Kenalum Kinarum Movie Review

Colonelum Kinarum Story: An old woman with meagre means has to walk downhill from her home to fetch water from a Panchayath well. Her hut is in desperate need of maintenance too. Advised by a well wisher, she decides to apply for government loan to mend her shack and build a well. But corrupt officers keep denying her application because she has no money for bribes. Learning about this, her employer, retired army colonel decides to teach the officers an unforgettable lesson.

Colonelum Kinarum Review: Veteran director Syam Benegal had made a movie Well Done Abba with Boman Irani in the lead. It was a biting satire on the apathy and corruption in the system, with a plot surrounding a well.

Mammy Century's Colonelum Kinarum (Colonel and the Well) seems to be inspired by this film. If he had copied the original film scene by scene with competent actors this could have been watchable.

With a script thinner than wafer, this film made today's other release Pettilambatra feel like a class act. What could have been a 15 min short film was dragged out to 110 mins (which still felt like hours long) with a parallel track that has nothing to do with the main story. The second track has a bit of romance and politics thrown in the mix with amateurish attempts at humour and an item song. Old men leering at women is a recurring comedic theme.

The producer, NA Mohammedkutty or NA Mammooty, as he calls himself plays the titular role. He has the personality of a typical TV serial dad and gets to show off a cool red Mercedes Benz. Veteran Shanthakumari enacts her role very well, which is a no-brainer when it comes to her. Jaffer Idukki, Saju Kodiyan and Tini Tom have nothing much to do. There are a few new faces in the film who try hard and fail at acting.

The makers of this film seem to be big fans of the Left as their parallel story track lampoons the Congress party and praises the current government complete with an actor mimicking our Chief Minister in all seriousness.