'With no superstars or young sensations and sans any item dance, this movie is definitely not a mass masala entertainer,' the film 'Janamaithri' had declared prior to its release. Like the makers have said, Janamaithri doesn't feature the tried and tested formula of a commercial entertainer. Instead, it is a pleasant movie which has genuine humour and minor suspense sequences. In short, you could easily call Janamaithri a small, experimental film which is incredibly entertaining.
Title
The audience gets hooked to this movie even as early as its title cards unfold. It reveals, in a unique way, how actor-producer Vijay Babu listened to the story of this film and came on board. This alone convinces the audience that Janamaithri is an experimental movie, intended to entertain as well. Besides, a brief introduction about the main characters is also given in this section.
The movie begins by introducing the character named Samyuktan (Saiju Kurup) who works in a CCTV company called 'Spy Eye.' It humorously portrays the funny incidents that happen in his life as an executive of a surveillance camera company. These incidents lead him to the police department, where it takes an interesting turn. The central government has instructed all the police departments to observe a day in a year as the 'janamaithri' day. The police personnel, too, hope to gain themselves a more popular image through this. The film progresses through their discussions and plans to make it happen. The efforts of the policemen to accomplish this project provide many humorous scenes which are genuinely funny.
Direction and theme
Janamaithri deals with a simple theme and presents it without any over-the-top antics to make it look interesting. The film revolves around the incidents that happen in a span of a day or two. The casting of Janamaithri is spot on as it has definitely played a major role making this movie a unique cinematic experience. It ditches the usual formula of 'hero-heroine' and explores the nuances of individual characters.
The direction and the overall treatment of the movie are so unique and interesting that it hardly looks like a film made by a debutant director. John Manthrickal deserves credit for showing the courage to delve into an experimental subject in his debut directorial venture. The film doesn't lag anywhere which truly is the success of a talented director. The film's tag line is 'Oru chaayakku oru jeevan' (which roughly translates to 'a life for a tea') and the director cleverly connects it to other relevant incidents as well.
The director of Janamaithri is known for penning the screen plays of super hit movies like 'Annmariya Kalippilanu,' 'Alamara,' and 'Argentina Fans Kattoorkadavu.' Besides, John Manthrickal is the tenth debutant director introduced by producer Vijay Babu through his Friday Film House.
Casting
Janamaithri stands out for its excellent casting. Saiju Kurup has brilliantly pulled off his character called Samyuktan. Veteran actor Indran shines as SI Shibu. Actor – TV presenter Sabumon too does justice to his constable Ashraf. Vijay Babu grabs a meaty role playing Raphael, son of Panjimoottil Mathayi. Besides, actors like Kalabhavan Prajod, Sidharth Siva, Balu Varghese, Sooraj, Irshad, Manikandan, Jolly Chirayathu and Sruthi Jayan make their roles memorable ones with their excellent performances.
Janamaithri is the first movie released under the banner of Friday Film House Experiments. The music of the movie composed by hit maker Shaan Rahman is quite catchy. Cinematography, too, does justice to the unique theme and treatment of the movie. The two hour long movie manages to maintain the humour quotient throughout, making it an enjoyable cinematic experience for the audience. Like the makers of the movie have claimed earlier, Janamaithri doesn't have any scenes or dialogues laden with double meanings or vulgarity. Janamaithri is definitely a comedy entertainer which can be enjoyed with your family this weekend.
