vaashi malayalam movie review

Vaashi Movie Review: Tovino, Keerthy Suresh anchor a fairly stimulating court drama

Rating: ( 3 / 5).

Vaashi opens with a blurry shot of the judge who will pass the verdict on a case that becomes the film's focal point. But even when we see his face, we are shielded from this man's background or thought processes. His final call is everything. Whatever choice he makes has to be accepted, regardless of what the actual truth may be. Everyone else, particularly the two lawyers on opposite sides of the case, can only offer arguments. But, eventually, it's the audience who has to make a judgement once the court proceedings are over because one of the closing shots in Vaashi is open to interpretation. It registers that may-or-may-not-be effect.

Vaashi is a film that, I felt, makes for a lighthearted companion piece to the recently released Jana Gana Mana in that it makes valid points on perspectives, ethics, and the issue of right and wrong. It shows us a particular incident which, in the light of the #MeToo events in the Malayalam film industry, becomes much more relevant because it brings up the matter of consent. Do all its points come across clearly? Not quite.

Film: Vaashi Director: Vishnu S Raghav Cast: Tovino Thomas, Keerthy Suresh, Kottayam Ramesh, Vinu Mohan However, there are several interesting ideas in the screenplay that, I thought, worked well in the film's favour, most notably that of having a married couple spar in the courtroom for a case of sexual exploitation. What's more interesting is having the wife defend the man while the husband defends the woman. The man and woman have their versions of what transpired between them, and Madhavi (Keerthy Suresh), an assertive and self-declared feminist, believes that the truth is on the man's side. Meanwhile, the diplomatic and seemingly more sensitive Ebin (tovino Thomas) accepts the woman's version. For him, she can't fail because "other women will be reluctant to come forward" in future. Here's the biggest complication standing in their way: Family. I liked how the film addresses conflict of interest when one's family members are involved. The situations where Ebin and Madhavi try to navigate around unwelcome requests and parents' demands are amusing. It got me thinking about how complicated the personal lives of lawyers, policemen, or anyone involved in law enforcement must be. Vaashi finds Ebin and Madhavi as "inexperienced" professionals at first, but Ebin gets a leg up when he gets promoted to a public prosecutor upon the recommendation of a relative. This makes things awkward for Ebin and Madhavi because when the said relative asks for a favour, Madhavi doesn't budge. Brother-in-law or not, facts are facts. Ebin would've reacted differently in this case because he often displays reluctance to offend family members. Family also is a complication when it comes to the central issue -- of the man who supposedly duped the woman with the promises of marriage -- the details of which Ebin and Madhavi examine in court. Everyone is connected to somebody. Vaashi is most stimulating when it finds parallels in the dynamics of Ebin and Madhavi and some details of the case being discussed, like when Madhavi mentions how communication problems can cause one to assume what the other person didn't think, amongst other things. Moments that sometimes cause the two to have a debate inside the courtroom. In one such instance, the judge reminds them they are not participating in a television debate. Kottayam Ramesh as the judge, Baiju as a mutual advocate friend of Ebin and Madhavi, and Rony David as the favour-seeking relative bring much-needed levity and balance whenever things seem on the verge of going off the rails. There are places in the screenplay where its energy dips a little -- particularly in the third act -- but picks up whenever Tovino, Keerthy, Kottayam Ramesh or Baiju are on screen. Although the film gives the impression that it doesn't want to take any sides, some of its intentions come across as muddled. I'm not sure including the line, "There is no right and wrong; only perspectives and shades of grey," was a good idea. Maybe we can dismiss it as the characters' viewpoint, but can we apply that to genuine instances of sexual abuse? Can we imagine someone using that line to justify their misdeeds? Yes, Vaashi worked for me considerably, but I don't think two hours is enough to say with complete certainty that all its points are valid. Thankfully, this is not a film that's heavy on emotions, even when Ebin and Madhavi's marital harmony is affected. And I was glad the screenplay didn't include parents who make a big deal of the interfaith marriage of Ebin and Madhavi. Although they express slight reservation initially, they take it in the right spirit later. Undoubtedly, it's the chemistry of Tovino and Keerthy which chiefly keeps the film afloat. I appreciated the playful situations and the silent treatment moments in equal measure. These are two sensible and sensitive individuals who try to keep their profession out of their personal space but are not always successful. Isn't that the case with most people?

