Director: Kamal
Lead Actor: Chandini, Mamtha Mohandas, Prithviraj, Sreenivasan
Composer: M Jayachandran
Release Date: February 15th, 2013
Producer: Kamal, Ubaid
Banner: Prime Time Cinema
Other Actors: T. G. Ravi, Nedumudi Venu, Siddique, Irshad, Thampi Antony, Thalaivasal Vijay, Sreejith Ravi, Jayaraj Warrier, Chembil Asokan
Celluloid written and directed by Kamal based on the novel by Vinu Abraham is a perfect tribute to the father of Malayalam Films. And possibly the best one J C Daniel deserves. Kamal crafted each moment of JC Daniel’s life with at most sincerity. Be it his highs, lows and the emotional turmoil he has been through his life, everything carefully narrated and perfectly executed on the screen. And the history of Malayalam Films which definitely can’t miss with some superb performances too.
Celluloid a biopic on JC Daniel deserve to be applauded for the hard work, sincerity and the amount of research that gone into the making. And a big salute to Kamal for bringing back such an era back into the Malayalam films. And for sure this will give the many new directors out their to couragely look at the genre Biopic.
Film talk about JC Daniel (Prithviraj) who dreamed big in making the first Malayalam film Vigathakumaran. However what followed is how the society ill-treated him, his wife Janet (Mamtha Mohandas) and their family. Also the first actress P K Rosie (Chandini). That forms the core of Celluloid.
Celluloid got a perfect cast which can ever get. It is Prithviraj, who once again came up with a career best performance as both JC Daniel and his younger Harries Daniel. And let me tell you as JC Daniel he once again over shadowed his earlier performances in both Ayalum Njanum Thammil and Indian Rupees. JC Daniel was again reborn by him in the big screen and each emotion of Daniel was able to convey to the audience. And the success of the actor is when the audience shed few tears for JC Daniel. And I would say that is the perfect tribute and the real expiate to JC Daniel for the cruelty the society has done for that great craftsman. And here this actor Prithviraj deserve a standing ovation for living on the screen as JC Daniel.
And Mamta as Janet too came up with another best performance, who was with him as his second half supporting him. And Chandini as PK Rosie will not disappoint either another dream performance for any debutante. Sreejith Ravi, Sreenivasan, Nedumudi Venu, T. G. Ravi, Thampi Antony, Indrans, Ramesh Pisharadi, Jayaraj Warrier, Thalaivasal Vijay, Siddique, Irshad, and all other cast had their moment and perfectly done their part convincingly.
Kamal brilliantly executed the story of Daniel while same time respect the history. His success is that he got a perfect script and he got some outstanding performances, while he narrated the story of Daniel like a poetry. And he got the courage to produce the film too with the help of Ubaid. As I said earlier lots of upcoming young directors will get inspired by a masterly crafted Daniel. Pattanam Rasheed also deserves a pat with his make up. Daniel, Rosie and Janet were perfectly recreated by him on the screen. The art direction too came up with brilliant work with getting us the feel of 30s and 60s. Venu’s magical frames added much beauty to the celluloid. The songs and Background score by M Jayachandran too suits the mode.