Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil, directed by Vipin Das and penned by Deepu Pradeep, offers a decent dose of wholesome entertainment. Vinu (Basil) finds inspiration in his would-be brother-in-law Anandan (Prithviraj), who encourages him to move past his heartbreak and marry the latter’s sister. Their unconventional relationship since the beginning sparks laughs, as Vinu seems more excited to meet Anandan than his fiancée Anjali (Anaswara Rajan). The meeting scene between the two is particularly hilarious, with a song from an old Malayalam movie as the background score.
The plot takes a humorous turn early on, keeping viewers hooked through the second half. The drama intensifies when Anandan discovers that Vinu's lost love is none other than his wife, Parvathy (played by Nikhila Vimal), whom he had abandoned due to suspicions of infidelity. The drama hits a crescendo in the final scene at the Guruvayoor temple, unfolding quite like an old Priyadarshan movie.
The film may draw comparisons with Prithviraj's debut movie Nandanam due to its title, and the iconic 'Njane Kandullu' dialogue recalled in the movie adds to its charm.
Prithviraj's portrayal of Anandan marks a departure from his recent serious role in Aadujeevitham. While his performance is decent, there are moments where it feels a bit forced. But his chemistry with Basil works well on screen. Basil Joseph delivers a commendable performance, alongside Siju Sunny as his friend. Jagadeesh and Kunjikrishnan Maashu also deliver good performances.
Anaswara Rajan and Nikhila Vimal are forced to contend with underdeveloped characters, as do other female characters in the movie. While the first half keeps audiences entertained, the second half feels somewhat disjointed, with a few performances falling into typecasting, notably by actors like Yogi Babu.
Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil delivers solid laughs, making it a satisfactory comedy outing. Despite not reaching the heights of Das's previous work Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, the comedic chemistry between Basil and Prithviraj shines through, offering moments of amusement, particularly in their bromantic scenes.
Movie : Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil
Director : Vipin Das
Writer : Deepu Pradeep
Cast : Prithviraj Sukumaran, Basil Joseph, Nikhila Vimal, Anaswara Rajan
Rating : 3/5