Script and Direction : Kamal Story : Dr. Iqbal Kuttippuram Cast : Biju Menon, Samyuktha Verma, Siddique, Poornima Mohan, Sivaji, Sreenadh, Renjini and Raghavan. Produced jointly by Asianet and Mathrubhumi, 'Meghamalhar', the latest offering by Kamal has all the makings of a great film. But the film, seeing the light of day after an inordinately extended eclipse, comes across as a strange mishmash. Spurts of brilliance, quagmire of flaws and some indifference is what you get. That is why we will just rate 'Meghamalhar' as not bad. The film is so promising in some parts, while the rest is a masterpiece in patchwork.   Another movie featuring our favourite pair Biju Menon and Samyuktha Verma has come up after a string of films like Mazha, Madhuranombarakkattu and Chandanudikkunna Dikkil. Kamal has incorporated many realisitic incidents in middle-class families. What the film lacks is in-depth emotions which could have been the highlight of films like this. However, the director has succeeded in making the film as close to reality as possible. So, it may not be liked by everyone. It has a realistic edge and the shoe-string budget is used to maximum advantage, accentuating the authentic details of storyline instead of the sham-glossy and the meaningless scenes of mainstream cinema.. Kamal does not opt for a glitzy packaging replete with masala melodrama. Of course, this film remains the odd one out in a very different sense.

Iqbal Kuttippuram, who has given us the riveting tale of a different campus love and tender emotions of teen age in the phenomenally successful film 'Niram', puts the unusual love of Nanditha and Rajeev on a higher pedestal than mere romantic love. He truley deserves a pat on his back for opting out of the trodden track once again, as we have an endless barrage of boy-meets-a girl stories that spill out of the showbiz mills every week.

A promising film that unfortunately stays not much more than a pro hat depicts an uncommon love story. But the filmmaker who was forced to work on a shoe string budget happened to be under tremendous pressure. The screenplay written by the director himself retains consistency, credibility and emotional punch throughout the film. However, the director fails in his attempt to keep the audience engrossed right upto the end.

Nanditha Menon (Samyuktha Verma) a budding writer is a sub-editor with Mathrubhumi Sunday supplement. She is leading a happy life with her daughter and father in law (Raghavan) Her husband Mukundan (Siddique) is abroad and busy with his business activities. A lawyer by profession, Rajeev (Biju Menon) who is a music lover and also a voracious reader comes to go through the short story titled 'Meghamalhar' written by Nanditha.

A twist of fate brings them close to each other and they finally come to realize that they have regained the long lost vigour and vitality of their childhood life. She knows that Rajeev is her childhood playmate, but she does not reveal that she is the same Sreekkutty who was brought back to life from the brink of fate-worse than-death situation by Rajeev. A taste of nostalgia is rekindled since both of them have an invaluable storehouse of sweet memories. They decide to go to Kanyakumari, Nanditha's homeland where Rajiv spent his childhood during his father's brief stint with Govenment service. Trapped between the blooming love and conjugal duties, both of them prove that they are brave enough to sacrifice anything for the sake of their household.

O N V's lyrics are set to score by noted Hindustani Musician Ramesh Narayan. The song 'Oru narupushpamayen nerku neelunna...' is hummable. As far as the performances are concerned, Samyuktha Verma packs in a solid performance. As for the rest of the cast, Biju Menon makes a sincere effort to do justice to his role. Poornima Mohan, who plays the role of Rajeev's wife, hardly has anything to do in this film. We can not expect that those who enjoyed the commercial potboilers of ely savour this film.