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A courtroom drama in which two talented self made lawyers are determined to win a case where they are on opposing sides. A courtroom drama in which two talented self made lawyers are determined to win a case where they are on opposing sides. A courtroom drama in which two talented self made lawyers are determined to win a case where they are on opposing sides.

• Vishnu Raghav
• Janiz Chacko Simon
• Tovino Thomas
• Keerthy Suresh
• 39 User reviews
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• 1 nomination

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• Connections References Thondi Muthalum Driksakshiyum (2017)
• Soundtracks Ethoyetho (Rithuraagam) Written by Vinayak Sasikumar Produced by Kailas Menon Performed by Kesav Vinod , Sruthy Sivadas and Kailas Menon

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• Jul 17, 2022
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'Vaashi' — A subtle legal drama that strikes a chord | Movie Review

Nothing in life is really black and white. Often our seemingly colourful lives are marred by shades of grey. 'Vaashi', starring Tovino Thomas and Keerthy Suresh, is a simple attempt at exploring such disconcerting trends, told from the perspective of two lawyers who also happen to love each other.

Ebin Mathew and Madhavi, the two lawyers, are trying to get a break in their career. Both squabble most of the time but fall in love with each other. Life gets complicated when they end up at two ends of a case that will determine their futures.

At the start, the story unfolds slowly but steadily, as if the debutant director, Vishnu Raghav, wanted to take his own time to familiarize us with the characters before positioning them on opposite sides. He has done a good job with that, giving ample space for Keerthy Suresh and Tovino Thomas to perform for them, so as to make us fall in love with their characters. The chemistry between the duo is also undeniable.

'Have tried not to follow the usual pattern of legal movies seen in Mollywood', says 'Vaashi' director

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Unlike most Malayalam legal dramas, 'Vaashi' is more subtle. The treatment is also quite fresh. It does not focus on the courtroom alone, nor does it portray aggressive lawyers who tend to wax eloquently about social issues or incidents, just to get across a point. The case, which becomes the bone of contention for Madhavi and Ebin, both at court and at home, is also quite different from the ones that have been considered in Mollywood in recent times.

The makers of the film have done their bit to educate us about various aspects of a particular law, bringing in some relevant points from time to time. Though there is a lag in some scenes (probably due to the lack of drama in a few areas) and some loopholes in the script, the film is able to surpass these challenges, especially thanks to the excellent performance of the actors.

Keerthy Suresh is making a major return to Mollywood through this movie and her performance as Madhavi establishes she is a gem that needs to be utilised in the industry more, provided, she decides to stay.

Tovino delivers as the young and handsome advocate Ebin Mathew, who comes across as an easy-going yet professional lawyer, who is also a romantic at heart.  However, for an actor who has given us some impressive, jaw dropping performances, this is clearly not his best. It's fun to watch Baiju play the jovial advocate Satheesh Mulloor, a friend and confidante to both Ebin and Madhavi. Rony David as the shrewd businessman Jose also does a fine job, while the other actors Maya Vishwanath, Nandu, Kottayam Ramesh impress with their performances.

Though the sound effects are jarring at times, the songs by Kailas Menon and written by Vinayak Sasikumar are pleasing. Overall, 'Vaashi' leaves an impression on us, giving us some time to think about the case in point without forcing the subject upon the viewer.

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Home » Review » Vaashi movie review: An engaging courtroom-cum-family drama elevated by the chemistry between Tovino, Keerthy »

Vaashi movie review: An engaging courtroom-cum-family drama elevated by the chemistry between Tovino, Keerthy

A recurring layer in the film is about communication between people and how it can often be misconstrued. The complications due to the interfaith marriage as well as those that arise due to the relatives present a few fun moments

• Sanjith Sidhardhan

Last Updated: 02.01 PM, Jun 17, 2022

Story: Advocates Ebin and Madhavi have conflicting personalities, but each are driven to prove their worth in their profession. After Madhavi goes independent and Ebin is stated as public prosecutor, their first big case pits them against each other. To make matters complex is their impending wedding. What ramifications will the case have on their personal lives and can their marriage endure it all?

Review: A crucial sequence in the second half of Vaashi has Baiju Santosh’s character calling the protagonists – Ebin (Tovino Thomas) and Madhavi (Keerthy Suresh) – in what was initially planned as a meet to broker peace between them before it goes out of control. While the get-together adds fuel to their face-off later, it also serves to show the conflicting personalities of the duo. Ebin is the proud but diplomatic kind while Madhavi is the frank, straight-talker. It’s this clash of personalities that make actor-turned-filmmaker Vishu G Raghav’s debut directorial engaging for most parts.

