Gulumaal: The Escape | |
---|---|
Directed by | V. K. Prakash |
Written by | Rajesh Y. V. |
Produced by | Sajitha Prakash |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Fowzia Fathima |
Edited by | Mahesh Narayanan |
Music by | Manu Ramesan |
Distributed by | A&M Marketing Company |
Release date |
|
Country | India |
Language | Malayalam |
Gulumaal: The Escape is a 2009 Indian Malayalam-language comedy film directed by V. K. Prakash and written by Rajesh Y. V. It was shot in digital format by cinematographer Fowzia Fathima, and starred Kunchacko Boban and Jayasurya. The film is an unofficial remake of the Argentinian crime-thriller film Nine Queens . The film was remade in Telugu as All the Best (2012).
Jerry Mathews a con man known for his high-stakes scams. His criminal actions create a rift in his family when he attempts to steal the family business from his sister. While planning a heist on a petrol station, Jerry helps an escaped convict, Ravi Varma. Ravi had been caught performing similar heists with a similar con man.
Ravi convinces Jerry to plan a formidable heist. An old acquaintance, Bose, tells Jerry of a forged painting that can be used to con a non-resident Indian (NRI) out of ₹50 lakhs. The information creates a rift in the newly formed friendship as both Ravi and Jerry attempt to outdo each other in order to take the money.
Coincidentally, Jerry's sister Saira is an employee at the hotel where the NRI is staying, and both Ravi and the NRI fall in love with her.
Ravi and Jerry eventually lose the painting and decide to buy the original by pooling their money. They then sell it to the NRI for ₹3 crore. However, Jerry's father finds out about the plot and tells Saira, which further drives the siblings apart.
When Jerry and Ravi realize that the check given to them is invalid, they fight and decide to part ways. Jerry runs into the master con man, Bose, who offers to help him resolve the situation, and takes Jerry to the wedding of Ravi's and Saira's. Jerry learns that the entire sequence of events, starting from the gas station incident, had been completely staged as a form of gentle revenge in return for the scam that had sent Ravi's father Prabhakaran to jail.
Jerry asks for forgiveness from everyone and leaves the wedding. As the credits roll, Jerry is seen pondering another scam.
The film was described as being similar to Fabián Bielinsky's 2000 Argentine crime drama film Nine Queens (Nueve Reinas). [1] V. K. Prakash said: "I discovered the Nine Queens connection only after I liked the subject of Gulumaal". [1]
Sify.com stated that "with a tighter script, better music and lesser length the film could have been even more entertaining", but added, "The best thing about the film could be its unconventional narrative style." [2] Indiaglitz.com called it "stylish and crazy entertainment", praising the film's "intense believability" and "unstoppable flow of brilliantly witty one-liners", but criticized the poor selection of voices in Manu Rameshan's songs. [3] VN of Nowrunning.com gave the film 2.5 out of 5, praising "the amazing camaraderie that its lead actors share" but finding fault with the "cacophony" and substandard picturization of the songs. VN also stated that Gulumal was "a straight lift off the Argentinian film Nueve Reinas (Nine Queens)". [4] [5]
The film was a commercial success. [6]
The film's soundtrack contains 4 songs, all composed by Manu Ramesan, with lyrics by S. Ramesan Nair and Saimon Palvaay.
# | Title | Singer(s) |
---|---|---|
1 | "Gulumaal Gulumaal" | Anoop Sankar, Ajay Sathyan, Roshan |
2 | "Thaam Tharikida" | G. Venugopal, Vidhu Prathap, Anoop Sankar |
3 | "Vennila" | P. Jayachandran |
4 | "Kilu Kilukkam" | Sithara Krishnakumar |
Nueve reinas is a 2000 Argentine heist film written and directed by Fabián Bielinsky. It stars Ricardo Darín, Gastón Pauls, and Leticia Brédice. In the film, con artists Marcos (Darín) and Juan (Pauls) unexpectedly team up to sell counterfeit rare stamps to a wealthy foreign collector.
Kunchacko Boban is an Indian actor and film producer. He is referred to as Chackochan, and during early 2000's, he was called "chocolate boy", because of his romeo roles. He works in the Malayalam film industry and has acted in more than 100 films in more than two decades. He is a member of the Kunchacko family. Kunchacko's debut was as a child in the film Dhanya (1981) produced by his father Boban Kunchacko.
Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language satirical film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by Sreenivasan. The film stars Kunchacko Boban and Samyuktha Varma and Asin. The story follows Jayakanthan, who comes from Kumbakonam, to his late father's village in Paruthippara, Kannur district, to claim his father's property. The film marks the acting debut of Asin, aged fifteen; however this remained her first and only Malayalam film to date. The film released on 24 August 2001 coinciding with the festival of Onam. The film was remade in Telugu as Idemi Oorura Babu (2002).
Dhosth (transl. Friend) is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Thulasidas. Kunchako Boban and Dileep share the title role with Kavya Madhavan, Jagathy Sreekumar and Kalabhavan Mani in supporting roles. It is a remake of Tamil film Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998). The film was a box office success.
