Maniyarayile Ashokan is a 2020 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Shamzu Zayba and produced by Dulquer Salmaan under the banner Wayfarer Films along with Jacob Gregory, who also stars in the title role. The cast also includes Anupama Parameswaran, Krishna Sankar, Shine Tom Chacko. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film will not be released theatrically and will stream worldwide on Netflix from 2020 August 31 onwards.
Maniyarayile Ashokan Review
Unusually, there will be no release of Onam films in theaters during this Onam season. The online releases of Malayalam films are a relief even when the film industry is going through a severe crisis without people and noise. ‘Maniyarayile Ashokan’ is the first Malayalam film to be released on the global platform Netflix. Most notably, the film was produced by Dulquer Salman and Jacob Gregory under the banner of Wafer Films. Newcomer director Shamsu Saiba has directed Maniyarayile Ashokan. Screenplay by Vineeth Krishnan. Cinematography is by Sajad Kaku and editing is by Appu Bhattathiri. The music is composed by Sreehari K Nair. The film stars Gregory in the lead role. Anupama Parameswaran makes the heroine stand out. The film has a long list of Malayalam films. Shine Tom Chacko, Vijayaraghavan, Indrans, Sudheesh, Nayana, and so on.
One of the highlights of Maniyarayile Ashokan is that Dulquar and Anusithara occasionally come in guest roles to thrill the audience. The story of the film is based on a story that takes place in a remote part of Kerala. Ashokan’s story in Maniyara gives the audience a feel-good experience where the life, love, and innocence of an ordinary person go hand in hand. The songs sung by Harishankar in the film are hits that are equally important for comedy and story. The film also features a song sung by Dulquer and Gregory. The story is driven by the small hopes and dreams of Ashokan’s life as a village office clerk. Ashokan is not a relatively short-lived, aesthetic person. He knows the world of humiliation that the women, friends, and family around him create around him. Throughout he tries to save himself from it. His father and mother often share their dreams and hopes for their son. The director has been able to portray the vulgarities and the marriage market in the ordinary Malayalee society with a deeply satirical sense of humor.
Gregory, who has only done comedy roles so far, has been able to do his role with extraordinary skill. He got the role of Ashok, which could possibly be described as a breakthrough in Gregory’s career.Anupama Parameswaran returns to cinema after a hiatusVijaya Raghavan, who played Ashok’s father, is also a notable character in the film. Maniyarayile Ashokan is sure to make the list of films that can influence family audiences in Onam films. Another thing to note in the film is the photography The photographer was able to capture the green Kerala village beautifully on camera. Despite being a newcomer director, Shamsu Saiba’s remarkable handling of his first film can be expected to pave the way for him in Malayalam cinema. Unlike the big platform of a big-budget film, Malayalam cinema also has the potential to play the role of Maniyarayile Ashokan, which combines the ingredients of an experimental film with a short story. All in all, the film can be enjoyed as a fun story made up of the complexities, doubts, and curiosity of an average Malayalee youth about married life. Of course not boring at all.
Maniyarayile Ashokan Review
Source: Manoj Bharathy