The film is a great blend of a family and courtroom drama, even though the latter portions does lack the zing because it focuses on its lawyers rather than the case itself. Vishnu, who has also scripted the film, gets the first two acts spot on – capturing the duo’s personalities and making the audience care for both of them equally before pitting them against each other.

We get to see how both Ebin and Madhavi are hungry to prove themselves in their careers first, trying to get their big break. Ebin gets an easy way out, courtesy of a family member who helps him secure a job as a public prosecutor. Madhavi, however, has it more difficult, and the film addresses issues of how gender and age are perceived as signs of weakness in the profession. In a scene where Madhavi is informed that Ebin’s parents are coming to see her mother for a wedding proposal, the former bursts out saying she had never discussed it with Ebin and wants to marry only after she gets her career sorted. In another sequence, after the wedding, she says that the day was tough for her and she endured it all only for Ebin. These are great touches in the film that shows how modern relationships are. But these aren’t just used as embellishments as Vishnu later ties these up with the case that the two would be battling in court.

But once the focus shifts to the case and the court, it does become a bit of a mess – especially the third act where the filmmaker wants to do what’s right but goes about it in a haphazard manner that leaves much to be desired. This despite the closing statements of the protagonists that come off as forced. The courtroom sequences in the film – though subdued and portrayed in a realistic manner where the lawyers twist the words and incidents in favour of their clients – are presented well. The case too is presented with the right amount of sensitivity. This despite the movie repeatedly harping on the fact that how personal principles and ethics most often don’t find a place in the life of lawyers.

A recurring layer in the film is about communication between people and how it can at times be misconstrued. The complications due to the interfaith marriage as well as those that arise due to the relatives present a few fun moments. Both Tovino and Keerthy, through their performances, have brought this element of communication out without really pinpointing it. Tovino as Ebin is assertive but at the same time flexible. His subtle expressions at the court as well as outside, when Madhavi is with the accused’s sister, registers well. Keerthy too makes a strong comeback in Malayalam with the role of Madhavi, who is bold enough to claim her space in her professional as well as personal life. The lead duo’s good chemistry, however, does also take away from their intensity when they are engaged in an ego clash. This is also why one would feel that final half lacks the weight because you tend to care for both equally and never end up taking sides or bothering about who emerges on top in the wager. The supporting cast of Anu Mohan, Baiju Santosh, Rony David and Anagha Narayanan do their parts well despite the limited scope of performance.

The three songs in the film, composed by Kailas Menon, are placed well and doesn’t disrupt the flow of the movie that is just 2 hours and 10 minutes long – making it a breezy watch even in theatres.

Verdict: Unlike some of the recent courtroom dramas, Vishnu G Raghav beautifully blends the family drama aspect into the court scenes, making it appealing to all kinds of audience. Even though the movie does lose its focus in the third act, it’s still engaging while it lasts due to the great chemistry between its leads – Tovino and Keerthy.

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• ENGLISH HINDI MALAYALAM TAMIL TELUGU KANNADA BENGALI  

Vaashi Malayalam Movie

Young and enthusiastic lawyers, Ebin and Madhavi, fight for the two opposing parties in a sensitive case in writer-director Vishnu Raghav's Vaashi. In the case, a young woman accuses a young man of raping her with the false promise of marrying her. Now, what makes the case interesting at a script level is that Ebin (Tovino Thomas) and Madhavi (Keerthy Suresh) are newlyweds. While the couple start their relationship promising to keep work matters at bay, the lines between their professional life and personal life start to blur as they enter the case. How the couple manages the situation constitutes the plot of Vaashi.

Vaashi has an interesting approach to courtroom drama cinema. A good part of the movie happens in the courtroom while the rest takes place in the house of the lawyers. The courtroom drama is interesting enough as both legal representatives come up with sound arguments for a verdict favorable to their client. Because Keerthy and Tovino are stars, it would not be a good idea to make it easy for one of them to win the case. Usually, what happens in a film of this genre is that a negative lawyer character with sarcasm represents the opposition side. But there is hardly any sarcasm or an easy route to victory in Vaashi. It respects the intelligence of the viewer, handles a sensitive issue deftly enough, and does not hurt our sentiments. However, the makers do not quite treat the courtroom drama with enough seriousness.

This kind of a film works best when the two lawyers are involved deeply in their case. In Vaashi, however, neither Tovino's character nor Keerthy Suresh's character goes deeply into the case. When you watch them enact their roles, they do not seem as invested in the case as some of their lines may suggest. This is not entirely the fault of the actors, as the makers played a large part in it. The makers keep telling us that the lawyers do not want their professional life to enter their personal life even as the lines begin to blur. Keeping the two aspects of our life separate, may be a good idea to put forth, but courtroom genre cinema does not work that way. During a highly intense case, like the one in Vaashi, actors should maintain equally high levels of intensity. Things are a bit too easy on the eye here, or a bit too vanilla.

It does not help that the makers maintain a light approach to the domestic aspect of the film. Even as the ego clash between the couple reaches a mildly intense state, you get the impression that there is a happy resolution around the corner.

Now, that is not to say that Vaashi is unwatchable. It is a consistently engaging film with fine performances. Anu Mohan and Anagha Narayanan put in competent performances as the accused and the plaintiff, respectively. Baiju Santhosh and Rony David offer sporadic moments of laughter as well. Tovino and Keerthy make for a fine couple. A lot of their early exchanges are really enjoyable. They are lovely to watch, and it is hard not to watch the film when they are on screen. I just wish to see them in a different film.

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webExclusive Report --> നല്ല ‘വാശി’ക്കൊരു സിനിമ; റിവ്യു

ആർ.ബി. ശ്രീലേഖ

Published: June 17 , 2022 03:17 PM IST

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ഒരേ പ്രഫഷനിൽ ഉള്ള രണ്ടുപേർ തമ്മിൽ പ്രണയിക്കുന്നത് പുതുമയുള്ള കാര്യമൊന്നുമല്ല. പക്ഷേ ജോലി വക്കീൽപണിയാകുമ്പോൾ, പ്രണയിക്കുന്നവർ പ്രമാദമായൊരു കേസിൽ നേർക്കുനേർ നിൽക്കുമ്പോള്‍, കളി കാര്യമാകും. ഇക്കഥയാണ് വിഷ്ണു ജി. രാഘവിന്റെ ‘വാശി’ പറയുന്നത്. പൂർണമായും തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തെ കോടതി പരിസരങ്ങളിൽ ചിത്രീകരിച്ച ‘വാശി’ നിർമിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത് രേവതി കലാമന്ദിറിന്റെ ബാനറിൽ ജി.സുരേഷ് കുമാറും ഭാര്യ മേനക സുരേഷും മകൾ രേവതിയും ചേർന്നാണ്. അച്ഛനും അമ്മയും രണ്ടു പെൺമക്കളും ‘വാശി’യോടെ ഇറങ്ങിയപ്പോൾ ഒരിടവേളയ്ക്കു ശേഷം രേവതി കലാമന്ദിർ കാമ്പുള്ള ചിത്രവുമായി എത്തിയിരിക്കുകയാണ്. പ്രണയവും വിവാഹവും പ്രഫഷനൽ ജെലസിയും മാത്രമല്ല, തൊട്ടാൽ പൊള്ളുന്ന മറ്റൊരു വിഷയം കൂടി ‘വാശി’ ചർച്ച ചെയ്യുന്നുണ്ട്. മീ ടൂ ഏറെ വിവാദമായ ഇക്കാലത്ത് ലൈംഗിക ബന്ധങ്ങളിലെ കൺസന്റ് എന്ന കാലിക പ്രസക്തമായ വിഷയം കൂടി പ്രതിവാദ്യ വിഷയമാകുമ്പോൾ വരും ദിവസങ്ങളിൽ ‘വാശി’ ഏറെ ചർച്ച ചെയ്യപ്പെട്ടേക്കും.

