ARM: Spectacular weave of fiction, myth, romance spanning generations (2024)

[00:00:13] Onmanorama, movie podcast, Start, Action, Cut

[00:00:17] Today we are decoding the film, Ajayandiranda Moshnam or ARM as it's now called directed by Jithin Lal.

[00:00:28] The film is written by Sujit Nambiar and it stars Tovino Thomas, Krithi Shetty, Aishwarya Rajesh, Surya P. Lakshmi, Baisal Joseph, Jagadish, Abhirduhan Singh and Pramod Shetty.

[00:00:41] So the story, Stunning Generations, revolves around a mythical lamp with some magical and spiritual power.

[00:00:50] The movie progresses with a captivating grip of the old grandma stories on ancient myths.

[00:00:58] So today Swathi is here to discuss the film.

[00:01:01] So how did you enjoy the movie, Swathi?

[00:01:04] I really enjoyed the film Patma Kumar.

[00:01:07] I wasn't expecting this to be this visually spectacular.

[00:01:10] I really have to give all the credits to Tovino who pulled off all the three characters in the movie in a very convincing way.

[00:01:18] Whether it is the first character Kalu or whether it is Mani and Ajay and all of those characters, there were certain distinct characteristics to them.

[00:01:27] And she pulled off all of those things very neatly and visually the movie was extremely striking and it had a history to it.

[00:01:36] It is happening in three different timelines and three different stories and it was really an interesting watch.

[00:01:41] But on an emotional level, I do not know how much the movie would connect with the audience because I don't know there is a lot of emotional depth to the story.

[00:01:48] But as a viewer, as somebody who really enjoys a good cinematic experience, I think A.R.M. is a great choice and definitely a win for as an onum release.

[00:01:59] Yes, the three different eras as you said is actually quite difficult to pull off.

[00:02:07] And we see the making has contributed a lot to this film, the success of this film.

[00:02:14] Especially the cinematography by Joe Montee-Jones transport you to different ages and each period is distinctly depicted.

[00:02:23] That's what I feel and similarly the music both BGM and the songs are worth experiencing.

[00:02:32] And for many, the 3D didn't work but for me it weaved the mythical aura it required.

[00:02:40] And especially we need to mention Gokulda's production design.

[00:02:45] It plays a pivotal role in the success of the film because it shows the ancient times of Kunikelu, the first character played by Kovino.

[00:03:00] And then the medieval period of Manian, the thief and the fort which they raid for the lamp or the underwater cave.

[00:03:11] So the world it creates is a magical place where you are immersed and you enjoy, you are able to see the life of those periods are meticulously crafted.

[00:03:22] So how was the making of the film Swati?

[00:03:25] Well, Pakumar I completely agree to you when you said that all the eras and the places and everything was meticulously crafted.

[00:03:31] I think that was very much needed for us to believe that the whole world they are building is true and genuine.

[00:03:38] For me my personal story was Manian's story. I think he was the fierce warrior and all of his expression, his mightiness, all of that really embodied it perfectly.

[00:03:50] And that time period also where the whole villages, all of the villages that are against him and the backdrop that they set in.

[00:03:58] There is a lot of greenery that is involved like the waterfall, the cave scenes and a lot of things like that.

[00:04:05] And the whole village setup and the ideal.

[00:04:07] And I think one important thing that ARM had to strike perfectly is the fact that it had to create a sense of mythical world where you feel like you are in an actual mythical story.

[00:04:18] And that feeling that I guess the makers were really able to pull off and that the whole credit goes to cinematography and the making part of it.

[00:04:26] Because if we do not feel that this whole setup is true or what's happening is true, I don't think the believability factor would have been there.

[00:04:33] But they've really done a great job, especially I really love the cave sequences where Ajay goes off to find the ideal and he understands the history behind his forefathers that is Manian and his story and how that sort of unravels through the caves.

[00:04:52] I think all of that really made a lot of sense and there were many like smaller details like the lighting inside the cave and the certain magic to it and all that was really interesting.

[00:05:03] And actually somewhere I felt like you are in another world where I really like movies which has a little bit of history to it and the whole meteor crashing and a deity or an idol being created from it and a history to that.

[00:05:16] And this whole village coming together and praying and the whole thing was just very interesting to see how the plot is progressing.

[00:05:23] And you're getting to see glimpse of these old stories like the previous stories while being in the current story and I think all of that was really made a good, it made sense rather than it did not make a gooey mess out of the whole thing.

[00:05:38] It really made sense and it really was able to pull us into that world and I think that is where the making part of the movie excels in.

[00:05:45] There are several aspects which actually generated great curiosity for the film.

[00:05:54] One is the way the three generations, the three different periods are connected to each other.

[00:06:01] So when they narrate the story you go back to that period and connect with those characters and then you come back and you are in the present.

[00:06:10] So how the ancient period and the present are connected, the way they have crafted that and the uniformity in portraying the whole story as a single unit was great effort.

[00:06:27] Covino really did a praiseworthy performance in this film because three distinct characters and three different Covino we see.

[00:06:37] And even though there are no much emotional gaps as you said earlier, whatever physical changes that was required for those each characters.

[00:06:48] When you see Kunikilu the ancient, the first one you see a muscular warrior and when you come to Ajayan he's actually a martial arts expert but he walks and behaves like a simple man.

