What happens when a writer's muse becomes his love interest? While the subject has been dealt with at length in the classics, this contemporary version, which tries to get a handle on the complexity of the subject with frivolity and humour, leaves you uneasy and restless.
As expected Shakespeare M.A.Malayalam, directed by newcomers Shyju-Shaji and starring Jayasurya, tells the tale of an award-winning playwright Pavithran, who is nicknamed Shakespeare, as his plays are about common people that strike a chord with the audience.
The conflict in the story arises when Pavithran develops writer's block as the deadline to submit his play nears. Trying to help, the owner and the director of the drama troupe, Kottayam Gopalan (Kalabhavan Mani) decides to take Pavithran to an isolated place, thinking that peace and quiet would do the trick.
On the contrary, this move adversely affects Pavithran, as he is not used to writing amidst peace and quiet. As he struggles to put something on paper, the rest of the crew grows desperate. All this changes when Pavithran sees a teenager by the name Alli (Roma) distributing milk in the village, and decides to write a play based on her character. It is also love at first sight for Pavithran.
While Alli unknowingly helps Pavithran, she has her own set of problems. With her family in financial crisis after her elder brother vanished after borrowing heavily from the villagers, Alli is left to take care of her parents, who are in a state of shock at their son's desertion, and her school-going sister.
To make ends meet, Alli works for widower (Sai Kumar), a doctor as his all rounder help -- performing duties ranging from that of a cook to a computer operator! How this story ends, you will have to see for yourself.
Performance-wise, Alli's characterisation gives us a sense of deja vu, as we have seen scores of such characters played by Shobhana, Manju Warrier and Meera Jasmine. To top it all, Roma does not fit the role, no matter how hard she tries.
Jayasurya on the other hand is sincerity personified. His role is not as bland as it was in Positive. Here he has got something to chew on.
The rest of the cast include Salim Kumar, Jagathy Sreekumar (it is very hard to understand why such a senior actor takes on roles that have no consequence in the story), Anoop Chandran, Bijukuttan and Innocent.
As a maiden effort by the director duo Shyju-Shaji, Shakespeare M.A.Malayalam is watchable.
Rediff Rating: