Confusions, rather than revelations, are awaiting the audience as Lal Jose opens the book of revelations. Confusion on what the filmmaker was aiming at – a typical superstar movie? A campus movie? A thriller? Or a mish-mash of it all to make some noise during the festival season? Confusion, on why the lead character is behaving the way he does, towards the end. What is served up as an explanation, a back story from his younger days, only adds to the confusion.
Even the college campus, where much of the action happens in Velipadinte Pusthakam , has a confused existence. It is introduced to us as a present-day campus, but the happenings inside reminds us of the eighties or nineties.To this campus comes Michael Idikkula (Mohanlal), to take over as the Vice Principal, following the suspension of Prem Raj (Salim Kumar).
The new Vice Principal, being played by the superstar, has a host of responsibilities – ending the fight between two rival gangs in college, dish out ‘blog-like’ advice on how to use social media wisely, basking in the admiration from all the lady colleagues and the youth, finding funds for a college hostel, and generally being the sole axis around which the entire college, the nearby fishing village and the whole film revolves around.
So, it is quite a tragedy when such a character has a sketchy past, which actually does not explain anything.
The script by Benny P. Nayarambalam is the weakest element of the film, which even otherwise is replete with weak points. Coherence is in short supply and is instead made up by a convoluted story-line.
When the movie begins with Anoop Menon uncharacteristically flexing his muscles and bashing up a host of goons, you wonder why he is being made to do this.
The answer comes towards interval. In a superstar movie, even the flap of a butterfly’s wings is to serve the cause of the star. That is the only revelation that one can have from this drab festival offering.
Velipadinte Pusthakam
Director: Lal Jose
Cast: Mohanlal, Anoop Menon, Anna Rajan, Priyanka
