Parole is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language drama thriller film directed by Sharath Sandhith in his feature film debut and written by Ajith Poojappura, based on a true story. It stars Mammootty, Ineya, Miya, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Siddique and Prabhakar.[2] It began principal photography on 14 June 2017 in Bangalore. Loganathan Srinivasan was the cinematographer and Suresh Urs was the editor. Songs and score are composed by Sharreth.[3][4]
| Parole | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sharrath Sandith |
| Screenplay by | Ajith Poojappura |
| Produced by | Antony D'Cruz |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Loganathan Srinivasan |
| Edited by | Suresh Urs |
| Music by |
|
Production company | Antony D'Cruz Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Century Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 150 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Plot
editAlex "Mestri" Philippose is living a happy life with his wife Annie and son Shine, though she is epileptic. One day, he loses his temper and slaps Annie, triggering a fit which causes her to fall into a well. He fails to save her, and his attempts are seen as proof that he killed her. He goes to jail for her murder.
The first parole application is rejected since his son does not sign it, thinking he will be targeted next. After his sister Kathrina's death, he finally succeeds in getting parole, with the intention of seeing his son.
After many attempts, he locates his son, but is distraught when he learns that he is a petty criminal, working for Sudarshan, the local drug kingpin. His son is brought in for questioning, but is taken by Sudarshan. Alex finds Sudarshan, beats him up and rescues his son.
The police officer investigating the case threaten to arrest Shine, but decides to arrest Alex instead when he is reminded that his own son, one of Shine's friends, would also be incarcerated.
The movie ends with everyone finding out about Alex's innocence as he goes back to jail for another crime he did not commit.
Cast
edit- Mammootty as Alex Mestri / Alex Philippose / Sakhavu Alex, a communist leader
- Nebish Benson as Young Alex
- Ineya as Annie
- Miya as Kathrina
- Siddique as Abdu
- Suraj Venjaramoodu as Varghese
- Lalu Alex as SP Jacob Sam
- Prabhakar as Bullet Raghavan
- V. K. Prakash as Krishnan Nair
- Alencier Ley Lopez as Sakhavu Philippose, Alex's father (a senior communist leader)
- Sudheer Karamana as Vattakannan Suku
- Juby Ninan as Rajkumar
- Sijoy Varghese as Varkkichen
- Irshad as Bennychen
- Madan Mohan as Vinod
- T. S. Raju as Sadasivan
- Padmaraj Ratheesh
- Sohan Seenulal
- Ashwin Kkumar
- Kalabhavan Haneef as Aani
- Kalasala Babu
- Krishna Kumar as Sandeep Raj
- Chembil Ashokan
- Kalinga Sasi as Kili
- Muthumani as Hazeena
- Aristo Suresh
- Harshitha Pisharady
- Ganapathi
- Vishak Nair
- Rony David
- Hariprashanth M G as Sudarshan
- Thankachan Vithura
- Emil George
Production
editThis is the feature film directorial debut of advertisement film maker Sharrath Sandith, who announced the film in May 2017 with Mammootty whom he had been directing for last 12 years for ad films and Miya George in cast. He said the other cast would be finalised after the filming began, and planned to shoot the film in two schedules to be in Bangalore and Kerala. The screenplay is based on a real life story.[6] The untitled film began principal photography on 14 June 2017 in Bangalore, with 25-days schedule planned there.[7][8] Mammootty plays a prisoner and Communist comrade,[9] while Juby Ninan, who also co-produced the film, and Lalu Alex appear in jail wardens' roles.[10][11] In December first, Sharrath revealed Miya's role as Mammootty's sister and stated that filming would be wrapped up in 10 days.[12]
The film was shot in digital CinemaScope and 4K cinematography was employed.[13] The filming took place in around 75 days, of which 25 days were part of prison sequences in Bangalore. Other parts were shot in and around Thodupuzha.[14]
Release
editOn 29 March, due to a delay in obtaining the clearance certificate from the Animal Welfare Board of India, which had to be submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification to attain the film's censor certificate, the original release date of 31 March 2018[5] was pushed to 6 April.[1]
Critical reception
editSanjith Sidhardhan of The Times of India rated the film three in a scale of five and said, "Parole has the elements that would appeal to a family audience – action, drama and sentiments – but a taut script and trimmed first half would have made it an even more engaging venture."[15]
Financial Express wrote that "Mammootty wins hearts as Sakhavu Alex in this melodrama" and labelled the film as "entertaining".[16]
Anna M. M. Vetticad of Firstpost rated 1 out of 5 stars and said, "Parole is not Mammootty’s worst, but if you have seen him at his best, you have to wonder what on earth he is thinking when he picks scripts these days – or whether he is thinking at all.".[17]
Sify said, "With a script that is melodramatic to the core, the film looks old fashioned and follows a narrative pattern that would have been fine, maybe some decades back".[18]
References
edit- ^ a b c "മൃഗസംരക്ഷണ വകുപ്പിന്റെ ക്ലിയറൻസ് കാത്ത് മമ്മൂട്ടിയുടെ 'പരോള്', റിലീസ് തീയതിയില് മാറ്റമുണ്ടാകാന് സാധ്യത Total Collection 20 cr". Indian Express. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ Soman, Deepa (30 November 2017). "Ineya thrilled to play Mammootty's wife in Parole". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
- ^ "Mammootty's Parole teaser has the megastar in two getups - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- ^ "Mammootty-starrer Parole's Teaser is out". kaumudiglobal.com. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Mammootty's Parole to hit screens on March 31". Indian Express. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ Sanjith Sidharthan (24 May 2017). "Mammootty's next is inspired by a true story". TOI. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ "Mammootty teams up with ad filmmaker next". The News Minute. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- ^ Sanjith Sidhardhan (13 June 2017). "Mammootty to begin shooting for Sharrath Sandith's film in Bangalore". TOI. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Parole: When Mammootty named his own film - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- ^ VANDANA MOHANDAS (21 September 2017). "In a Juby-lant mood". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "ലാലു അലക്സ് വീണ്ടും മമ്മൂട്ടി ക്യാമ്പിൽ". Kerala Kaumudi. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ Anjana George (1 December 2017). "Miya to play Mammootty's sister in the upcoming movie Parole". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
- ^ "പരോളുമായി മമ്മൂട്ടി". Deepika. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ "'പരോള്' മമ്മൂട്ടി: അലക്സ് എന്ന കര്ഷകൻ". Mangalam. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ Sanjith Sidhardhan (6 April 2018). "PAROLE MOVIE REVIEW". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Parole movie review: Mammootty wins hearts as Sakhavu Alex in this melodrama". Financial Express. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ Anna MM Vetticad (9 April 2018). "Parole movie review: As generic as most Mammootty films these days, but not his worst". Firstpost. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ MOVIEBUZZ (7 April 2018). "Parole review: Strictly for Mammootty fans!". Sify. Retrieved 11 April 2018.