Theatre: Aijal, Kuwait Date: 29/2/2016 Status: Housefull Seeing a Housefull status for a Nivin Pauly starrer is very common in Kuwait and obviously in the GCC as he has got a tremendous connect with his audience. AHB opened to a barrage of negative reviews with a lot of fake accounts trolling the movie. But as days passed, with timely marketing intervention from Nivin and Shine, it managed to stay afloat. About the Movie: AHB deals with day to day affairs of a normal Sub Inspector in Kerala. It shows the emotions that police personnel face day in and day out during work. The amount of detailing that has been done can be scene in every plot and subplot of the story. Abrid Shine had managed to inspect police stations for almost a year prior to shooting and it can be seen in how the movie pans out. There is no particular story in AHB as it has been taken in an unconventional style which you hardly see in Indian Cinema. Kudos to the team for taking such a route. Direction: Similar to 1983, Abrid Shine plays out his card to perfection with reality being his strong card. He could have taken an ultimate mass movie with the same title as it was Nivin's next movie after premam. But he stuck to his ability and delivered one of the finest police stories in Malayalam Cinema. The other characters in AHB were also a trademark of Abrid Shine filmmaking where each character is as important as the other. Script: Script by Shine and Shafeeq had no story in it but whatever subplots were there, it was written well adding numerous humorous elements to it as well. Performances: Nivin Pauly delivers a knockout performance as Biju Paulose. He was terrific in delivery varied emotions. He played mass, romantic, anger, sadness to perfection. His growth and maturity can be seen with dialogue delivery which has improved leaps and bounds from earlier times. His massy diaologues were not that bad as it was made out to be. He was very restrained in his performance which makes it ever so natural. Joju George was hilarious. Prajod and Roby were equally good. Thampanoor Suresh was the showstealer in this movie and his act would be surely cult in times to come. Suraj was outstanding. Made some people tear up. No surprise as it is coming from a National Award Winner. Rohini was also very good. This was an episode i liked very much probably more than the Suraj episode. Cinematography: Alex J Pullickal who is a protegee of Jomon T John can be very proud of his debut work. His shots were real and rustic. BGM: Rajesh Murugesan who is the flavor of the season has provided an awesome score to AHB. The score is not loud and blaring with signature themes but minimal which is in sync with the subject. Songs: Even though Jerry Amaldev is a master, i quite did not like the songs too much. Probably having Rajesh do the songs would have been a better idea. The songs along with the trailer probably played a part as well in the movie not having a thunderous initial. This is a movie which will make Malayalam Cinema stand out even further as it has been made with so much conviction. Nivin pauly reiterates the fact with this movie that he is the real deal. The movie which opened to bad reviews but has picked up strongly which is partially due to his star power as well. Abrid Shine is a master of nostalgia and realistic cinema and he goes to the top tier with this movie!! A genuine and humble man Shine is and I am happy that he has been rewarded with AHB. Rating: 4/5