Vellinakshatram is a 2004 Malayalam-language comedy horror film by Vinayan starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Taruni Sachdev with Meenakshi, Karthika Mathew, Jayasurya, Jagathy Sreekumar, Jagadeesh, Siddique, Salim Kumar and Thilakan in pivotal roles. It says the story of paranormal events which revolve around Vinod's daughter Ammu, which eventually leads to the revelations of several shocking truths from the past and the inevitable death of the cruel Mahendra Varma.
Kilukkam Kilukilukkam is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Sandhya Mohan and written by Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas. It is a sequel to the 1991 film Kilukkam. The film stars a new cast of Kunchacko Boban, Jayasurya, and Kavya Madhavan while Jagathy Sreekumar reprised his role from the original and Mohanlal appears in a cameo. Mammukoya reprises his role as Gafoorkka from Nadodikkattu.
4 Friends is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Saji Surendran. It stars Jayaram, Kunchacko Boban, Jayasurya, and Meera Jasmine in the lead roles with Kamal Haasan appearing in a cameo as himself.
Race is a 2011 Malayalam-language thriller film directed by Kukku Surendran and starring Indrajith, Kunchacko Boban, Mamta Mohandas, Baby Anikha, and Gowri Munjal. The story is based on Greg Iles's novel 24 hours. The film opened in Kerala theatres on 11 February 2011 to negative reviews. It was dubbed into Telugu as Game by Narne Media Solutions (Pvt) Limited in 2013. It was a remake of the Hindi film Deadline: Sirf 24 Ghante.
Seniors is a 2011 Indian Malayalam-language comedy thriller film directed by Vysakh and written by Sachi-Sethu. The plot follows four friends who return to their alma mater as students. It stars Jayaram, Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon, and Manoj K. Jayan. The film features songs by Alphons Joseph, Jassie Gift, and Alex Paul and a score by Gopi Sundar. The film was released in India and the United Kingdom on 7 May 2011. It was a blockbuster at the box office.
Priyam is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Sanal and starring Kunchacko Boban and Deepa Nair with then-kids Arun, Ashwin, and Manjima Mohan in supporting roles. This film is inspired by the Hindi film Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993).
Ee Snehatheerathu is a 2004 Indian Malayalam film directed by Kaviyoor Sivaprasad and written by Ramakrishnan, starring Kunchacko Boban, Uma shankari, Lal, Nedumudi Venu and Jagathy Sreekumar. Kunchacko Boban won the Special Jury Award at the Kerala State Film Awards for this movie.
Poppins is a 2012 Indian Malayalam-language anthology film directed by V. K. Prakash. It stars ten lead actors, appearing as five couples; the characters are played by Kunchacko Boban and Nithya Menen, Jayasurya and Meghna Raj, Indrajith and Padmapriya, Shankar Ramakrishnan and Mythili, and Siddique and Ann Augustine. The film was shot with two cameras at the same time by Jomon T. John and Arun.
3 Dots is a 2013 Malayalam comedy thriller film directed by Sugeeth. The film stars Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon and Prathap K. Pothan with Narain, Krishna Kumar, Janani Iyer, Sreedhanya and Anjana Menon in supporting roles. 3 Dots was produced by Satish B Satish and Sugeeth under the banner of Ordinary Films.
Law Point is a 2014 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film written by Devadas and directed by Lijin Jose. It stars Kunchacko Boban as an advocate and Namitha Pramod as a modern, city bred girl.
School Bus is a 2016 Malayalam family thriller film directed by Rosshan Andrrews, starring Kunchacko Boban, Jayasurya, and Aparna Gopinath in the lead roles. The screenplay is written by Bobby–Sanjay.
Shajahanum Pareekuttiyum is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy drama film directed by Boban Samuel. The film stars Kunchacko Boban, Jayasurya, and Amala Paul in the lead roles. Nikki Galrani made a cameo appearance. Principal photography began on 4 April 2016, and the film was released on 6 July 2016 on the occasion of Eid.
Ramante Edanthottam is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language romantic drama film written, produced, and directed by Ranjith Sankar. The film stars Kunchacko Boban and Anu Sithara in the lead roles. The filming began in February 2017 in Kochi and Vagamon. It was released in India on 12 May 2017.
Y.V. Rajesh is a screenwriter in Malayalam cinema. He wrote Romans and Vikadakumaran.
Anjaam Pathiraa is a 2020 Indian Malayalam-language slasher crime thriller film written and directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas. The film stars Kunchacko Boban, Sharaf U Dheen, Sreenath Bhasi, Unnimaya Prasad, Jinu Joseph and Abhiram Radhakrishnan. Sushin Shyam composed the music, while Shyju Khalid was the cinematographer.
Enthada Saji is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language fantasy comedy film written and directed by Godfy Xavier Babu, featuring Nivetha Thomas in the title role, with Kunchacko Boban and Jayasurya in lead roles. It is produced by Listin Stephen under the banner of Magic Frames. This film marks the return of Nivetha Thomas in Malayalam film after a 9 years hiatus.