Ajagajantharam
Ajagajantharam (transl. Difference between a goat and an elephant) is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Tinu Pappachan and written by Kichu Tellus-Vineeth Vishwam. It stars Antony Varghese, Kichu Tellus, Arjun Ashokan and Sabumon Abdul Samad. The soundtrack and background score were composed by Justin Varghese.
| Ajagajantharam | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Tinu Pappachan |
| Written by | Kichu Tellus Vineeth Vishwam |
| Produced by | Emmanuel Joseph Ajith Thalapilly |
| Starring | Antony Varghese Arjun Ashokan Chemban Vinod Jose Sabumon Abdusamad |
| Cinematography | Jinto George |
| Edited by | Shameer Muhammed |
| Music by | Justin Varghese |
Production company | Silver Bay Studios |
| Distributed by | Central Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Budget | ₹4.7 crore (US$590,000) |
| Box office | ₹12 crore (US$1.5 million) |
Ajagajantharam was scheduled to release on 26 February 2021,[2] but was postponed due the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4] The film was later released worldwide on 23 December 2021[5] and emerged as a commercial success at the box office.
Plot
Lali and Ambi are mahouts who live in the village of Aranjali, where most of the youth and middle-aged villagers consumes alcohol, substances and are filled with ego. Lali and Ambi supply an elephant named Neysseri Parthan for the temple festival, where he gets a bit uninhibited and carries on himself with high ego. Kannan, an unemployed youth and his friends, tries to be a bit brash and bumptious with him. Lali kicks Kannan for being in his face for long, which triggers a chain of events involving Kannan's group, unemployed village youths, notorious criminals, drama troop and some trouble-loving villagers which end-up starting a full scale mayhem in the village festival. Despite the attacks and chaos, Lali and Ambi fights Kanna's group and the other groups with Parthan's help, where they finally escape and head back to their home.
Cast
- Antony Varghese as Lali
- Arjun Ashokan as Kannan[6]
- Kichu Tellus as Ambi[7]
- Sabumon Abdusamad as Kachamber Das
- Vineeth Vishwam as Vinu
- Anil Nedumangad as Sony
- Sudhi Koppa as Pindy
- Tito Wilson as Kottappuram Surendran
- Jaffar Idukki as Committee President
- Bitto Davis as Pottachira Hari
- Vijilesh Karayad as Eden
- Lukman Avaran
- Sinoj Varghese as Joly
- Sree Renjini as Meera
- Chemban Vinod Jose as Aliyan (cameo appearance)
- Nadackal Unnikrishnan (Elephant) as Neysseri Parthan
Production
Antony Varghese and Tinu Pappachan had earlier collaborated in the latter's debut directorial Swathanthryam Ardharathriyil. The film's title Ajagajantharam was given by Lijo Jose Pellissery, while the story has been written by Kichu Tellus and Vineeth Vishwam.[8][9] It was produced by Emmanuel Joseph and Ajith Thalapilliy. The soundtrack and background score were composed by Justin Varghese. Jinto George is the cinematographer while Shameer Muhammed and Arjun Kallingal served as the editor and photographer.[10][11][12]
Music
Songs
| Ajagajantharam | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |||||
| Released | 21 December 2021 | ||||
| Recorded | 2020-2021 | ||||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | ||||
| Length | 9:24 | ||||
| Language | Malayalam | ||||
| Label | 123Musix | ||||
| Producer | Justin Varghese | ||||
| Justin Varghese chronology | |||||
| |||||
| |||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Olluleru (Traditional dance song of Mavila Community)" | Traditional | Praseetha Chalakudy | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Dannana" | Sudheesh Maruthalam | Mathai Sunil | 3:01 |
| 3. | "Onnu Randu" | Sudheesh Maruthalam | Sudheesh Maruthalam | 3:02 |
| Total length: | 9:24 | |||
Background Score
| Ajagajantharam | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Film score by Justin Varghese | |||||
| Released | 17 January 2022 | ||||
| Genre | Film Score | ||||
| Length | 45:43 | ||||
| Label | 123Musix | ||||
| Producer | Justin Varghese | ||||
| |||||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Ajagajantharam-Psy" | 02:31 |
| 2. | "Lakka Tokka" | 03:12 |
| 3. | "Kachambar Das" | 01:42 |
| 4. | "Break Balan" | 01:14 |
| 5. | "Kannan'S Rage" | 01:32 |
| 6. | "Slayer'S Siren" | 01:27 |
| 7. | "Head On" | 01:38 |
| 8. | "Dawn And Wild Fire" | 01:22 |
| 9. | "The Bullhook Fight" | 01:15 |
| 10. | "Kannan Vs Lali" | 01:13 |
| 11. | "Kachambar Vs Lali" | 01:40 |
| 12. | "The Tusker's Roar" | 01:54 |
| 13. | "Cops In The Field" | 01:52 |
| 14. | "Run Run Run" | 01:32 |
| 15. | "Wrath of Kannan" | 01:08 |
| 16. | "Kidnapping Eden" | 01:44 |
| 17. | "The Lorry Bang" | 01:45 |
| 18. | "Sony Chettan" | 01:09 |
| 19. | "Heat Of Blades" | 01:22 |
| 20. | "Kanakan" | 01:24 |
| 21. | "Death Trap" | 01:13 |
| 22. | "The Cop Trap" | 01:34 |
| 23. | "The War Begins" | 01:11 |
| 24. | "Raging Tusker Storm" | 01:07 |
| 25. | "The War" | 01:09 |
| 26. | "Lali And Parthan-The Killer Duo" | 01:25 |
| 27. | "The Blast" | 01:02 |
| 28. | "Lali's Heroic Revival" | 02:22 |
| 29. | "Trailer Music" | 01:52 |
| Total length: | 45:43 | |
Release
The film was initially scheduled to be released on 26 February 2021, but was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.[13] It was finally released on 3 December 2021.[14]
Reception
Ajagajantharam received positive reviews from critics who praised its action sequences, cast performances, direction and technical aspects.
