Big B

A woman dies in Kochi. She had raised four children she took off the street; they are grown now and have gone their own ways. They come back for the funeral. The eldest, Bilal, has been away for years and in contact with nobody. They soon understand that the death was not natural; the neighbourhood where she lived is in the middle of a dispute over land, with politicians behind it. The four brothers stay. Amal Neerad directs. Mammootty plays Bilal. The visual language was unfamiliar in Malayalam cinema until then: slow motion, a dark palette, low light and the aesthetic of advertising. Amal Neerad came from cinematography and this is his first film as director. The narrative is adapted from an American film and the plot largely follows it. It was not well received on release and did not meet expectations commercially. A cult audience formed in later years; its manner and its lines were influential in Malayalam cinema and it is now counted as a turning point. Mammootty's character says little and the part is built entirely on bearing. Its limit is the script; two of the brothers do not separate enough and the narrative is carried by style. Who it is for: viewers who like Malayalam cinema and style driven action. Who it is not for: the plot is thin, the violence is heavy, and there is little depth of character.