Mamangam Review - First Day Reports

Mamangam is a 2019 historic Malayalam movie directed by M. Padmakumar, starring a huge star cast of Mammootty, Unni Mukundan, Achuthan, Anu Sithara and many others. Mamangam is based on an old festival in Kerala which is called as Mamangam festival. This was celebrated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha, Kerala. This is started as a trade festival later turned into a war between the chaverukal (Suicide squads) send by Valluvakonathiri and Zamorins.

Mamangam is easily one of the most anticipated movie in Malayalam as this is the third historic movie that has Mammootty in lead roles. Every time when he do the historic characters, he excels it with his unmatched aura. Mamangam is yet another wonderful, powerful character did by him. Unni Mukundan also did his part well. The small boy Achuthan steals the show. He did some claps worthy scenes, especially those final portions that includes him was extraordinary. The other casts Siddique, Anu Sithara, Kaniha and all others did their part well. While many of the dialogues and emotional scenes hold the movie as it’s strength, the movie duration and the over melodramatic dialogues at some portions tested the patience of audience. 

Technically the movie is well made with most of the scenes is created manually instead of VFX, this was one of the reason of good viewing experience. The VFX portions also were good and justified the budget. The cinematography by Manoj Pillai offers you amazing visual experience. The music by M. Jayachandran, and the BGMs from Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara was just okayish one.

The movie is truthful to it’s history. The writers haven’t included any additional fictional scenes in the movie, this helped the movie to be a classic one, and it also backfired. If they could add some fictional elements like there in Pazhassiraja, the movie could be even better in terms of moments and viewing experience. The major drawback of Mamangam is, the movie have less impressive war scenes and goosebumps scenes as marketed in commercials, even the main character didn’t had that much screen space, totally the movie is dull in writing and screenplay and this reason will makes you bored at times. Mamangam can’t be included in the category of usual historic movie with many war scenes and goosebumps moments. This is a pure classic movie which only makes you aware about the history behind the festival Mamangam.

Mamangam will be a good watch if you expect less and watch considering it as a class movie. Definitely this is not another Pazhassiraja, but an another classic historic film, and one of the movie with high production values and theatrical experience from Malayalam cinema industry.