Pranayam (2011)

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

PRANAYAM ( 2011 ) I am writing this after watching it 2nd time, as the first time couldn't hear the dialogues clearly at some parts of the movie. Second time, watched this in a different theatre, with good sound and only very few people : that indicates two things, either the movie is exceptionally well or very bad. In this case, it's the first !! PRANAYAM is brilliant. Brilliant in many ways : Story, Performance by the actors , Music, Camera, Narration style. A story about love stories. I think that would be the 'one line' to give for this movie. Achutha Menon is happily settled and staying with his son's family. One day as he meets a new family who has just moved into the floor below theirs, he is shocked to see his ex-wife Grace there. That takes us back to the wonderful life that they had before, the way they met, fell in love , got married. The same state of surprise and shock accumulates in Grace also. Menon gets a cardiac arrest and he is taken to the hospital by Grace & other residents of the flat. At present , grace is married to Mathews character who is half paralysed and moves around in a wheelchair. They have a daughter(dhanya mary ) who is married and settled. They all are staying together in the same flat. These three characters' past life and when they meet again what each of them goes through, what others related to them goes through, forms the plot of PRANAYAM. The three main characters have been portrayed excellently by three brilliant actors of Indian cinema : Anupam Kher , Mohanlal and Jayapradha. Anoop Menon as Achutha Menon's son also has done his part quite naturally and the rest of the cast backs the overall performance of the movie. Songs are also good. ' paattil e paatil '(Shreya and Jayachandran, solos) is a good one that you'll hum even after the movie. Then there is Lehan Cohan's I'm Your Man sung by Mohanlal. These two can be said as the highlight songs in the movie. Camera just makes each and every frame look so beautiful. Should really appreciate Satheesh Kurup for the kind of lighting and color tone selected for the movie. Its ' see and feel good ' for the eyes.And the way the director Blessy has narrated it is so beautiful. Sometimes we may feel that its a bit slow movie, but there is a specific pace for each kind of movie is what I basically think and the pace of this movie well suits for it. Blessy has made a classic movie , slowly bringing the old goodness that Malayalam film had with some nice heart touching stories. A nice movie for everyone to watch and experience LOVE in different perspectives.

This review is short. I chose to make it short. This movie has received many reviews as excellent and exquisite. This movie doesn't need all these praises. This movie is a picture-perfect copy of the movie Innocence (2000). But it has been remade in a really good way. Didn't let the original down. I really think that they could've at least created a script of their own. Don't you?But there isn't much to look forward to a movie that has been copied from another. Rather watch the original. Just my thoughts. I think the original was way better.Anyways, just my thoughts. Don't hate me for that. Cheers!

"Pranayam", even though the movie posters(gray heads, and the settings) gave us a clear picture of the entire story, I somehow finally decided to give it a try, risking 2-1/2 hours from my life, and as usual no surprises, the same old story continues in this melodramatic piece from Blessy. A mediocre plot(remember the old malayalam movie "thriveni sanghamam", centering around three people, expanded and over-elaborated dramatically, as if the director trying hard to make believe the viewers about the pathetic conditions of characters and literally forcing the viewers to accept and feel what he is churning out, brutally turning out to be a tedious and wearisome task for them and finally leaving the theater in relief, as if they just finished attending a dull and long "philosophical" verbal diarrhea. Blessy like a below-average school student writing long essays lacking depth, subject, and content during monthly exams, failing miserably as a director. Characters coming out from nowhere filled with over-excitement and tediously long dramatic dialogues sadly lacking life. Mohanlal as "Mathews" the only exception adding a little color to this altogether dull "requiem." My advise for the curious viewers, stay away! and save your precious 2-1/2 hours.

If you would ask me, i would consider this as an exquisite film. The movie is like a river, with it's flow, twists and turns and like a sea with its depth and serenity. A strong emotion depicted in a completely new manner. Movie viewers are in for something different. Blessy as always have achieved the greatness of making the audience think of the plot and our on self. Some really powerful dialogs delivered neatly and some nice songs. Talking about the casting and the acting, Mohanlal has once again proved his abilities as an actor, and this time, without even using his body and just his face (as he is half paralyzed in the movie), Jayaprada and Anoop menon has put up a good job, too. I loved the scene in which Jayaprada hugs Anupam kher right when the thunder strikes, with fear and love alike. And of course an amazingly unpredictable end.The flaws; the voice and the lip movements of Anupam kher does not sync (the dubbing), and the romance between the younger Anupam kher and Jayaprada, which you would find it hard to believe(as things happen way too fast) are the only ones. Nothing major though.