Absent storyline mars Mohanlal starrer (Malayalam film review)

Film: 'Sagar alias Jackie Reloaded'; Cast: Mohanlal, Bhavana, Shobhana, Suman; Director and Cinematographer: Amal Neerad; Music Director: Gopi Sunder; Rating: * 1/2

The resurrection of a character played by Mohanlal in 1987 to critical acclaim and box office success in 'Irupathaam Noottandu' fails to excite because Amal Neerad's direction and cinematography are centred only on technical brilliance. He has ignored basics like a decent plot and plausible screenplay.

While characters created 22 years ago by director K. Madhu were pithy and realistic, their latest avatar in 'Sagar alias Jackie Reloaded' fail to impress.

An unapologetic anti-hero was a novelty in the past.

The modern-day trappings of designer clothes, fashion-statements like sunglasses, flashy cars and exotic locales with Mohanlal at their centre strutting confidently to avenge the murder of his girlfriend are no doubt lapped up by his fans.

Neerad just about manages to keep the larger-than-life image of Mohanlal under discernible control and that is where it all starts and ends.

Mohanlal, as usual, delivers with aplomb. Jegathy as the Telugu speaking politician excels. But the others including Shobhana, Suman et al are mere cardboard cutouts.

Neerad's cinematography is excellent as each frame embellishes the dark mood of the proceedings. The music is nothing to write home about.