MOVIE REVIEWS

Go with a mind to Laugh.

A film rarely acknowledges the source from where its story has been adapted. So it's surprising to see an acknowledgement even before the credits start rolling in Malayalam film, Happy Husbands. And this helps in sending out positive vibes to the audience. Happy Husbands is directed by Saji Surendran, a television director, who made a successful film debut with Ivar Vivahitharaayal last year. He was honest enough to admit that Happy Husbands is based on the Tamil film, Charlie Chaplin.Its also a straight lift from Aneez Bazmi's 'No Entry' and talks of three husbands caught in a melee of events that drive them to the brink of insanity.
Mukundan (Jayaram) is a media baron who has had it up to the neck with a suspicious wife Krishnendu (Bhavna) who sees a prospective seductress in every woman whom her husband is likely to come across. Rahul (Indrajith) has the best of wine and women in his life, and a naive wife (Samvritha) at home, who thinks the world of him. John (Jayasurya) is a photographer who falls in love with Zarina, (Vandana) a psychology student who believes he is schizophrenic. When an escort by the name of Diana (Reema) lands in town, Mukundan gets introduced to her and while she clings on to him like a leech, the man goes on a lying spree and forces his friends to follow suit.
If you have seen 'No Entry', you have seen it all. Almost all the gags have been adopted per se from the film, and there are very few attempts at innovation. Except for Suraj Venjarammood of course, who would probably be one of the first comedy artistes who runs the danger of being typecast, since he gets to play key characters with the very same dimensions time and again.
It is futile to look for logic or substance in Krishna Poojappura's script. The film just goes on and on and shows how the three men struggle to hide their relationship with Diana from their respective spouses and thereby, the goof ups they make. Still, it works because of the humour between the lead players. Initially, we may feel that Jayaram and Bhavana are an odd pairing (they were last seen in the horror film Winter). But because of their efforts, it works. Jayaram has stiff competition from the youngsters. Still, he holds his ground. Indrajith is the surprise package with his bleached hair and waxed chest, looking very metro-sexual (in spite of his hefty physique). Jayasurya is the usual joker-role of the pack. Bhavana has a plum role amongst the women and she does justice to it, balancing humour with sentiment. Samvrutha plays a subdued docile wife but she makes her presence felt. Rima seems to be uncertain as to what she is supposed to do; her character demands confidence which she lacks. Suraj Venjarmood and Maniyanpilla Raju support the cast with some over-the-top humour.
Sometimes it's difficult to recreate a film, especially if you are not sure if you want to retain the core spirit that made the original so endearing in the first place. Which is where, 'Happy Husbands' falters. Which is why, if you are on the lookout for a more comic, more real and more daring version of swaying husbands and steadying wives, you should rent a 'No Entry' DVD. In all fairness, Happy Husbands has shaped up as a decent entertainer, far better than many of the recent comedies. Don't analyze too much about its pluses and minuses, and chances are that you may find it quite enjoyable.