Natholi Oru Cheriya Meenalla (2013) User Reviews

Natholi Oru Vellathe Meenannu! (Anchovy Is A Weird Fish!)

[nairtejas · 6/10 · 23 March 2013]

I loved the music and the movie starts with a melodious background score which serves as its main theme. From mythological slapstick to further urban lifestyle, Natholi Oru Cheriya Meenalla focuses on nomad Fahadh Faasil who lands up as a caretaker in a high-rise. He is on a quest to write a novel.

The first half is kinda kinky with ennui-ridden story-line, but as the movie hits interval, bingo! The screenplay works perfectly and everything goes right. Psychological drama with romance & ounces of comedy is what this dramatic flick is all about and it advances with a wonderful note. No cheap humor and frivolous unattended characters or sequences saves this film from being a tragedy instead. Although, some scenes were related to hyperbole and not credible enough to believe, understand or perceive, V K Prakash's magic on-screen stays rigid with an unconventional narration & wonderful performance by the cast.

With the happenings around him, he coughs up a story consisting of fear, love & death and the climax stays imminent. A sense of weird pleasure will be received after watching his antics towards the end and thus, this Anchovy is a weird fish!

BOTTOM LINE: A very different film with oodles of ennui, magnetic performances, unconventional story & pure film-making, this is a good try! And, at a time when Malayalam cinema is bouncing forward, this genre is surely firepower. Could have been better!

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Language: Mediocre | Violence: Mild | Gore: No | Nudity: Mild | Sex or Foreplay: No | Smoking: Strong | Alcohol: Strong | Drugs: No | Vulgarity: Mediocre

Simply a unique perspective to Malayalam Film Making !

[ashwynwarrier · 8/10 · 18 September 2013]

I think the title made me watch this film as it is quite unique as the movie itself. (Please do not go with the user ratings which currently shows 5.4)

The word 'Natholi' being Preman's(Fahad Faasil) nickname plays a very interesting and metaphorical role in the film. The initial sequence containing surreal mythological references are a fresh new view to anyone who is saturated with the usual style of malayalam cinema. The right word would be 'original' as the director,writer and the cinematographer has brought forth a novel, fascinating, bizarre, thought provoking and entertaining(very important)film.

Any one who wishes to see the power of new age film making in Malayalam films must watch this film. The cast have done justice to their characters and they make their respective characters memorable. I, being a Fahad Faasil fan stumbled upon this film while going through his filmography and found that I am now a VK Prakash fan as well! Over all I think its a brilliant watch for those who are looking for a strange,awesome visual experience in malayalam film making.

I would recommend "Poppins" as well from the same director as that too left an impact in my mind quite similar to this one.

My closing line would be : A writer happens to create worlds which he may or may not have control over, which you can very well see in "Natholi oru cheriya meenalla"

PS: The end credit sequence is extremely cool, look out for it ;D