What happens when a person fears that he is past his creative best? He fears that the younger generation will take over after trampling him (as he had done to his seniors in his younger days).
So, he weaves a web of lies to sustain the aura of greatness instead of believing in his craft. This is the crux of K P Kumaran's Malayalam film -- Aakashagopurum, an adaptation of Norwegian playwright Henrik Isben's The Master Builder that tells the story of an architect experiencing mid-life crisis. He is insecure about his abilities and depends on a young subordinate to run his firm but is reluctant to give him a free reign.
Albert Samson (Mohanlal) is the said architect, who in his heyday was famous for building churches with sky high spirals. But for the last ten years, he has abandoned building churches and concentrated on building homes (it can be read as a decline in his creativity).
He depends heavily on Alex (Manoj K Jayan) even for this. Alex is the son of Abraham (Bharath Gopi), who was Albert's mentor. Now, Alex wishes to move out from Albert's shadow or at least given credit for his work. Albert refuses to entertain any such wish even after repeated pleas from Abraham, though he is ready to hike Alex's salary as compensation.
The complexities and the myths that Albert has created for the people around him to be undisputed is amazing. He pretends to be in love with Catherine (Geetu Mohandas), who works as his secretary and is Alex's fiancée so she can keep Alex from moving out. On the other hand, when Dr Isaac (Sreenivasan), who is his wife Alice's physician, questions him about Catherine, he says it was she who was smitten by him when she had come with Alex for an interview. So, he offered her employment as his personal secretary along with Alex.
There are many such instances that peel a layer of the character without moving the story forward. We feel we know everything about Albert, Alex, Abraham and Catherine. But, where is the thrust in the narrative?
That happens when Hilda (newcomer Nithya) appears on the scene and claims that Albert had promised to build a castle in the air exclusively for her. That was ten years ago and now it is time to redeem that promise. Albert has just a vague memory of the incident but reluctantly goes along with Hilda's version just to know actually transpired that night.
Hilda turns out to be the catalyst that transforms Albert in some ways. We also come to know why his marriage with Alice (Shweta Menon) has turned cold and many other little snippets of his life.
Mohanlal as Albert is believable. The performance does not have any outlandish flourishes. Even the natural physicality of the actor seems to be curtailed.
The other performance that wins us with its charms is newcomer Nithya's. In most of the second half, she shares the frame with Mohanlal and the confidence she oozes is to be seen to be believed.
The film boasts of some of best names in the field in its technical team. But, we realise that use of technology is kept at the minimum. Camerawork by Santosh Thundiyil has a picture postcard quality with colour corrected frames and polished look. However, most of times the camera is static. Background score by John Altman is used sparingly.
On the whole, Aakashagopurum is definitely a different experience.
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