എബിൻ മാത്യു തന്റെ കരിയറിൽ ഒന്നു കാലുറപ്പിക്കാൻ പെടാപ്പാടു പെടുന്ന അഭിഭാഷകനാണ്. ചില്ലറ പെറ്റി കേസും ജാമ്യം എടുത്തുകൊടുക്കലും മാത്രമാണ് നാളിതുവരെ എബിനെ തേടിയെത്തിയിരുന്നത്. എബിന്റെ അഭിഭാഷക സുഹൃത്ത് മാധവി മോഹനും സ്വന്തമായി ഒരിടം കണ്ടെത്താനുള്ള ഓട്ടത്തിലാണ്. ഒരു കേസ് തോറ്റതിന്റെ പേരിൽ സീനിയറിൽനിന്ന് ശകാരം ഏറ്റുവാങ്ങിയ മാധവി അയാളുടെ ഓഫിസിൽ നിന്നിറങ്ങുകയും സ്വന്തമായി ഒരിടം കണ്ടെത്താൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. കരിയറിൽ രക്ഷപ്പെടാനുള്ള ഇരുവരുടെയും ആഗ്രഹങ്ങളെ ഒരു ഓഫിസ് പങ്കിട്ടുപയോഗിക്കുക എന്ന ആശയത്തിലേക്ക് കൊണ്ടെത്തിക്കുന്നത് സുഹൃത്തും അഭിഭാഷകനുമായ മുള്ളൂരാണ്. 

പക്ഷേ അവരുടെ സഹവാസം അധികനാൾ നീണ്ടുപോയില്ല. വിധി അവരെ പിന്നീട് ഒരേ കേസിന്റെ രണ്ടറ്റത്ത് കെട്ടിയിടുന്നതോടെ രണ്ടുപേരും ഒട്ടും ആഗ്രഹിക്കാത്ത കാര്യങ്ങളാണ് സംഭവിക്കുന്നത്. എബിൻ ആയി ടൊവിനോയും മാധവിയായി കീർത്തിയും മികച്ച പ്രകടനമാണ് കാഴ്ച വയ്ക്കുന്നത്. ഒരിടവേളയ്ക്കു ശേഷം കീർത്തി മലയാളത്തിലേക്ക് ശക്തമായ തിരിച്ചുവരവാണ് ‘വാശി’യോടെ നടത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നത്. മിന്നൽ മുരളിക്കു ശേഷം ടൊവിനോ വീണ്ടും ചുറുചുറുക്ക് ഉള്ള പ്രകടനത്തിലൂടെ മടങ്ങിവരുന്നു.

‘വാശി’ എന്ന സിനിമയിൽ എടുത്തുപറയേണ്ട കാര്യം ഇന്ന് ഏറെ ചർച്ചചെയ്യപ്പെടുന്ന മീ ടൂ എന്ന വിഷയം ഏറെ പ്രാധാന്യത്തോടെ ചർച്ച ചെയ്യപ്പെടുന്നു എന്നതുകൂടിയാണ്. ലൈംഗിക ബന്ധങ്ങളിൽ പരസ്പരം ഉള്ള സമ്മതവും ആ സമ്മതം ഇരയുടെ അറിവോടെയായിരുന്നോ അതോ ഭീഷണിപ്പെടുത്തി വാങ്ങിയതാണോ എന്നൊക്കെയുള്ളതും വിഷയത്തിന്റെ പ്രാധാന്യം വർധിപ്ക്കുന്നു. ഇത്തരത്തിലുള്ള ചർച്ചകൾ കൊടുമ്പിരിക്കൊള്ളുന്ന സമയത്ത് ഇങ്ങനെയൊരു വിഷയം സിനിമ‌യിൽ അവതരിപ്പിക്കാൻ വിഷ്ണു എടുത്ത ധൈര്യം പ്രശംസനീയമാണ്. ഇത്തരം കേസുകളിൽ പെടുന്ന വാദിയുടെയും പ്രതിയുടെയും അവരുടെ കുടുംബങ്ങളുടെയും നിസ്സഹായതയും മാനസിക പിരിമുറുക്കവും കൃത്യമായി കാണിക്കുന്നതിൽ വിഷ്ണുവും ടീമും വിജയിച്ചു എന്നുതന്നെ പറയാം. 

വളരെ റിയലിസ്റ്റിക്കായി ചിത്രീകരിച്ച ചിത്രം, കോർട്ട് റൂം ഡ്രാമാ ജോണറിൽ പെടുത്താവുന്നതാണ്. മനുഷ്യ ബന്ധങ്ങളും സഹപ്രവർത്തകർ തമ്മിലുള്ള ഈഗോയും അതിനിടയിൽ വളരെ സെൻസേഷനലായ ഒരു കേസും കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ, പ്രേക്ഷകരെ മടുപ്പിക്കാതെ സിനിമയുടെ രസച്ചരട് കൈവിട്ടുപോകാതെ മുന്നോട്ടു പോകുന്നത് തിരക്കഥയുടെ കെട്ടുറപ്പിലാണ്. വിഷ്ണു വി. രാഘവ് എന്ന സംവിധായകൻ മലയാള സിനിമയ്ക്കു മുതൽക്കൂട്ടാകുമെന്ന് ഉറപ്പാണ്. 

