Filmmaking is an all-round effort and Anuraga Karikkin Vellam proves it. From script to casting to dialogues, the movie is a finely-woven piece of cinema where one loose end gets overshadowed by all the brilliance around. By loose end, here we mean storyline. It is kind of weak, but that's absolutely pardonable, considering the laugh riot it is. Directed by Khalid Rahman, the movie boasts of a stellar cast – Biju Menon, Asif Ali, Asha Sarath, Soubin Shahir and Rejisha Vijayan.
The movie tries to break down the patriarchal ideas in man-woman relationships, all the while giving an insight into the egoistic, self-centered and finicky Malayali men stereotype - a recipe for a delectable movie for the womenfolk.
In the first half, we are introduced to every Malayalee man's dream wife - a submissive, undemanding Asha Sarath, always at the service of her macho police officer husband Biju Menon, who absolutely takes her for granted. Her wishes are rather small, if not petty.
Even as the husband remains aloof and detached, she tries her best to provide everything for the family. But she secretly yearns for a second look from the husband man, perhaps as an acknowledgement of sorts, although it's to no avail, up till the second half of the movie.
Like father, like son: Abhilash (Asif Ali), the face of modern day romance in Anuraga Karikkin Vellam, is as bad a boyfriend to Elizabeth (Rejisha Vijayan), just like his dad.
Penned by Naveen Bhaskar, Anuraga Karikkin Vellam has a clear-cut message - don't take women for granted. However, there's a lot of unfinished business in the second half. Nevertheless, there are a lot many scenes that are worth applauding. So, let's call it half full, not half empty.
Verdict: Anuraga Karikkin Vellam is definitely a must watch, a light-hearted family drama, which will make every husband pause and think about the super woman in his life.
Onmanorama Rating: 3/5