Celluloid (2013) User Reviews

An Ode To Malayalam Cinema!

[nairtejas · 7/10 · 28 March 2013]

Dr. J C Daniel's life and times with an adaptation of two of his related novels is chronicled in this biopic so extensively executed by Kamal.

Prithviraj is phenomenal. After his Ayalum Njanum Thammil's exotic performance, Celluloid maintains his superstar rank in not only Malayalam cinema but also Bollywood (Aiyyaa & Aurangzeb). Mamata, though she complements Prithivraj, didn't have much to play as Sreenivasan had to portray. Supporting cast is good while the screenplay is non-linear with year-by-year graph. Music & score is apt and reminded me of Dilip's Vellaripravinte Changathi!

Showing the plight of his initial film-making stages (of Vigathakumaran) and how his determination finally pays off as he is regarded as Malayalam Cinema's father is a wonderful watch & I appreciate the whole crew behind this informative classic. It also provides us with facts that are worth knowing and thus, makes it at least a one-time watch. With old reminiscing inputs of songs, movies and the anti-anachronistic screenplay, Celluloid is melodious and enjoyable.

Too bad, most directors nowadays have failed to come up with similar biopics or intriguing themes, but yes, Celluloid is truly an ode to Malayalam cinema with almost every film-making factor taken care of. But, I personally believe, the short running time could have been extended. Kudos!

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Language: No | Sex, Nudity or Vulgarity: No | Violence: Strong | Gore: No | Smoking. Alcohol or Drugs: No

'Celluloid' is as much the story of Daniel, as it is of Rosie, and their haunting portrait seizes you up, even as it goes up in flames.

[aravindnc · 9/10 · 24 February 2013]

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. Beautifully put together by T S Eliot, these words seem suggestive of the life of an artist who deserved to be a part of cinematic history, but who almost didn't. In Celluloid Kamal shows what 'passion for cinema' really meant before it became a stylish thing to say. Chandni gives a lifelike performance as Rosy with stars in her eyes. Hatzz of to the entire team behind the project.

The character development is almost complete in 'Celluloid', and I say almost since it cannot afford to fill up the cracks that exist in real. It's as much the story of Daniel, as it is of Rosie, and their haunting portrait seizes you up, even as it goes up in flames. Any comparisons to 'Harishchandrachi Factory' are odious; the two films barring the fact that they talk about the struggles of a film maker, are as different from each other as chalk and cheese.

It isn't really surprising that Prithviraj makes a convincing Daniel. The vision of the film maker remains safe with him, and he captures the psychological turmoil that Daniel goes through in the later years of his life with great competence. Mamta is impressive as well, though its new find Chandni who is the scene stealer in the film. The innocence that spurts out of the corner of her lips as they stretch into a hesitant smile defines the person that Rosie must have been; unimaginably daring and yet immensely terrified.

Venu's frames maintain the elegance that is required of a biopic, while Suresh Kollam's art direction is top notch. Pattanam Rasheed'a makeup makes Daniel's transformation complete, and M Jayachandran's melodies add up to the retro feel of the film.

What is astonishing is that Kamal's film, despite maintaining a distance from us with regard to time and space, continues to fascinate us in multiple ways. Passionate, provocative and real heartrending, this is the stuff with which classic films are made.

Like an old classic.

[madhupill2002 · 7/10 · 7 June 2021]

They tried Daniels real life in 1928 to catch in celluloid. Again this time Vinu Abraham's novel celluloided by Kamal without leaving the seriousness of the writers portrayal of one of Malayalam films's troubled actor's real life story. A man's tireless journey of only living life in movies and it's turbulence of difficulties in personal as well as societal discouraging fabrics. I think Prithviraj Sukumaran did an excellent acting as well as he followed the director's unending trysts for perfection. Those days film artists are not accepted as in today's ways of fan's craziness. The protagonist being succumbed to life's inabilities of financial constraints tried to came out darkness of frustration in times.

The Director and writer lead the film to be a hit.

Also the cinematography by Venu Isc is outstanding. A real watchable film👍

Unable to forget this movie

[arun_mr · 9 January 2018]

When we saw the celluloid first we first thought in the mind the "development" one on the screen, but we will never get the best of it, because the only proof that remains today is the only stable image.

One of the reasons why she acted in the film was that the chief ministers were burnt out in the small cottage of the poor wage laborers and ran away from them. The poor girl who came to act in the film for a day of Rs 5 a day spent the rest of her life in the Kanyakumari district without any change. The Malayalam movie was later turned out to be fun and forgot about this poor woman and the movie Vigathakumaran which she had acted in. Daniel Kathi Ketti depended on his old work (Dental Doctor) and refused to live in the film because he was not a Malayali. The award is now awarded in his honor. Can you ever remember that the poor people in the big fossil of Malayalam cinema stood on the bottom of the rosy bottom of the house?

A haunting journey through the history of Malayalam Cinema

[zephyr555 · 10/10 · 25 July 2013]

In a movie industry mainly based on song-dance melodramas, the importance of biopics are lost on a large section of the moving-watching population. The prevailing view is that they are not entertaining enough, and the only biopics made being the ones on freedom fighters and the like. So it was a refreshing change to see a movie by veteran director, Kamal, on the man considered to be the Father of Malayalam Cinema, that too in the centenary year of Indian Cinema.

J.C. Daniel, long been reduced to a mere footnote in movie history is finally given the treatment he truly deserves and full credit goes to Kamal for bringing this lesser known icon of Malayalam cinema to life to this generation of audience. It is a tragic tale of a man who dared to chase his dreams and as a result found his whole world falling apart, for the sole reason that he was a man way ahead of his time. We are taken through the journey of a young J.C. Daniel, known as the maker of the first Malayalam movie, "Vigathakumaran" ("The Lost Child"), cheerful and enthusiastic, with stars in his eyes, who was determined to bring the art of movie-making to the Malayali shores, but soon turns into a person disillusioned with the world and his passion, and gradually becomes a shadow of the man he once was.

As with most biopics, its the performances that are the real highlight and the pulse of Celluloid which makes it a tour de force. Prithviraj comes up with a stupendous performance as the young and ambitious Daniel as well as the old, ailing and resigned version in later years. Mamta Mohandas, who essays the role of Daniel's wife, Janet, gives a fine performance as the ever supportive and later suffering better-half. Sreejith Ravi and Century Jayaraj give commendable support as Daniel's friends who aid him in making his dream come true. But the one who deserves a standing ovation is newcomer Chandni, who literally breathes life into the character of P.K. Rosy, believed to be the first ever heroine of Malayalam Cinema. As the low-caste girl, Rosamma (later Rosy), she gives a stunning performance filled with naiveté, excitement, anxiety and genuine curiosity for this never-before-seen phenomenon called Cinema. Her innocence and wonder at her new surroundings practically leaps off the screen. A Reality TV contestant, this is the first time Chandni has faced a movie camera. Another notable performance comes from veteran actor Sreenivasan who plays the journalist, Chelengath Gopalakrishnan, whose never-ceasing efforts and campaigns to get J.C. Daniel and his movie their due is what gets the deserved recognition for Daniel but alas after his lifetime.

A touching tribute not just to the man himself but also to all those who have shared a passion for this craft, Celluloid also presents an evocative portrait of the social landscape of the time. The fact that the characters were real people of life and blood who actually experienced and witnessed these events makes the movie all the more heartrending and poignant. The story is as much that of Daniel as it is of "Vigathakumaran", whose prints (like its title) are now forever lost to us.