ട്വൽത് മാൻ, ട്വന്റി വൺ ഗ്രാംസ് തുടങ്ങിയ ചിത്രങ്ങളിലൂടെ ഈ വർഷം ശ്രദ്ധേയ വേഷങ്ങൾ ചെയ്ത അനു മോഹൻ ആണ് എടുത്തുപറയേണ്ട മറ്റൊരു താരം. ജഡ്ജി ആയി എത്തിയ കോട്ടയം രമേശ്, തിലകന്റെയും നെടുമുടി വേണുവിന്റെയും അഭാവത്തിൽ മലയാള സിനിമയ്ക്കു വിശ്വാസമർപ്പിക്കാൻ കഴിയുന്ന കരുത്തുറ്റ താരമാണെന്ന് വീണ്ടും ഉറപ്പിക്കുകയാണ്. തിങ്കളാഴ്ച നിശ്ചയം എന്ന ചിത്രത്തിലൂടെ ഏറെ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കപ്പെട്ട അനഘ നാരായണനും മറ്റൊരു പ്രധാന കഥാപാത്രമായി എത്തുന്നുണ്ട്. മുള്ളൂർ വക്കീൽ ആയി എത്തിയ ബൈജു, നന്ദു, ആര്യ, ഗീതി സംഗീത, ശ്രീലക്ഷ്മി, വരദ, മായാ വിശ്വനാഥ് എന്നിവരോടൊപ്പം ജി. സുരേഷ് കുമാറും ഒരു പ്രധാന വേഷത്തിൽ എത്തുന്നുണ്ട്. 

വിഷ്ണു ജി. രാഘവും ജാനിസ് ചാക്കോ സൈമണും ചേർന്നാണ് കഥയും തിരക്കഥയുമൊരുക്കിയത്. നീൽ ഡികുഞ്ഞ ഛായാഗ്രഹണം നിർവഹിച്ചപ്പോൾ അർജുൻ ബെന്നാണ് എഡിറ്റിങ്. യാക്സണും നേഹയും ചേർന്നൊരുക്കിയ പശ്ചാത്തല സംഗീതവും ഗാനങ്ങളും മികവുറ്റതായി. 

ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ഹൈലൈറ്റ് കീർത്തിയും ടൊവിനോയും തമ്മിലുള്ള കെമിസ്ട്രിയാണ്. കോടതിമുറിയിൽ ഈറ്റപ്പുലികളെപോലെ കടിച്ചു കീറാൻ നിൽക്കുന്ന പബ്ലിക് പ്രോസിക്യൂട്ടറും പ്രതിഭാഗം വക്കീലുമായി ടൊവിനോയും കീർത്തിയും ഒന്നിനൊന്നു മികച്ചു നിന്നപ്പോൾ ഇരുവരും തമ്മിലുള്ള പ്രണയ രംഗങ്ങളും ഏറെ മനോഹരമായി. 

എന്താണ് മീ ടൂ എന്നത് ഏറെ പ്രാധാന്യത്തോടെ ചർച്ച ചെയ്യുന്ന ഇന്ന് ‘വാശി’ പോലെയുള്ള ചിത്രങ്ങൾ എടുക്കാൻ ധൈര്യം കാണിക്കുന്നത് ഒരു കലാകാരന്റെ സാമൂഹിക പ്രതിബദ്ധത കൂടിയാണ്.  ജോലിസ്ഥലത്തെ പീഡനങ്ങളും കാസ്റ്റിങ് കൗച്ച്, കൺസെന്റ് ആരോപണങ്ങളുമൊക്കെ വാർത്തയിൽ പതിവാകുമ്പോൾ, കോടതിയും നീതിപീഠവും കണ്ണടച്ച് നിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ, എന്റെ ശരീരം എന്റേതാണ്, അതിൽ അനുവാദമില്ലാതെ തൊടാൻ ഒരാൾക്കും അവകാശമില്ല എന്ന് ഉറക്കെ പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കുന്ന ‘വാശി’ പോലെയുള്ള, പ്രേക്ഷകനെ കണ്ണ് തുറപ്പിക്കാൻ പോന്ന സിനിമകൾ ഉണ്ടാകേണ്ടത് സമൂഹത്തിന്റെ ആവശ്യം കൂടിയാണ്.

