Punyalan Agarbattis (2013) Reviews

• A Light Hearted Satire That Works

  sanju3882013-12-11

  Ranjith Sankar's Punyalan Agarbathis could be something to cheer about. The wafer thin storyline has been peppered with some good performances and fantastic music, which is sure to work well with the audience. Punyalan Agarbathis may be far from perfect as a social satire, but the film has its moments. Let's say, it's like your picture of what is happening around you, if you rely on Facebook more than the dailies or news channels. It's a decent entertainer by all means. Grab your pack of popcorn and enjoy this one! Punyalan Agarbathis, it's a film which is light and easy to assimilate and yet touches a space that's way too relevant as well.

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• Jayasurya's Memorable Work. ♦ 64%

  TejasNair2014-04-06

  While the second half involves politics and is slightly boring compared to the first satirical half, the film captures its moments fantastically and tells the story with rapid enthusiasm. I loved Jayasurya's work and he should be lauded for the determination required for the role. Playing with elephant dung & everything related to it isn't everybody's job and that is why I respect him. With a superb supporting cast, Punyalan Agarbattis talks about a businessman's quest to get his business up & running. It is satirical because elephant dung, which is useless and undesirable to anyone becomes so valuable or so... made valuable by the political honchos just to see the business go down. It speaks volumes about the harsh reality in Kerala, its frequent strikes (hartals) and the ubiquitous politics. Coupled with good humor and that peculiar accent of all the characters, it manages to keep us entertained. The court sequences are funny, but what disappointed me is that they do not show how exactly they make incense sticks from elephant dung. Had they gone into details I might have rated it higher. And also, the politics in movies always show one thing & this one doesn't try to differ. Music & songs are good and are not over-whelming as they are in other movies. BOTTOM LINE: Jayasurya's best work till date, I could say. At least it doesn't leave you yawning. A good, family entertainer.

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