves the Muthalakotta Battalion.

Neyyanttinkara Gopan has taken the property on lease and everyone knows that it is Mathai’s ploy to eventually level the land. So Gopan starts off on the wrong foot with everyone, but thanks to his charm and his basic resistance to the meanness of Mathai and his burly sons, he soon has almost all the villagers and even the police eating out of his hands. But who is this Gopan who counts AR Rahman as a friend, and what is his actual mission in Muthalakotta.

Director B Unnikrishnan has put in every effort to give the film massy appeal, so basically, this is a film that rests on Mohanlal’s shoulders. And the star should be appreciated for maintaining a youthful energy and vigour, in spite of some downright silly bits; die-hard fans will be thrilled.

Udaykrishna’s writing is patchy and some parts just don’t tie in. And mentioning political correctness does not make a character PC; writers have to do away with things like the hero rubbing his chest or singing suggestive songs when a woman appears on screen. These things can absolutely no longer be considered entertaining.

Also, what purpose did the subplots of Indrans, Riyaz Khan and Nedumudi Venu actually serve to the story? They seem to have been added only to include more actors in the role… and at some point, it feels like an ancient court, with so many people surrounding Mohanlal all the time.

The music by Rahul Raj has a mix of new songs with old, and since the old ones are much-loved hits, they come across as more enjoyable. But on the bright side, the BGM which can usually come across as head-thumpingly OTT in such movies, blends seamlessly here. Special shout out to Vijay Ulaganath’s camerawork and Shameer Muhammed’s editing, both of which give a film such as this it’s rousing elements.

Aaraattu is not a clever film, but if you are looking for a ‘return to the theatre’ family entertainer, this might serve your purpose.