Bandra Review: This Dileep Movie Is Mostly About Trapping The Viewer To The Climax, And Then There Is A CatchThe protagonist of Bandra, Dileep, is a prominent figure in the Malayalam movie industry, where his personal life has been a subject of controversy since July 2017. Once the biggest crowd-puller in the South Indian state, Dileep now leads a dual life. He is not only an accused in a sexual assault case but also a struggling actor who has attempted various genres in an effort to regain his audience.
Dileep’s fortunes at the theaters have never been the same for two primary reasons. Firstly, many involved in the 2017 case publicly discussed his alleged role in the crime. Secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the flow of theatergoers, which had a significant impact on the movie industry. With the exception of his loyal fan base, most of Dileep’s audience distanced themselves from him.
Furthermore, a group of actors from the Malayalam movie industry publicly denounced him in connection with the alleged crime, further alienating the audience. Dileep, who was once part of classic dramas, slapstick comedy-dramas, and thrillers such as Sallaapam, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, Anuragakottaram, Meenathil Thalikettu, Punjabi House, Udayapuram Sulthan, Joker, Thenkasipattanam, Ee Parakkum Thalika, Rakshasarajav, Ishtam, Soothradharan, Mazhathullikkilukkam, Kuberan, Meesa Madhavan, Kunjikoonan, Kalyanaraman, Thilakkam, Gramaphone, C.I.D. Moosa, Perumazhakkalam, Kathavasheshan, Runway, Vettam, Kochi Rajavu, Pandippada, Chanthupottu, Lion, Vinodayathra, Passenger and Ring Master, couldn’t recreate his Midas’ touch for long.
Why a movie review talks about the personal life of an actor?
This writer, like many other movie watchers who are familiar with the Malayalam movie industry, could never approach a Dileep movie without thinking about the events unfolded on July 10, 2017.
Back to the movie:
Alan “Aala” Alexander Dominic, portrayed by Dileep, is a businessperson and former gangster who seems capable of anything, as commonly seen in gangster movies. He holds sway over an entire coastal village in Kerala, with its residents willing to do anything for him. He can even go to Bombay (sorry, MNS – most of the movie’s events occur in the 1990s) to kidnap a leading gangster.
The story commences with Sakshi, a promising scriptwriter portrayed by Mamata Mohandas, who faces struggles in launching her career as a director due to the lack of a compelling story. Her journey takes a turn when she stumbles upon the intriguing tale of yesteryear actor Tara. This discovery leads the narrative into the main plot, with Aala taking the center stage as the protagonist.
Director Arun Gopi and the writer have skillfully woven together various elements in the film, including films, gangsters, love, and music. However, as the movie is about to embark on its journey, viewers find themselves entangled in one significant issue: the climax conundrum. The viewers’ minds become engrossed in contemplating possible climax scenarios or positioning themselves to anticipate the movie’s eventual conclusion.
Although the movie is titled ‘Bandra,’ as you delve into the script by Udaykrishna, a prolific writer of many Malayalam potboilers, you will realize that the place or name holds little significance in the film.
All the leading actors in the movie have convincingly portrayed their roles, with special mention to Kalabhavan Shajon, who plays the sidekick of Aala.
The most intriguing aspect of the movie unfolds towards the end. As a viewer, you won’t be able to overlook the similarities between the ending of ‘Bandra’ and the blockbuster Malayalam movie ‘Lucifer.
Dileep is trying to recreate the same winning formula of Lion and Runway, but fails to win back the viewers’ confidence. The grand sets, a good story and convincing performances wouldn’t help the movie because of a weak and predictable screenplay.
Director: Arun Gopy
Writer: Udaykrishna
Cast: Dileep (Alan “Aala” Alexander Dominic), Tamannaah Bhatia (Tara Janaki), Dino Morea (Raghavendra Desai), Lenaa (Hemaji), Mamta Mohandas (Sakshi), Kalabhavan Shajohn (Mirchi), Sarathkumar (Veera Raghavan IPS), Rajveer Ankur Singh (Bala), Easwari Rao (Rosamma)
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