Indians love to talk seriously and boast about their college days. When you meet an Indian for the first time, he is prone to bore you to death with his college exploits . He would give you details about frolics that you have no interest in. I guess it makes up for the lack of sex during his youth. I am only joking.
Abrid Shine (famous for directing Action Hero Biju) has made a whole movie about his college days/ memories. Poomaram is centered around a college youth festival and the competition between Maharajas college (a mixed college) and St.Teresas (a girls only college) in Kochi. And though the film is boringly blowhard at times, it is not without charm!
I remember being clueless during my college days. My classmates were mostly scumbags (showing glimpses of what they would turn into as adults) and I do not remember any of them being idealistic. But the students in this film are portrayed as being principled and idealistic, which was a bit hard for me to digest. The best moments in the film are the lighthearted ones like the scenes in the police station and the students practicing for the college fest. The worst moments are the ones where these kids whine and pretend to be idealistic.
Newcomer Neeta Pillai and Kalidasan impress as the leaders of their respective colleges. Joju George steals the thunder in his brief appearance as a cop. The scenes with him reminded me of Abrid Shine's best film Action Hero Biju. I think some of the material that Abrid Shine omitted from Action Hero Biju might have made it into this film.
Some reviewers called Poomaram a documentary. They are not wrong. But I am surprised that Abrid Shine chose a documentary style treatment for this film. There are times when he cuts loose and make things entertaining. Those were the best moments in the film.
(5.5/10)
