Mamangam first half movie review highlights: An engaging action-drama backed by brilliant writing

Even before Mammootty's

Mamangam

hit theatres, the behind the scenes developments made for high drama. So, the anticipation for what is regarded as the biggest project in Mammootty's career so far was fever pitch, and the first half of the period action-drama almost lives up to it.

The film is set against the backdrop of the Mamangam Mahotsavam - the extravagant fair that was held every 12 years in the 17th and 18th centuries in Thirunavaya on the banks of the river Bharathapuzha. This particular tale, however, starts in 1698 and follows two members from the

Chandroth

family of Valluvanadu in their bid to overthrow the Zamorins.

For the uninitiated, the makers have tried to explain the history of Mamangam and the battle between the Valluvanadu people and the Zamorins. For the sticklers of history, they make it clear from the onset that they do not claim the story to be historically accurate and have altered certain events and characters.

The strength of the first half, which begins with an action scene when Chandroth Valiya Panicker (Mammootty) and his chaaverukal try to kill the Zamorin during a Mamangam festival, is in its writing. Even as most of the story happens 25 years later when the Valluvanadu families are running out of men, the dialogues bring out the emotions in this dramatic first half successfully.

Unni Mukundan and

Master Achuthan

, who play the members of Valluvanadu who set out on their bid to reclaim what is rightfully theirs, bring intensity to the story with their fierce portrayals. But the highlight is Mammootty's female avatar in the first half. While the megastar does look a bit stiff in the action scenes, he brings a certain lively authenticity to his feminine portrayal.

The slow motion, gravity defying jumps might be a turn off at the start, but at least the makers put in an effort to explain those acts. The first half digresses quite a bit by giving too importance to three versions of a particular story to lead a Zamorin chieftain astray. This slows down the otherwise engaging story.

And for those following the pre-release developments of Mamangam, including yesterday's court order, Shankar Ramakrishnan is given the credit for adapted screenplay and dialogues in this particular version that was screened.

The second half promises more action as the another Chaaver presumably joins the two from the Chandroth family.