Critical response
Sajin Shrijith of The New Indian Express gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Like his mentor Lijo Jose Pellissery, Tinu Pappachan proves once again that he is one of the few filmmakers in Malayalam cinema right now supremely adept at staging chaos."[15] Anna Mathews of The Times of India gave 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Director Tinu Pappachan worked as assistant director on Jallikattu and Angamaly Diaries, and he goes with that style of filmmaking; screaming dialogue delivery and focus on artsy settings and a subversive ethos. If you want to spend 121 minutes seeing men use their energy for bad, it’s your call."[16]
S. R. Praveen of The Hindu wrote "The tasteful manner in which some of the action sequences are staged often makes us forget all our million grouses with Tinu Pappachan’s film."[17] Tony Mathew of Onmanorama wrote "With a running time of 120 minutes, 'Ajagajantharam' is an exhilarating package headlined by men high on testosterone fighting it out in the backdrop of festival firework, in the company of tuskers. This is exactly the dose of high voltage fun you needed right now."[18]
Akshay Krishna of OTTplay gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Ajagajandharam is a film that offers impeccable, grounded and realistic action scenes that can be best enjoyed in a theatre."[19] Behindwoods gave 2.75 out of 5 stars and wrote "Ajagajantharam is an entertaining action thriller. Those who love action sequences will have a treat with this film this Christmas season because there are a lot of fights in the story. With the visual and aural spectacle that the film offers, Ajagajantharam is a movie to be watched in the theatres."[20]
References
- "Ajagajantharam Movie|തിയറ്ററുകളിൽ ഉത്സവാവേശം പകരാന് 'അജഗജാന്തരം'; റിലീസ് തിയതി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു". Asianet News. 22 November 2021.
- "Antony Varghese's Ajagajantharam to hit theatres on Feb 26". Times of India. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- "സെക്കന്റ് ഷോ ഇല്ല; 'അജഗജാന്തരം' റിലീസ് മാറ്റി". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd.
- "Antony Varghese's Ajagajantharam to hit theatres on Feb 26 - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- "ഉത്സവാവേശം പകരാന് 'അജഗജാന്തരം' ഡിസംബര് 23ന് തിയേറ്ററിലേക്ക്". The Cue. 22 November 2021.
- "Arjun Ashokan: I dreamt of all this and I'm happy it's all coming true now - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- Madhu, Vignesh (27 September 2020). "Angamaly Diaries fame Kichu Tellus to tie the knot with Oru Adaar Love actress Roshna Ann Roy". onlookersmedia. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- "Ajagajantharam | Malayalam Movie". NOWRUNNING. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- "The first look poster of Antony Varghese starrer 'Ajagajantharam' is here". Sify. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- "Antony Varghese Pepe in 'Ajagajantharam': Here's the first look motion poster - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- "ajagajantharam first look poster അജഗജാന്തരം ഫസ്റ്റ് ലുക്ക് പോസ്റ്റർ പുറത്തിറങ്ങി". www.twentyfournews.com. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- "INTERVIEW | Lijo Jose Pellissery's go-to photographer Arjun Kallingal on his action-packed life". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- "Antony Varghese's Ajagajantharam to hit theatres on Feb 26". Times of India. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- "തിയറ്ററില് ഓളമുണ്ടാക്കാന് 'അജഗജാന്തരം'; പ്രസീത ചാലക്കുടിയുടെ ആലാപനത്തില് വീഡിയോ ഗാനം". 16 October 2021.
- "Ajagajantharam: Immaculately staged depiction of unchecked fury". The New Indian Express. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- "Ajagajantharam Movie Review: A flimsy story with massy fight sequences". The Times of India.
- "'Ajagajantharam' movie review: A mindless, sensory experience that revels in its violence". The Hindu.
- "Ajagajantharam' movie review: A power-packed action feast". Onmanorama.
- "Ajagajantharam review: Antony Varghese film celebrates chaos, but sacrifices on the story". OTTplay.
- "Ajagajantharam is a technically sound action thriller that brings the festivities of a puram to life". Behindwoods.