Latest news with #MathewThomas
New Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Lovely Movie Review: A flying fantasy that never quite takes off
Mathew Thomas tries his best to act genuinely moved by an insect with a traumatic past. He brings loose charm in the early scenes and taps into emotional vulnerability later. But the script offers no natural progression. One moment, he is mildly amused by a talking fly; the next, he acts as if his entire life depends on it. That shift never feels organic. Supporting actors like Ganga Meera, Manoj K Jayan, Prashanth Murali, and Aswathy Manoharan show up, deliver functional performances, and vanish just as quickly. They all hover on the periphery without leaving any meaningful impression. Technically, the film has a few strengths. Aashiq Abu's cinematography, soft-focused and warm-toned, adds a lucid, dreamlike visual palette suited to the premise. The visual effects, especially the animated fly, are clean but too sterile to feel truly integrated into the world. Considering the budget, it is a decent effort. The much-touted 3D element is a non-event, offering no real enhancement to the experience. Where Lovely utterly collapses is in its writing. The script reads like a first draft nobody bothered to polish. Scenes drag without rhythm, tonal shifts jar the experience, and the dialogue is painfully on the nose. What could have been a surreal exploration of loneliness, friendship, or even redemption reduces to juvenile banter and clunky exposition. Subplots emerge only to pad the runtime. Even those that seem promising fizzle out with no payoff. By the time the climax arrives, Lovely has thoroughly tested your patience. Attempts at emotional catharsis feel unearned, and the supposedly feel-good ending lands more bizarre than uplifting. Even worse, a disturbing third-act choice by the protagonist is handled so offhandedly that it severs any remaining empathy for him. It is a shame. There is a bit of charm buried in the concept. But what we get is a film that mistakes quirk for substance and sentimentality for depth. In the end, Lovely is less a soaring adventure and more a clumsy crash landing.
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Lovely movie review: Stellar visuals can't save Dileesh Karunakaran and Mathew Thomas' thinly written 3D fantasy
Lovely movie review: A movie about a housefly and a human being who establish communication and eventually share an adorable bond. As soon as one hears this logline, it's almost impossible not to assume that we're talking about director SS Rajamouli's blockbuster Telugu fantasy actioner Eega (2012). But no, this actually forms the crux of director Dileesh Karunakaran's (formerly known as Dileesh Nair) 3D fantasy film Lovely, with Mathew Thomas in the lead. Unlike Eega, which blended action and romance too — featuring the male protagonist (Nani) reincarnated as a housefly to avenge his death and protect his lover (Samantha) from the villain (Kiccha Sudeepa) — Lovely is envisioned as a feel-good drama. While the Eega (fly) in the Rajamouli directorial was, in essence, a human being at heart, Lovely is, as Mathew Thomas mentioned during one of his interviews, 'a cute, next-door kind of (actual) housefly'. However, even though the movie is conceived as a feel-good story, does it actually leave the audience feeling good after watching it? Yep, that's the question. Soon after joining the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) as an LD Clerk through compassionate appointment, following the death of his father while in service, Bonny Baby (Mathew) finds himself embroiled in controversy after he mistakenly offers a packet of condoms to a female stranger. He is soon booked under Section 354 and remanded to judicial custody, after which he is lodged in the sub-jail. During his heartbroken days there, Bonny meets a fly, and to the shock of both, he can understand what she's saying. Though sceptical at first, Bonny gradually grows emotionally attached to the fun-loving, bubbly fly, whom he names Lovely — his only solace in the loneliness of prison. While his family works from the outside to secure his bail, Bonny and Lovely become close friends, and she even reveals why she has never attempted to leave the jail and live in the outside world. However, Bonny is eventually released on bail, severing their bond and leaving him devastated. Will they find their way back to each other? That forms the remainder of the story. Lovely is, simply put, one of those films where nearly every member of the technical crew has done an excellent job, but their efforts are ultimately wasted due to subpar writing. While Dileesh is also credited as the writer of Lovely, it's hard not to question why he's listed in that role for a film where the writing feels almost nonexistent. Or was it the makers' way of emphasising that no one but him was responsible for this wafer-thin narrative, where a string of pointless scenes are stitched together in the editing room despite them clearly lacking any cohesive flow? What's unfortunate is that, regardless of the efforts of others, not a single moment in Lovely stands out for its writing, and the contrived dialogues only make matters worse. From the very beginning, we're presented with scenes that not only fail to gel with one another but also make no effort to engage viewers or draw them into the story or its characters. The film even fails to make us care about Bonny, which prevents any emotional investment in him, his dreams of migrating to a 