Malayalam veteran actor Mohanlal makes his directorial debut with Barroz. Set against the backdrop of Portuguese folklore, the film is written by TK Rajeevan and directed by Mohanlal in 3D. Mohanlal released his first directorial project on December 25, commemorating the day he made his acting debut. Let’s see how Mohanlal fares as a director and actor.
Story: During the battles preceding the Portuguese Empire’s exit from Goa, a magician named Barroz (Mohanlal) is entrusted with guarding the nation’s treasure. After safeguarding the treasure for nearly 400 years, Barroz learns that Isabella, a 13th-generation descendant of the Da Gama dynasty, was born in 2020 and has arrived in Goa. Barroz decides to hand over the treasure to her and free himself from his duty. Does Isabella help Barroz in his mission? Who tries to stop them? Was Barroz ultimately freed? These questions form the crux of the film Barroz.
Performances: Mohanlal’s ability to embody a character and bring it to life on screen needs no introduction. As the steadfast sorcerer Barroz, Mohanlal conveys deep emotion and suffering through his expressive performance.
The child actress who plays Isabella resembles a Portuguese girl physically, but her expressions and gestures fall flat. This key character, which was supposed to resonate with audiences, fails to make an impact. Casting someone else in her place might have enhanced the emotional connection. The supporting cast delivers commendable performances and does justice to their respective roles.
Technical Aspects: Santhosh Sivan’s cinematography is good but fails to leave a lasting impression. The music, production design, and artwork are average at best. Although the production values are high, the film’s overall presentation does not reflect this. The digital intermediate (DI) work is inconsistent as some scenes appear overly bright, while others are too dark. This inconsistency diminishes the 3D viewing experience. The idea of adapting folklore into a film is commendable. These moral stories are valuable for today’s generation. However, the emotional execution of such stories is crucial. As a director, Mohanlal missteps in this regard.
Analysis: Companies like Walt Disney and Pixar produce high-quality content with similar moral underpinnings, setting the bar quite high. Indian films attempting this genre need to match that standard, especially if visual effects are involved. Unfortunately, while Mohanlal focuses on emotional depth, the technical execution lags.
A significant amount of money reportedly went into creating an underwater song, but the result feels like an animated sequence. Despite being shot in 3D, the 3D effects are minimal, raising questions about the necessity of making the film in this format. Despite Mohanlal’s 47 years of experience, the narrative lacks grip and coherence. His attempt as a director, while ambitious, falls short.
While the intention of passing down folklore to the present generation is commendable, Barroz fails to captivate due to a lack of engaging storytelling and flawed execution. Although Mohanlal’s ambition as a director deserves recognition, the technical shortcomings and slow narrative make it challenging to sit through the 154-minute runtime.
Verdict: Overall, Barroz is an ambitious project attempted by Mohan Lal. Though the setup and visuals are great, the narrative is slow and does not give you that kick while watching it on the big screen making it a dull watch.
Bottom Line: Not worth the hype
Rating: 2/5
