I watched the Malayalam movie called "Bhramaram" on Monday. Well, some how the term "Malayalam movie" gets associated only with one class of movies :D. I do not know what got such a reputation to an otherwise quality industry. Malayalam industry (and Bengali), easily would have produced the most number classics and quality movies in Indian cinema (If someone wants to dispute this, please do so with facts!!).
This incidentally happens to be the first Malayalam movie that I watched in a theatre (though I 've watched many otherwise) and I'm really happy that I watched this one.
The movie is about how an incident in the childhood of some one, distorts and causes irreparable damage to his life. The movie opens in a light environment without giving any clue of what is to follow. The hero (played by Mohan Lal), portrays his lighter side. The first half more or less continues in the same tone except for towards the fag end. The initial part of the second half has the hero showing glimpses of what he is really and the well written script leads up to a stunning climax leaving you with a heavy heart!! I do not want to reveal anything more and make you suffer the way I did by knowing the entire story before hand. It is the screenplay and the climax along with Mohan Lal that keeps you hooked to the seat in an otherwise plain film without much of entertainment and commercial elements!!
Mohan Lal has carried the movie on his shoulders, literally. As one can see, EVERY SHOT ends up in his face, which throws the most suited expression for that scene. He is really a gifted actor and to me he is the second best actor in India (Kamal Hasan, slightly ahead of him!!) :).
In addition to all these, special mention is required for the music director - Mohan Sithara. Not for the songs (there are only 2 or 1.5 perhaps!) but for the background score, which turns out to be one of the movie's biggest plus. The child who comes as the hero's friend's kid has also done well.
Bhramaram is recommended for those who like good cinema. It's definitely not for those who look at movies just as an entertainment. You will definitely have the satisfaction of having watched a nice movie.
Cheers!!
da refers to peak. Rightly so, the Venugopala swamy temple is atop the tallest peak in the Bandipur region and that is where we went. The ascending ride was scenic and as we reached the top it was fully misty and the visiblity was less than 10 m! We couldn't see the temple till we were around few metres close to the temple !! Lord Venugopala Swamy was as Majestic as ever - With flute in His hand, cow behind and Gopikas around Him. This idol was also installed by Sage Agasthya. One more salient thing about this shrine is that, at the entrance of the sanctum, there will always be mist (round the year) and the same is sprayed on the devotees as prasadham. Also, there are 77 chakra theerthas around this forest, each having medicinal and divine properties. We learned from a local source that one can cover around 6 teerthas in a day with the help of a guide. There was one such theertha in which a crow took a dip and flew out as a swan and hence there are NO CROWS around this region. We were blessed with a nice sweet and puliogere as prasadham - which was nectar compared to the "sweet" lunch we had on the way :)
rying things to make this a jolly good hill station trip (hope you understand)!! Please bear in mind that this is not. This temple is one of the MUST VISITS :) 
p itself warm!). Nanjangud - meaning, "the adobe of Nanjundeshwara" - is on the Bandipur - Mysore highway, 30 km fom Mysore. Massive temple and an architectural marvel. Nanjundeshwara - The Lord who ate poison - is the Lord who swallowed the poison that came out when Devas and Asuras were churning the milk ocean for nectar. The Shiva linga here is broader than usual. The Amman was looking beautiful as always. There is a massive Nandikeshwara idol too. The Shiva here relieves devotees off all their illness.
y confluence. So he asked Lord Hanuman to fetch a Lingam from Kasi (Varanasi) itself. When Hanuman din't come before the end of auspicious time, Agasthya himself made a Lingam from the local earth and consecrated it. When Hanuman came back and saw that the Lingam was installed, He, out of anger, hit the Lingam hence deforming it. From the deformed portion the mythical river Spatika came out (considered to be as sacred as Ganga). Even now, water comes out from the Lingam on top and the same is provided as Theertham / prasadham for devotees. (We got the same!!). This Lingam is called Agasthyeshwara. The temple has Someshwara and Markandeshwara also inside. The Lingam brought by Hanuman was installed outside (1 minute walk from the temple) and is called Hanumantheshwara. The fifth Lingam is around 2 km from the Agasthyeshwara temple and is called Gargeshwara. One will be welcomed by a gigantic idol of "Arthanareeswara" at the temple entrance. One more interesting thing here is that there is a Ganesha shrine, where the devotees can pray and lift the idol (small one). If one is able to lift the idol, then his/her wish will come true. Believe me, there is nothing associated with the strength of the individual. We were able to see people who were unable to lift the idol!!! 
finish it in His lifetime. When asked, He said, He will incarnate as the 10th Guru (as Raghunatha Teertha) in His lineage and finish the same. In addition to the Brindhavanas, there are 108 Anjaneya idols with Sri Panduranga and Chakram (similar to the one in Nava Brindhavana). It was an awesome sight!! Legend says that 108 of the Vanara sena that accompanies Sri Rama, were direct incarnation of the Devas and these 108 Anjaneya idols symbolise those 108 Devas!! There is also a HUGE number of Nagaraja idols outside!! We went round it, with a little fear :) 