[00:07:02] And even Manian is a different character altogether. He's assertive, expressive and valiant but at the same time a bit mischievous.

[00:07:14] So the three different characters placed in three different periods are very perfectly shown in the film.

[00:07:22] So what do you say about the characterization and the way Covino portrayed those characters?

[00:07:28] Well Patmohamar, like you said all of those three characters they had distinct characteristics to them and we did get to see three different versions of Covino.

[00:07:39] I think it would not be correct to say it will three different versions of Toh because I could not really see Toh in those three characters especially Ajayan's character because it's a completely different very toned down, very grounded person that you're seeing.

[00:07:52] And when it comes to Manian he's physically more I think more capable. Ajayan's character is very feeble and he's a fighter and he does all the martial arts and stuff but he's a warrior, I wouldn't say he's a warrior but Manian was and so was Kealu.

[00:08:09] I was really mesmerized by how he played those three characters because I've heard that people when they're playing certain characters, when actors play certain characters they really have to get into the psyche of those characters and then portray it and to play these three different people in one single movie

[00:08:27] and to pull it off with such finesse or easiness I think like great efforts that Toh know really put in all his efforts I guess.

[00:08:35] But I think where Toh next sells and I think we've discussed before also is where how he is able to tap into the physique of the character.

[00:08:43] There are many points in the movie where he is ridiculed for his cast and the way he thinks that he does and for being a descendant of a thief and things like that.

[00:08:54] And I think to play those things differently and to have a different understanding of the characters I think that he was able to pull off.

[00:09:02] But like I said the emotional points there weren't many, like I said there weren't many emotional points to explore and even the chemistry between Ajayan and Toh and Krithi.

[00:09:14] I really didn't dig it fully because obviously the scenes and the settings and the song sequence were especially very beautiful but I don't know I couldn't really enjoy the chemistry between them.

[00:09:27] I don't know why that was but apart from the chemistry Krithi Shetty's performance I really really loved.

[00:09:32] This is her debut film, debut Malala movie and I think she really did seem like this very naive but bubbly Malayali girl, the Malayali girl next door and I think she really did a great part.

[00:09:44] This being her first Malayali movie but at the same time I also felt like characters like Basel and there are a few characters like that which I felt they were forced into the movie and also I guess Aju Bhargis character.

[00:09:58] Those parts could have been done by anybody you didn't really have to have A-Listers or Big Big Stars to be in that, to play that part because it really didn't have that much of a significance.

[00:10:08] I think that was there just to add a lot of value to the movie but for me obviously the whole weight of the movie did fall on Toh's shoulders and that he was able to pull off.

[00:10:19] Yeah, among the women characters I think Surabhi Lakshmi did a great job with her certain answers and expressions.

[00:10:28] She did a wonderful job in this film and also Krithi Siddhi actually she's a good actress.

[00:10:37] I wondered about her prowess in the film Openda in which Sehra Pradha played her father but here there was no much option to give expressions or give that depth to the character

[00:10:52] but she exuded radiance giving a glow to the whole frame and she exuded charm and for me the chemistry between Toh Vino and Krithi Siddhi did work.

[00:11:04] I like those moments and also the songs.

[00:11:09] Yeah, maybe Patma because we have not really shown what sort of changed in those few years like you're shown scenes like that, younger versions of them are like they are meeting and they are smiling at each other

[00:11:20] but we don't really get to see what happened and there's a time jump and then you directly show the fact that they are in a relationship and we don't know the reason, at least I don't understand the reasons behind it.

[00:11:32] Maybe that's why I felt like the chemistry was a bit of...

[00:11:35] Okay, but it's fine for me if I don't know how the relationship began so when it's there it's there okay fine but when there are equation needs I mean explode it's okay for me.

[00:11:47] So that's why I liked it, I don't know how it's for others but anyway the whole thing it looked as a beautiful ensemble with all the periods of the characters and the myths and the characters story, history, fable, parables and everything.

[00:12:04] So and also the music and but certain things that didn't work for me was the cinematography was really great but at some points the scenes were too dark you couldn't identify what actually was happening there.

[00:12:20] So that was there and there were some more chase scenes which were too long and some repetitiveness was there to them. Otherwise overall the movie is a great experience and I think it's a theatre watch.

[00:12:39] Of course at home or in OTT maybe you won't be able to watch in 3D with 3D glasses. I have no idea whether if it's possible, do you know can it be watched at home 3D movies?

[00:12:53] Yes, yeah I think the 3D element is what really sets it apart because like I said the cave sequences and the waterfall sequences. I don't know if the audience will be able to experience that kind of the extravagance of it in like on a small screen.

[00:13:08] So yeah I mean I think this definitely meant some theatres and people should come and watch it in the theatres only.

[00:13:13] So this is Jitin Lal's debut film and he has a wonderful film to start with and he is here to stay for long and we are expecting.

[00:13:24] So with this film he has placed himself at a certain level and the audience will be expecting many more great films like this ahead.

[00:13:31] So that brings us to the end of this episode. Thanks for listening to Start Action Cut produced and hosted by me Patmugamar.

[00:13:40] Follow www.onmanurama.com for more podcast on movies and be sure to come back for the next episode of Start Action Cut out on Mondays. Thank you.