Critical response to Adaminte Makan Abu

Adaminte Makan Abu () is a 2011 Indian Malayalam family drama film written, directed and co-produced by first-time filmmaker Salim Ahamed, starring Salim Kumar and Zarina Wahab in the lead roles. Notable smaller roles are filled by Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu, Kalabhavan Mani, and Suraj Venjarammoodu. Cinematography was by Madhu Ambat, and the film edited by Vijay Shankar. The film features songs composed by Ramesh Narayan, and the score is by Isaac Thomas Kottukapally.
The film received wide critical acclaim, with numerous praises for its story, direction, cast, cinematography, and score. Mahmood Kooria has edited a volume in Malayalam compiling and collecting various studies and reviews on Adaminte Makan Abu. The volume titled Adaminte Makan Abu: Drisyadarsanangalile Kaalavum Desavum (Abu, Son of Adam: Time and Space in Visual Vison) is published by Mathrubhumi Books, a leading publishing group in Kerala.
Reviews
Gautaman Bhaskaran of The Hindustan Times rated the movie three-out-of-five stars () writing, "Adaminte Makan Abu while being a rare study in restraint often plays out like a placid stream. Except for the old couple's son ... Ahamed portrays too idyllic a situation." About the cinematography, the reviewer says that "some of the shots are divinely beautiful, conveying a deep sense of loneliness and gloom." The critic praises Isaac Thomas Kottukapally's background score feeling that it "does add up to create the mood that swings between despair and hope, between despondency and cheer." The actors' performances he labelled "marvellous", with the leads receiving particular praise.
Paresh C. Palicha of Mumbai-based Internet provider Rediff.com gave the film a very positive review and praised it as "simple and beautiful". The review mostly praised the , and , also giving it three-over-five stars (). Palicha particularly praised Salim Kumar's performance describing it "the towering presence and hovers above the story. Make-up by Pattanam Rasheed helped, but it is Salim Kumar's acting skills that have made him enact perfectly the part of a 75-year-old man with blood shot eyes and a tendency to fall off to sleep in the middle of a conversation."
In Deccan Chronicle newspaper, Keerthy Ramachandran gave the film a five-star rating (), writing that the film "should get a glorious position in the annals the history of Malayalam cinema." The critic was all praise for the cast performances stating, "Through his portrayal of Abu, Salim Kumar has elevated his image from that of a comedian in the film industry to that of an exemplary actor. Though not recognised with an award, Zareena Wahab’s performance ... is also worthy of appreciation. The movie would also prove to be a milestone in Suraj Venjaramood’s acting as he gets to show his histrionic abilities, without depending on Thiruvananthapuram slang. Mukesh and Kalabhavan Mani, though in cameos, have done a good job." She praised Ahamed's screenplay and direction saying, "Hats off to the debutante filmmaker, Salim Ahmed, who ... proved that in cinema, ingenuity lies in simplicity." The critic also appreciated Ambat's cinematography, labelled Ramesh Narayan's songs "excellent", and Kottukappally's background score "intense" and "economically used".
S. Anandan of The Hindu newspaper also published a positive review, saying, "ith its honest portrayal of a devout old man's pursuit of spiritual bliss, offers a glimmer of hope for Malayalam cinema, currently at its nadir". He appreciated Ahamed's direction saying that "The movie may be a tad utopian, but Ahamed demonstrates commendable mastery in relating an individual's undying spirit and a happy death he so much yearns for." He labelled the film setting however as "idyllic" saying, "he societal life in the village, reminiscent of rural Kerala in the 1980s with its crop of do-gooders and mystics, is too ideal to be true in current times. But then, is out to picture life in a Basheerian habitat, where inter-religious individuals gleefully share the earth with pagan-living organisms."
T. Sudheesh of the Thrissur City Journal concluded his review by saying that "Ahamed ... has made a beautiful film. Adaminte Makan Abu is quite engaging and entertaining as well. The film truly deserves the national award. It is really worth watching." He called Salim Kumar's performance "brilliant", commenting that "The chemistry between Abu and his wife Aishumma is touching and has been beautifully brought out through simple narration." He praised Madhu Ambat's cinematography as "another highlight of the film".
Veeyen of Indian online portal Nowrunning.com was all praise for the film, adding that the film "is meticulously paced and splendidly staged to create a sense of optimism that should keep the human race going in these testing times."
A reviewer from the Chennai-based Internet provider Sify.com gave the film a five-star rating (), saying the film "has done proud for Malayalam and will find its place among the most powerful films ever made in Malayalam." He praised Ahamed's direction writing, "The director, who is also the scenarist, pours his heart and soul into the film and the honesty with which he has approached the film is there to be seen in every frame" and labelled Ambat's cinematography "brilliant" and Kotukappally's background score "absorbing". He also praised Kumar's performance, describing it as, "perhaps an once-in-a-lifetime role for Salim Kumar and he gives subtle acting an altogether different meaning. He is just outstanding and his performance has been easily the best by any actor in Malayalam, during recent years." He also praised the other performances: "Every actor in the film has done their role with lots of conviction." From Zareena Wahab, Nedumudi Venu, Mukesh, Kalabhavan Mani, Suraj Venjarammoodu, M R Gopakumar and Thampi Antony to Sasi Kalinga and Jaffer Idukki, they have " lasting impressions in the viewer’s mind."
A reviewer from Indian online portal Oneindia.in said that Ahamed "has created a masterpiece out of a simple story." The review mainly praised the technical expertise and cast performances and labelled Kumar's performance as the "major attraction of the movie", Narayan songs as "good", and Vijay Shankar's editing as "commendable".

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