MOVIE REVIEWS

Shikaar Review

After an year from his Bhramaram, Mohanlal finally has a release that may satisfy some what of his fans. The superstar's "Shikaar", the first release of the Ramzan season opened in 101 centres across three states. The movie made it to 83 theatres in Kerala, with positive responses from the first day audiences, that all are saying its the best of Mohanlal's recent flicks !!
Superstar Mohanlal has made a cool comeback of sorts with director M Padmakumar’s Shikar. It showcases the actor in a brilliant way, as a lorry driver with a nagging past.
As usual Mohanlal exceled as Balaraman,No one other than Mohanlal could make Balaraman that Perfect.Mohanlal was that perfect Physically and Character wise for Balaraman.Complete Marks for Mohanlal as Balaraman.Samudrakani as a Naxal Leader was the perfect cast,even though short ,Samudrakani did a fine Job(Dialogue Delivery was amazing).Lalu Alex,Sneha,and others are passable.Kailash has no future,and might be out of the industry in no time.Suraj and Jagathy were wasted.
The story of Shikkar takes place at Chittazha, a mountainous terrain where bamboo reeds flourish. After much wandering from place to place, Balraman (Mohanlal) a lorry driver has finally settled down with his daughter (Ananya) at Chittazha. Peace evades the man as his past catches up with him, and Balaraman has to take risky everything to safeguard his own life and that of his daughter's. The story of Shikkar is as old as the first hunt on the history of the earth. Suresh Babu employs every known device in the book to bring in that extra bit of energy into the proceedings but the screenplay never reaches anywhere near excellence. Isn't it strange that the hero's lorry has been named Shikkar of all possible names on earth? And what seems even more illogical is the way a massive operation is planned by a naxalite group to murder an ordinary man who has never been known to possess any supernatural powers. The dialogues often sound downright corny as well. When you come to think of it, there isn't a single piece of conversation in the film that you would carry back home with you. On the contrary, there is a scene when Balaraman sits beside his wife watching their daughter falling into sleep. He says it would take her some time to dream, and in the meanwhile, they (him and his wife) could dream for themselves. Off they scoot off for a dream sequence and a song!
Shikkar as the name indicates is somthing related to Hunting,or being Specific ,Human Hunting.It can also be said as a Hide and Seek between the Hunter and the Prey.Balaraman(Mohanlal) a Lorry Driver in a remote Village of Kerala,is powerful and very much respected by the Villagers.He has a daughter(Ananya) who is out of the Village with her studies.Balaraman even though very powerful and Fearless is seen panic at times.He has a tragic Past and fears someone Dreaded from his past.Balaraman(Mohanlal) is the prey and is being hunted by someone,and the story develops dramatically.
Tamil actor Samudrakkani cast in the role of a Naxalite is awesome as Abdulla, which makes us fervently wish the character that he played on screen had some depth to it. His role is more of a cameo and Lekshmi Gopalaswami who plays his wife does a remarkable job as well in her brief role. If you happen to see a crowd on screen with people bashing up someone, you can very well rest assured now that the man being beaten into pulp would be Suraj Venjarammoodu. Jagathy Sreekumar joins him in Shikkar in the comic track that soon runs out of steam.
Songs done by M.Jayachandran are really hummable,and will soon be in the hit charts.BGM by Ouseppachan also deserves special mention. Even though the pace of first half is slow,Second half was firm with a solid story line and the climax and last 20mins can say as 'Life of the film'.
Padmakumar's Shikkar is nowhere in the league of several other successful revenge sagas that have been told and retold in Malayalam cinema.But Shikkar was also being assumed as a movie through which Director Padmakumar(Vargam,Vasthavam, Parunthu) could get a Break, from his flop flashback. And also worth watching and all among a best flick from Superstar's recent films...!!