Shylock Review: A Mega Feast for Megastar Mammootty Fans!

Shylock Review: Ajai Vasudevâ€™s Shylock (dubbed as Kuberan in Tamil) is a mass entertainer, which portrays the story of Boss aka Shylock, played by Megastar Mammootty who lends money to film producers. He encounters producer Prathap Varma (Kalabhavan Shajon) and his partner – Police Commissioner Felix John (Siddique), who owes him a debt and is unwilling to pay back. Boss had a motto behind the clash with the duo, which makes the rest of the movie.

Shylock is no different from Ajai Vasudev’s previous films as he explores the commercial elements decently. Aneesh Hameed and Bibin Mohanâ€™s script offer nothing fresh to offer as it is filled with cliches. The dialogues were more cinematic as lines from quite a few commercial films reappear in the voice of Mammooty like the one from Rajnikanthâ€™s â€œPetta.â€

Itâ€™s after a long time Megastar Mammootty is seen in such a charming role and portrayed it with ease. His energy on-screen filled the entire auditorium with that much-needed zing, and most importantly, Shylock is his one-man show. The performances by Kalabhavan Shajon and Siddique were decent. Tamil star actor Raj Kiran portrays a pivotal role that carries the story in the second half of the movie, and Meena shines bright in her role as Raj Kiran’s wife.

The cinematography by Ranadive was mediocre with the flurry of mass elements, and the editing work by Riyas K Badhar made Shylock even more complex and unworthy. Additionally, the background score by Gopi Sunder reminded me of movies like Rajadhiraja and Pokkiriraja and failed to make an impact with the audience. Technically, the film failed in engaging the audience.

Overall, the commercial elements of the movie are pleasing and connected to the fans remarkably. It has elements that remind of mass entertainers produced by Kollywood. Ajai Vasudev has done a decent job of utilizing the star value of Mammootty. But, Shylock lacks freshness and creativity. With a little tweak, it could have been a much better product, which doesnâ€™t happen. However, it is a feast for the fans and an average experience for the rest.