Cast: Dileep, Siddharth, Murali Gopy, Bobby Simha, Shweta Menon
Director: Rathish Ambat
“History is a set of lies agreed upon” – Napoleon Bonaparte. By far this could be one of the most politically recognised quotes in the history of mankind. We are in a world unable to prove it otherwise. Because history is written by the victors — in fact, by survivors, says the much-awaited Kammara Sambavam, which looms large around this philosophy of history.
Directed by Rathish Ambat, this could be termed as historical-fiction. It is a satire of politics, cinema and history obviously. The film that spans across multiple time periods discusses how history is made. But how do people come to trust it? What if history is wrong and we've been lied to?
Though it deals with history that we learn from textbooks, writer Murali Gopy has tweaked it with some agendas. Some are to be accepted and some to be rejected. But if you are ready to accept it without looking into the political aspects of the movie (though there are not much) it is definitely a one-time watch.
The story at times gets complicated though Malayali viewers are familiar with multiple time span genres. Dileep, who plays the lead character of Kammaran Nambiar in three versions — a bedridden person, a cunning man and a rebellious freedom fighter, appears in roles different from anything he has done in his film career. No one can watch the film by forgetting the actor’s recent mishaps as some of the dialogues scratch on these issues indirectly.
Though there are ‘only-Dileep-would-do-that’ kind of silly scenes, he has done a decent job on screen. Sidharth, who plays a pivotal role in this movie as Othenan Nambiar, has done a good job too. At times, his mannerisms remind you of the character he did in Rang De Basanti. His agility and charming looks really helped him on screen, especially in hand axe fights and shootout scenes. Other cast members like Murali Gopy, who play the role of Kelu Nambiar, Bobby Simha, Swetha Menon and Manikuttan do a decent job without many flaws.
Moving on to the technical side, the cinematography is one of the good things about the movie. The BGM would remain with you even when you leave the seats. Altogether, is a treat for the fans, especially those who love beards, cool shades, and visceral axe fight scenes.
This movie definitely has politics. When you think about the political scenario in the state at the moment, the politics in this may not be accepted by many. Accept it or not, you cannot deny its existence.
