Karmayodha - An impeccable yodha in a flawed battlefield

[nryn]

Theatre - Gopalan Grand Mall
Show - 22-Dec-2012, 9:45 PM
Status - Around 30%

Opportune time. Hero in prime form. More than a decent story line. Major Ravi still manages to screw things up as everyone had expected. But, the first three factors along with a straight forward take from the Major ensures a watchable flick. In an ideal world, this flick should have been directed by a better director. Joshi is the first name that comes to mind. May be Priyadarshan on a welcome return to non-comedy or one of the new folks like Rajesh Pillai. Had that happened, the film would have been an excellent one. Thankfully, Major has avoided his Kandahar antics and the direction slightly better than Kurukshethra as well. That said, he should stick on as a consultant/producer in films. Decent ideas, bad execution has been his motto.

At its heart, Karmayodha is taken from Taken. A vigilante cop against flesh traders. Script was nearly decent upto a point. Then Thenkashi Selvam comes into picture and the things that happen afterwards does not have a rhyme or reason. Director lacks the skill to cover up the deficiency and instead relies on his trademark sentimentalism. Major trademark family sentiments is alive and well throughout the film. Still, it starts bugging you only in the second half.

Relevance to the current scenario in our country as well as how young girls are tricked into the flesh trade is shown quite well. Major gets major props for that.

Apart from direction and the script, the problem is with the casting. When the experienced hands are in the picture, you never feel a problem. When others get in the frame, the quality of the film goes way down under. Binesh Kodiyeri is surprisingly tolerable, but he still is not an actor worthy of so much screen space. Same case with his friends, good enough for a fight or two, not any good otherwise. The old hands are good and goes a long way not making the film a chore to watch. Saikumar and Mukesh does well in their limited roles. Sukumari is tolerable, but Janardanan not so much. The girls are passable. Villain is too over the top and cartoonish.

Mohanlal carries the film throughout. He has brought in a brutal and out of control feel as Mad Maddy along with all the baggages that the character carries. He covers up for some terrible dialogues and stays true to the character. He is there throughout the film and that goes a long way in making the film watchable. Given the state of the character, punch dialogues would not have suited. Still better, fiery ones would have been a treat.

Camera is not that great. Editing at times slick, but passable. BGM is okayish, but the Karmayodha BGM is quite good.

If you decide to watch Karmayodha, you won't feel robbed or bored. You cannot help but wonder how good the film would have been under a different management.

TL;DR: Karmayodha takes up a relevant issue and ends up as a watchable, average fare. Watch it for Mohanlal and the theme.

Rating: Average

[bhat]

thanks Nryn...agree with the same

[ALEXI]

Thanks nryn.

[Hari]

Thanks bhai..........

[wayanadan]

thanxxx nryn

[Jishnu Anand]

thanks...............

[saamy]

thanksss..............

[moovybuf]

thanks nyrn........

[Warlord]

Thanks macha

[guru]

thankzeeeeee..