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Vaashi movie review: Vishnu Raghav’s debut film keeps courtroom accurate, credible to large extent

Vaashi revolves around a young lawyer couple who are fighting to find that balance between personal and professional life, keeps the courtroom accurate and credible to a large extent..

Keerthy Suresh in a still from the movie. 

Director:   Vishnu Raghav

Cast:  Keerthy Suresh, Tovino Thomas, Kottayam Ramesh, Maya Vishwanath

Duration: 2 hours 35 minutes | Language: Malayalam  | Rating: 2.5/5

Some of the most feted courtroom dramas in Malayalam (and Indian) cinema have been dramatised and glorified. It’s got to have a case with the right amount of thrills, and conspiracy, portrayed with the right blend of heavyweight actors, punchlines and a neatly tied pack of heroic justice. Even in the recently released Jana Gana Mana , you witnessed the leading hero taking on a case with the fervour of an excited drama artist, reducing the judge into a fanboy spectator. What we’re almost never watching in movies is the right kind of a courtroom, i.e. a court and its proceedings depicted right. Vaashi , directed by debutant Vishnu Raghav, on a story by Janiz Chacko Simon, which revolves around a young lawyer couple who are fighting to find that balance between personal and professional life, keeps the courtroom accurate and credible to a large extent.

The introductions are casual. There is Ebin Mathew, a junior lawyer, who is desperately canvassing cases and has arranged with his senior lawyer (Baiju) to swap office spaces (and name boards) when need be. While Madhavi Mohan (Keerthi Suresh) is an ambitious, no-nonsense junior lawyer who is fighting every day to prove herself in a patriarchal workspace. The gender demarcation is casually brought out. It is there in how two men look at her skeptically despite her senior’s reassurance that she is capable. And how she gets the short shrift for a mistake she didn’t commit. When her brother-in-law casually suggests handing over a case to someone else in front of her, since her husband is not available, you feel her frustration and resentment. Ebin Mathew, despite being in the same bracket as Madhavi gets a career ‘escalator’ as a Public Prosecutor because of connections and maybe gender, while Madhavi (despite hailing from an affluent family like Abin) has to fight within the family and workspace to be taken seriously.

You feel the constant undercurrents between Ebin and Madhavi, but you don’t want to take sides. Unlike Madhavi, Ebin seems unsure of himself and perhaps not as ambitious or maybe it is that he is getting a lot of things done without making as much effort as Madhavi. When he is appointed Public Prosecutor, Ebin is unsure but still accepts.

The making is old-fashioned in a no-frills narrative. But the even tempo keeps it engaging. The writing vacillates between sharp and middling. The thriving social media conversations have made it easier for screenwriters to pick issues but trickier to make their words sound original (which was glaringly obvious in Jana Gana Mana ). So when a courtroom drama picks a case of rape with the false promise of marriage, even the arguments in the court scenes sound deliberate, picked from a string of Facebook posts. When Madhavi throws the much celebrated ‘sex is not a promise’ movie dialogue from Ashiq Abu’s Mayanadhi to emphasise gender imbalance in society, it only succeeds in reinforcing the #not all men defense against feminists discourse. The court scenes despite being calm and low-key, keep you interested, though not anxiously so. And the film’s politics, at best can be described as iffy. Though the verdict takes the expected turn, the build-up to it makes it easier to empathise with the man. And Madhavi’s declaration that she is a “feminist who believes that no innocent man should be punished” further enables this theory.

What works primarily in Vaashi is the romance between the couple, more so because of the contrast in their personalities. If Ebin is gentle and accommodating, Madhavi is egoistic and matter of fact. When Ebin suggests marriage and discusses it with their family without her consent, she is furious as she feels she needs to focus on her career. Even on the wedding day and after, Madhavi is sober, more focused on her case. A lot of Ebin’s geniality comes from the actor. Be it the way he looks at her, with that gentle indulgent smile, or his inner conflicts as he spars with her in court, the actor is superbly restrained. His proposal and her reaction to it were a nice touch, equally moving was that scene when Madhavi breaks down in front of him after days of silence.

