Lijo Jose Pellisery’s Malaikottai Vaaliban headlining Mohanlal was hands down the most awaited film of this year. It was peddled to be that big comeback vehicle for Mohanlal, the actor, who was more interested in projecting himself as a bankable star lately. But the film unfortunately opened to mixed reviews. A section of the audience blamed it on the deceptive marketing strategy with a few close associates of Lijo offering tantalizing tidbits about Malaikottai Vaaliban being a plausible mass hero film. Lijo’s associate and filmmaker Tinu Pappachan’s promise of a Mohanlal introduction poised to explode the theatres was an Instagram reel favourite for the longest time. But that assured explosion didn’t exactly translate on screen the way the actor’s frenzied fans envisaged. Understandably they vented their ire on social media and dissed the film. Meanwhile, another section of the audience was quickly forming a different opinion about the film. While conceding that the film was “not everyone’s cup of tea” they thought it was an avant-garde attempt, a fascinating visual treat that didn’t warrant such hate. One can’t recall the last time there were such polarized opinions about a film on social media. But in a way, it further exposed the insular nature of “social media film critics”.

War zone

Considering those who disliked the film had made their opinions (and memes) plain on their timelines, it was time for the Vaaliban lovers to register their protests. Interestingly those who liked the film were more focused on flexing the “intellectual bankruptcy” of those who disliked the film. One user felt “Vaaliban was made by an intelligent filmmaker who used a talented actor and shouldn’t expect a mass film like Empuran.” One can’t miss the condescending inference........

© Mathrubhumi English