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'Boyy Friennd' is a mishmash of formulas
By Paresh C. Palicha, Indo-Asian News Service

Film: "Boyy Friennd"; Cast: Manikuttan, Lakshmy Gopalaswamy, Sreenivasan, Lalu Alex and Mukesh; Music: M. Jayachandran; Story, Direction: Vinayan; Producer: Vidyasagar

"Boyy Friennd", the latest offering from prolific director Vinayan, was expected to be an ideal launch vehicle for small screen star Manikuttan, but it is Sreenivasan who is hogging the limelight as police commissioner Idiyan Kartha in the film.

Manikuttan has already made a name for himself on the small screen with the serial "Kayamkulam Kochunni". 

The storyline of "Boyy Friennd" is a hotchpotch of various genres of formula films - it has family drama, murder mystery, single parenting and sexual harassment at work place and traditional teenage love and friendship.

The film revolves around Ramesh Prasad (Manikuttan), an ideal teenager, who lives with his widow mother Nandini (Lakshmi Gopalaswamy). 

Ramesh's life takes a tricky turn when his mother files a criminal case against Home Minister Nateshan (Mukesh) who tried to sexually harass her. The minister abuses her at a function in her son's college. His insulting words provoke Ramesh and he assaults him with his bat. 

To escape the police, Ramesh hides in a women's hostel near the college. As luck would have it, the minister is murdered the same night at his private guesthouse and Ramesh becomes the prime suspect. 

The role does not offer Manikuttan any opportunity to establish his theatrical capabilities. He has just got to show his fighting and running skills. Emotional bonding between the mother and son is not exploited properly. Lakshmy Gopalaswamy's character seems to be half-baked. One feels she should have been offered a better role. 

Sreenivasan has all punch lines and dramatic moments. 

Another actor who stands out is Lalu Alex in the role of principal Kachrathara. Mukesh in the role of the minister and his look-alike younger brother in the second half does a fine job.

Vinayan has dished out some decent films in the past and his latest offering "Boyy Friennd" has a fair chance at the box office. But a little clipping could have done wonders to the film and maintaining focus on mother-son relationship would have ensured a huge family audience.