'top-tier' country like Canada or his reality of taking up a government job here out of necessity. Even when he lands in trouble, the lack of emotional depth and the poor character development leave the audience detached, wondering why we should care at all. Even after the arrival of Lovely and with a zillion possibilities to elevate the script, Dileesh delivers only silly, outdated and painfully undercooked scenes, one after the other. In fact, this also makes us question how and why Bonny and Lovely became so close in the first place. Not only are their conversations too plain, but beyond the initial 'wow' factor that he could have felt while meeting a talking fly, the film offers nothing meaningful to justify Bonny finding a best friend in Lovely. From lectures on arapaima fish, Canada, and the characteristics of houseflies to the age-old 'Gandhi also went to prison' joke, random characters appearing out of nowhere, and already established ones being completely neglected, the script only worsens as the movie progresses. As if hammering the final nail into the script's coffin, Dileesh even includes a sickening sequence towards the end in which Bonny contemplates molesting the woman who filed the complaint against him, just so he can return to jail and meet the housefly again. Although Dileesh's vision as a director — a role he returns to after over a decade since Tamaar Padaar (2014) — isn't quite as poor as his writing, he makes a significant misstep right at the beginning that severely detracts from the viewing experience. Instead of leaving the events open to interpretation as fantasy, the film opens with an unnecessary disclaimer, 'you are about to enter someone else's dream,' and this gratuitous explanation nips any sense of intrigue in the bud. As the film unfolds, even though whimsical, fantastical and dreamy sequences like the song 'Bubble Poomottukal' showcase flashes of his imaginative vision, the execution of the more mundane and dramatic moments falls miserably flat, undermining the entire narrative. If there's anything as clueless and misguided as Dileesh's writing, it's Mathew's performance. His portrayal of Bonny's lost-in-thought, dissociative moments makes one wonder whether he was attempting something unconventional that backfired or if he simply chose not to act. Even during his supposedly 'adorable' chats with Lovely, his performance feels stiff and artificial. The rest of the cast fares no better, with none of the performances standing out. Nonetheless, Sivaangi Krishnakumar's voice acting for the fly is commendable, even though the dialogues are weak. Despite the film's innumerable narrative flaws, the technical crew deserves immense credit for their exceptional work. Director Aashiq Abu, as a cinematographer, delivers outstanding and jaw-dropping visuals. Equally impressive is CGI director Aneesh Kutti's work and Kiran Das' editing elevates the visuals significantly. Not just that the fly appears believable, but the way it's integrated into the frames, making us almost sense its presence without any jarring or dizzying camera movements, is no small feat, especially for a 3D film. In fact, the makers could have easily made Lovely a 2D film and it would still have offered the same visual experience, thanks to the strength of the technical craftsmanship. Vishnu Vijay and Bijibal's music is also good, but unfortunately, it isn't enough to compensate for the film's narrative shortcomings. Lovely movie cast: Mathew Thomas, Manoj K Jayan, Aswathy Manoharan Lovely movie director: Dileesh Karunakaran Lovely movie rating: 1.5 star Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at ... Read More
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Mathew Thomas says there is no connection between SS Rajamouli's Eega and his film Lovely: ‘The fly in that film had a hero vibe'
Actor Mathew Thomas is gearing up for the release of his film Lovely, which is scheduled to hit the big screen on May 16. The story centers on Mathew's character and a talking housefly, drawing comparisons to SS Rajamouli's 2012 film Eega. However, in a recent interview, the actor clarified that Lovely is different from Eega. In an interview with Onmanorama, Mathew said, 'It's definitely a different kind of movie. A housefly that talks, the conversations between my character and the fly, their bond, it's a lot of fun. It's a lighthearted, feel-good film.' Also Read | Mathew Thomas responds to criticism of his 'overacting' in Bromance: 'When I approached the character of Binto…' Following the release of Lovely's trailer, the film has drawn comparisons to SS Rajamouli's Eega, starring Nani, Sudeep, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. However, Mathew Thomas clarified that the similarities end with the presence of a housefly.'There is absolutely no connection between Eega and Lovely. Eega was more of an action-thriller. The fly in that film had a hero vibe. Ours is nothing like that. The housefly in Lovely is literally called Lovely—and like the name suggests, she's sweet, a bit mischievous, and just… lovely,' he said. Also Read | Not Baahubali, Eega is SS Rajamouli's perfect film On the work front, Mathew Thomas also has Udumbanchola Vision in the pipeline. Speaking about the film, which is expected to release in June, Mathew said, 'The movie won't disappoint anyone. It features a lot of different moments. Hence, it won't be easy to predict how the movie is going to unfold. You can rest assured that Udumbanchola Vision will offer an exciting, edge-of-the-seat experience.'