But Keerthi fluctuates between good and not-so-good and at times her reactions seem more like that of a spoilt brat (lips compressed, eyes accusing on a flawlessly made-up face) than a woman in control (or it can be that her character required more nuanced writing). Kottayam Pradeep who plays the Judge is also an interesting and accurate depiction as he is pitched as an imposing figure who never allows the lawyers to control the courts. Vaashi is interesting on and off and more importantly, it pays attention to courtroom nitty gritties. Politics can be a grey area though. Or maybe that was the whole intention.

Vaashi is now running in cinemas. 

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• What is the release date of 'Vaashi'? Release date of Tovino Thomas and Keerthy Suresh starrer 'Vaashi' is 2022-06-17.
• Who are the actors in 'Vaashi'? 'Vaashi' star cast includes Tovino Thomas, Keerthy Suresh, Rony David and Nandhu.
• Who is the director of 'Vaashi'? 'Vaashi' is directed by Vishnu G Raghav.
• Who is the producer of 'Vaashi'? 'Vaashi' is produced by G. Suresh Kumar.
• What is Genre of 'Vaashi'? 'Vaashi' belongs to 'Drama,Thriller' genre.
• In Which Languages is 'Vaashi' releasing? 'Vaashi' is releasing in Malayalam.

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Vaashi (U) 17/Jun/2022 Thriller, Drama 2hrs 08mins

Critics Review

Feminism, but from the masculine point of view.

The movie reveals that the film fraternity is yet to have an idea on relationships, consent, sex, abuse, assault and feminism. It's high time for male scribes who venture to feature complex female characters who contribute significantly to the story considering the market trend, to understand women, their thought on sex, life, love, marriage, feminism and companionship. (more)

Source: Anjana, Times Of India

Never soars above the middling, watchable category

The case they are dealing with does not have the kind of heft to keep things engaging for two hours. This rather lighter, risk-free approach ensures that the film coasts along comfortably, but never soars above the middling, watchable category. The question of how the handful of cases of misuse of the law gets much hype over the much larger number of unreported, as well as actual cases of assaults of women, also remains. (more)

Source: Praveen, The Hindu

Tovino, Keerthy Suresh anchor a fairly stimulating court drama

Vaashi worked for me considerably, but I don't think two hours is enough to say with complete certainty that all its points are valid. (more)

Source: Sajin, CinemaExpress.com

The movie's emotional layer manages to connect a chord with the audience, while the legal drama in the script couldn't achieve the high it demanded.

In the pleasant bits of the film, where we are witnessing the bonding between the central characters, Vishnu G Raghav definitely manages to put the movie in that likable zone without any cringe stuff. The problem is when the gear shifts to that serious tone. They have presented a case that looks like a highly murky one. Rather than showing how justice can be a bit grey and tricky in some cases, the effort is to make the case black and white by presenting new witnesses and confessions. And there is a bit where one of the lawyer characters talks about feminism to justify their client just after knowing that he/she wasn�t really innocent. Towards the end, when things are becoming difficult for everyone on the screen regarding whom to support, we as an audience cant really feel the intensity of that dilemma. (more)

Source: Ashwin bharadwaj, Lenmenreviews

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Vaashi

In this Vaashi film, Keerthi Suresh , Tovino Thomas played the primary leads.

The Vaashi was released in theaters on 17 Jun 2022.

The Vaashi was directed by Vishnu G Raghav

Movies like L2: Empuraan , Oru Kattil Oru Muri , Anand Sreebala and others in a similar vein had the same genre but quite different stories.

The soundtracks and background music were composed by Kailas Menon for the movie Vaashi.

The cinematography for Vaashi was shot by Roby Varghese Raj .

You can watch the Vaashi movie on Netflix,.

On 15 Jul 2022 Vaashi was released on the Netflix, platform.

The movie Vaashi belonged to the Drama, genre.

Vaashi User Review

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Pintu 674 Days Ago

There are minor glitches & several loose ends in this courtroom drama yet Vaashi ends up an engaging watch anchored by ttovino & KeerthyOfficial . Their adorable chemistry adds more charm to the film. The court proceedings however fails..

Harsih 674 Days Ago

It is a courtroom drama in which the two Tovino Thomas and Keerthi Suresh played their part in a convincing manner. Loved the climax scene, especially when Keerthi Suresh started weeping and hugged Tovino Thomas

Prinku 674 Days Ago

Can’t wait to watch Madhavi Mohan and Ebin Mathew killing it in the courtroom! Hearing such wonderful reviews about Vaashi!

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