How sad is this?

A lot of fun.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

This is a must watch for anyone who loves travel/road movies. You will have a feast of beautiful Kerala, visualize the life changing events of a man, experience the mastery of a travel story telling. The cast was so perfect with their flawless acting. Definitely a keeper. The movie portrays the everyday life of Kerala people in most places of the state. The strikes, shutdown of public services, travel hassles are not something that would be surprising for a Malayalee. If you are in the look out for a feel-good movie, experience an adventure in the most beautiful way, discover Kerala (Southern state of India), understand the emotions of strangers who you may meet during travel (India), see the heights of a clean freak - then this will be a worthy movie to watch. Malayalam language is a beautiful dialect (I do not speak Malayalam, but understand it well) - and will not be a barrier to watch this movie (there are sub titles available).

An above average performance by Fahad Fazil barely saves this poorly written and edited film. Fahad plays a misanthropic software engineer obsessed with cleanliness. He is regularly rude and cruel to his co-workers and family but the fact that he is brilliant at his job keeps him from getting fired. A transfer to another city and a Hartal puts his ordered life in jeopardy.The director uses way too many scenes to emphasize Fahad's obsessive cleanliness and misanthropy. The writing is uniformly poor, many of the scenes are the ones you have seen numerous times in Malayalam cinema (like the old guy talking about how he first fell in love). And then there is the usual collection of kind working class Malayali characters with whom the main character comes into contact with. And of course, the token scene in a "kallu/arrack shop".Sreenath Basi as Fahad's brother reprises the role of a slacker (similar to the one he played in Da Thadiya). Nedumudi's role is full of clichés. He has played this role too many times. Swathi Reddy is awful. I guess its not her fault. her character is so poorly written, you don't even understand why she is attracted to a guy like Fahad.(4/10)

Released in September this year, I'd been hearing a lot of good reviews about North 24 Kaatham, but I couldn't catch it at the movies and I woefully regret it now. North 24 Kaatham is indeed a casual watch with not the thickest of storyline or the best of direction but for what its worth it bring out a warm feeling from within. I loved it and I have to shout how good it is, period!North 24 Kaatham by débutante director Anil Radhakrishan Menon is assured to be a good time. An IT professional with OCD, an elderly school teacher and an NGO activist makes for an odd trio who takes a trip through a hartal-stricken Kerala's one end to the other. Stumbling on to crass and caricatures alike, comedy has been spattered from frame one to the end and it doesn't bore you for even a second. Hari's fish outta water sequences were the best among the lot.Having starred in more than 10 movies this year and most of them garnering enough attention, Fahadh Faasil is a force to reckon with. A well established actor by now, this guy has proved that he can handle any role with ease. The OCD-ridden Harikrishnan he plays here is a perfect example where he displays a prodigious performance with the least of dialogs. Nedumudi Venu, one of my favorites, is never less impressive. Swathi Reddy, fresh outta her Amen debut and despite her weird lip-sync issues, manages to steal some smiles as well. Familiar faces like Geetha, Sreenath Bhasi, Chemban Vinod and Premji Amaren makes good use of the screen time they were given.Ah and the music, such wonderful tunes that goes well with the visuals. Rex Vijayan's title track 'Thanaro' deserves to be stuck in that little niche in your head at least for some days. Govind Menon's score was also pleasing to the ears. I'd recommend North 24 Kaatham to anybody seeking some good fun. Its fresh, its fun and unlike me, its never too late for you to regret.

The summary above states the plight of how fantastic Malayalam cinema is received by the movie-goers. People just haven't got acclimatized by which movies to go to & which not. At a time when the industry is experimenting, it is onto us that we support it.North 24 Kaatham depends upon the used formula, but delivers hyper-adventurous experience.Talking about how a single journey can change a person's perspective in & towards life, N24K captures the condition of commuters during the infamous & sometimes unnecessary strikes (hartal) in Kerala. It gathers few current topics as well, while speaking about love, relationship, life values & death. Now, since there are many elements packaged in one, interpretations may differ, but at the end of the day, what matters is entertainment & message. The film by débutante Anil Menon does to Malayalam Cinema which only few filmmakers have done: STRENGTHEN!Fahadh Faasil is getting glamorous every passing day, his performance as the skeptical, hygiene-conscious prig is amazing; he is directed very well & aptly. His co-actors Nedumudi Venu & Swathi Reddy both are top-notch. Supporting cast is fine; Sreenath Bhasi is growing as a teen symbol. Coupled with ample humor, slapstick, seriousness & drama, N24K succeeds more in the second half throwing emotions & sensitive expressions to its viewers. Music is very good and Rex Vijayan's vocals again brings the ceiling down, editing is tad goofy, screenplay & direction well-done.BOTTOM LINE: Highly Recommended! As a whole, it delivers what it proposes & we might even link it with Neelakasham.... Although both talk something different about life. 7.4 out of 10.Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES (One scene might be awkward)Profanity/Nudity/Sex: No | Vulgarity: Mild | Violence/Gore: No | Smoking/Drugs: No | Alcohol: Strong