Artist

My review: Artist

Written and directed by Shyamaprasad, Fahad Fazil -Ann Augustine starer "Artist" is one of the best movies that graced south Indian cinemas this year. It is the kind of movie where everything has fallen into their places exactly they ought to be. The story unfolds in such a lucid manner and it remains so for the rest of the time, culminating with a very emotional ending that thugs at your heartstrings. 

Unlike movies where you find scenes are forced into the narrative, characters manipulated with to create the melodrama that is intended to shake the viewers intentionally, in "Artist" each and every  turn that happens, changes that the characters undergo, twists that happen in the lives of the protagonists happen in such a seamless manner that one gets the feeling of being there with them when while their lives go through all those that happens. And hence due to the emotional evocativeness of the narrative the movie elicits the amount of emotional investment from the viewers that at the end one can't but get emotionally afflicted in the end. 

Shyamaprasad deserves all the credits for keeping it simple and straight-forward.  What could have ended up as an over-the-top melodrama fest due to his temperate treatment has evolved into a poetic symphony of myriads of emotions. Many movies that romanticize the relationship of a struggling and disadvantaged protege and angelic woman behind his success had always been a fairy-tale stuff sugar coated to the extent of revulsion. But this is one of those honest take on reality of such a relationship which need not always have a fairy-tale ending. And it does quiet makes sense since a relationship that too a non-committal one with a eccentric almost maniacal artist with ever occurring mood swings and impulsivity and his devout, almost revering girl friend who endures all pain and hardships to ensure that he has a comfortable living so that he can pursue his artistic endeavors is writ with its own pitfalls in the long run. Hence the ending is quiet naturalistic though it gets you emotionally shaken a bit. 

It not that usual in the recent times to have Fahad Fazil in a movie and he being overshadowed by his co-star by a large margin. And one has to applaud the man for it, the conviction he had in the movie and the story that he has readily accepted to do a role that is a second fiddle to the lead actress. Fahad has delivered his role with such conviction that he readily evokes anger on his character from the viewers. His mood swings, his unapologetic selfishness, the misery he undergoes soon after realizing the handicap that has befallen on him and his yearning for redemption from that are all portrayed with gusto by the leading young actor of Malayalam industry. 

But the movie belongs to Ann Augustine. She is the heart and soul of this movie. Though titled "Artist" her role is the central cog around which rest of the characters and the story unfolds. She is damn brilliant as Gayatri who stands by his partner ( live-in relationship) all through the struggle that he undergoes in search f his artistic masterpiece while all along throwing away her academics, family, friends and career. She earns all the viewers sympathy by the cruel play of fate that befalls on her in the end. It is Ann's career best so far. 

Bijipal's music is pleasant and seasons the narrative with a fragrant flavor. Movie is technically brilliant with  the cinematographer Shamdutt Sainuddin leading the way with crystal clear visuals with astute of use of the lighting at points which mandates it.

On the whole, "Artist" is a must watch where a simple story is brilliantly presented complemented by outstanding performances from the lead actors.

Bottomline : An Ann Augustine film with Fahad Fazil in it. 

4/5