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Udumbanchola Vision,' starring Mathew Thomas and Sreenath Bhasi, due for release in June
The audio launch of Udumbanchola Vision, starring Mathew Thomas and Sreenath Bhasi, was held in Kochi earlier this week. Directed by debutant Salaam Bukhari, an erstwhile associate of producer-director Anwar Rasheed, the film is set to release in theatres in June. The makers unveiled the first single, titled 'Jodi No. 1,' at the event. With music scored by Gopi Sundar, the song has vocals by Dabzee and lyrics written by Vinayak Sasikumar. Udumbanchola Vision also features Dileesh Pothan, Ashokan, Babu Antony, Sudev Nair, Shaheen Siddique, Srindaa, Neena Kurup, Wafa Khadeeja, among others. The film has created curiosity among the audiences, especially thanks to its unique first look picture, which features a fox dressed in a blazer sitting in what looks like a corporate setting. Written by Alan Rodney, the film has cinematography by Vishnu Thandassery and editing by Vivek Harshan. Ashar Ameer, Riaz K Mohammed, and Bukhari produce the film. Here's the first look poster of Udumbanchola Vision:
Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Udumbanchola Vision brings Salaam Bukhari's 20-year directorial dream to life; Mathew Thomas promises a gripping watch
As Udumbanchola Vision gears up for release, it also marks the realisation of Salaam Bukhari's 20-year dream of donning the director's hat. At the movie's audio launch event in Kochi recently, Salaam spoke about his long journey. Mentioning that, over the years, he had narrated several stories to actor Siddique with the dream of turning at least one into a film and giving the thespian a substantial role, the filmmaker expressed his happiness at finally achieving that with Udumbanchola Vision, featuring Mathew Thomas and Sreenath Bhasi in the lead roles. Recalling narrating the story to actor Mathew Thomas, Salaam said that he agreed to do the movie within two days of their meeting. Stating that Udumbanchola Vision is a special project for him and he's very excited for its impending release, Mathew Thomas shared that he got to work closely with the film's team, including the director, in the months leading up to the commencement of the filming, thus getting the absolute taste of the pre-production experience. 'Before we began the shoot, I got to sit with the director and discuss the project in-depth for almost a year. Spending all that time with the director and the remaining members of the crew proved helpful during the filming. As a result, I had no confusion once the shooting began,' he said. Renowned Malayalam actor Asif Ali with director Salaam Bukhari and others at the audio launch of Udumbanchola Vision. Actor Mathew Thomas with renowned directors Amal Neerad and Anwar Rasheed at the audio launch of Udumbanchola Vision. Besides Mathew Thomas, Udumbanchola Vision also features Sreenath Bhasi in a key role. Stating that Udumbanchola Vision has been conceived in a very fun manner, Mathew Thomas revealed that his character's name is Mithun. However, he refrained from revealing more details about his role or the project, thus leaving the anticipation high. 'The movie won't disappoint anyone. It features a lot of different moments. Hence, it won't be easy to predict how the movie is going to unfold. You can rest assured that Udumbanchola Vision will offer an exciting, edge-of-the-seat experience,' he added. Actors Asif Ali and Joju George were also present during the audio launch event. A former associate of acclaimed filmmaker Anwar Rasheed – known for helming movies such as Rajamanikyam (2005), Chotta Mumbai (2007), Ustad Hotel (2012) and Trance (2020) – Salaam Bukhari has also worked as an actor in movies such as Chaappa Kurish (2011), Sapthamashree Thaskaraha (2014), Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014), Aadu (2015) and Bro Daddy (2022). Besides Mathew and Sreenath Bhasi, the film also stars Milind Soman, Dileesh Pothan, Siddique, Ashokan, Babu Antony, Sudev Nair, Jinu Joseph, Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Hasli, Chaitanya Prakash, Jijina Radhakrishnan, Srindaa and Neena Kurup in key roles. Penned by Alan Rodney, Udumbanchola Vision boasts cinematography by Vishnu Thandassery, editing by Vivek Harshan and music by Gopi Sundar. Meanwhile, ahead of the release of the movie, its makers unveiled 'Jodi No 1', the first track from the Udumbanchola Vision on Saturday.
