JOSEPH PIUS PRANAYAM ( 2011 ) I am writing this after watching it 2nd time, as the first time couldn't hear the dialogues clearly at some parts of the movie. Second time, watched this in a different theatre, with good sound and only very few people : that indicates two things, either the movie is exceptionally well or very bad. In this case, it's the first !! PRANAYAM is brilliant. Brilliant in many ways : Story, Performance by the actors , Music, Camera, Narration style. A story about love stories. I think that would be the 'one line' to give for this movie. Achutha Menon is happily settled and staying with his son's family. One day as he meets a new family who has just moved into the floor below theirs, he is shocked to see his ex-wife Grace there. That takes us back to the wonderful life that they had before, the way they met, fell in love , got married. The same state of surprise and shock accumulates in Grace also. Menon gets a cardiac arrest and he is taken to the hospital by Grace & other residents of the flat. At present , grace is married to Mathews character who is half paralysed and moves around in a wheelchair. They have a daughter(dhanya mary ) who is married and settled. They all are staying together in the same flat. These three characters' past life and when they meet again what each of them goes through, what others related to them goes through, forms the plot of PRANAYAM. The three main characters have been portrayed excellently by three brilliant actors of Indian cinema : Anupam Kher , Mohanlal and Jayapradha. Anoop Menon as Achutha Menon's son also has done his part quite naturally and the rest of the cast backs the overall performance of the movie. Songs are also good. ' paattil e paatil '(Shreya and Jayachandran, solos) is a good one that you'll hum even after the movie. Then there is Lehan Cohan's I'm Your Man sung by Mohanlal. These two can be said as the highlight songs in the movie. Camera just makes each and every frame look so beautiful. Should really appreciate Satheesh Kurup for the kind of lighting and color tone selected for the movie. Its ' see and feel good ' for the eyes.And the way the director Blessy has narrated it is so beautiful. Sometimes we may feel that its a bit slow movie, but there is a specific pace for each kind of movie is what I basically think and the pace of this movie well suits for it. Blessy has made a classic movie , slowly bringing the old goodness that Malayalam film had with some nice heart touching stories. A nice movie for everyone to watch and experience LOVE in different perspectives.

solitarystate A consistent screenplay that stays very precise to the tale of 3 people. Grace(Jayapradha) is the pivotal character. Unknowly the story places her in the centre. Mathews(Mohanlal), Achu(Anupam Kher) and Grace(Jayapradha), all these phenomenal actors have filled a very subtle yet strong emotion into each of their characters. Love is a canvas and its your choice which have to be the colours you will use to fill. Sometimes it can create a beautiful painting. Blessy is a good artist. He has the talent to give each actor their freedom to bring out the required emotion in the movie. Well played and presented. Worth spending time with your loved one and watch this cinema.

alishafana A Blessy film is always special. Moving on with his exceptional penchant of creating worthy movies centered on human relationships, 'Pranayam' is one that matches the qualities of his previous endeavors. You need to hand it to him for picking up stories from a novel territory that defy stereotype and tell it with this sport of purity and simplicity that can win you over. And it also makes him undoubtedly, the best of the storytellers to have emerged in Mollywood, after late Padmarajan.Blessy's choice of actors is perfect. And the characters they portray are real adorable, so close to life or so inspiring. Mohanlal and Anupam Kher comes up with scintillating performances, with loads of emotional precision in each of the heavy sequences. 'Pranayam' is for the family. It is well acted, deftly written, entertaining and broadly appealing drama. Watch it with someone you love!Rating-10

imcool_mrananth If you would ask me, i would consider this as an exquisite film. The movie is like a river, with it's flow, twists and turns and like a sea with its depth and serenity. A strong emotion depicted in a completely new manner. Movie viewers are in for something different. Blessy as always have achieved the greatness of making the audience think of the plot and our on self. Some really powerful dialogs delivered neatly and some nice songs. Talking about the casting and the acting, Mohanlal has once again proved his abilities as an actor, and this time, without even using his body and just his face (as he is half paralyzed in the movie), Jayaprada and Anoop menon has put up a good job, too. I loved the scene in which Jayaprada hugs Anupam kher right when the thunder strikes, with fear and love alike. And of course an amazingly unpredictable end.The flaws; the voice and the lip movements of Anupam kher does not sync (the dubbing), and the romance between the younger Anupam kher and Jayaprada, which you would find it hard to believe(as things happen way too fast) are the only ones. Nothing major though.