Lailaa O Lailaa

Lailaa O Lailaa

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Joshiy
Produced by Santhosh Kottayi
Biju Antony
Preeta Nair
Antony Perumbavoor
Screenplay by Suresh Nair
Starring Mohanlal
Amala Paul
Music by Gopi Sundar
Cinematography S. Lokanathan
Edited by Shyam Sasidharan
Production
company
Finecut Entertainments
Aashirvad Cinemas
Distributed by Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments
Release dates
  • 14 May 2015 (2015-05-14) (India)
Running time
 168 minutes
Country India
Language Malayalam

Lailaa O Lailaa (abbreviated as LOL) is a 2015 Malayalam language Indian spy action film directed by Joshiy. It stars Mohanlal and Amala Paul in the lead roles alongside a supporting cast of Sathyaraj, Joy Mathew, Sreerag Nambiar, Rahul Dev and Kainaat Arora. Bollywood screenwriter Suresh Nair debuted in Malayalam as writer in the film. The original soundtrack and background score were composed by Gopi Sunder.

The film introduced the state’s first equity crowdfunding model of film production, being produced by Santhosh Kottayi, Bijou Antony and Preeta Nair under the banner Finecut Entertainments Pvt Ltd in association with Aashirvad Cinemas.[1]

Principal photography began at the end of August 2014. The first schedule was in Kochi, Goa and Mysore; the second schedule was in Bangalore; and the final schedule was at Kochi, Bangalore and Bellary. The film was originally scheduled for a 110-day shoot and was completed within a span of 7 months.[2][3]

The film released in theatres across India on 14 May 2015, and met with generally uncomplimentary reviews from critics and failed to profit at the box office.[4][5]

Plot

Jai Mohan (Mohanlal) leads a double life, he is a special agent of a special task force of the Indian government created to counter terrorism in India. Jai Mohan and his chief Shaheed Khadar (Sathyaraj) operate in Bengaluru under a cover setup of exporting business under the name "Deccan Exporters". Jai falls in love with Anjali Menon (Amala Paul) and marries her, for the reason he is constantly hazed by his chief.

One day, Anjali follows Jai on suspicion of having an affair and accidentally meet each other, which he is forced to reveal that he is an undercover agent who operates as a civilian. Meanwhile, Victor Rana (Rahul Dev) a terrorist who was caught and locked after Interrogation escapes by trick. To catch Victor Rana, Shaheed asks Anjali to act as Laila, a bar dancer, Victor's girlfriend. Anjali finally agrees and is trained as a regular in bar dancing.

Victor Rana's men take Anjali Menon, knowing she is Laila. But Jai tracks them and arrives at a businessman and a party animal Mittal's house "Ayesha". Jai Mohan fights through the militants and rescues Anjali. Jai by arranging the evidence and facts understands that the terrorist's plan is to destroy an airplane carrying former US president and finds them through a commercial mini-drone and kills them all and thankfully ending the film.

Cast

Production

Development

Earlier Suresh Nair met Mohanlal regarding doing a project together but shelved the idea due to Mohanlal's packed schedule. However, in April 2013, Suresh confirmed that he is doing a Malayalam film with Joshiy and Mohanlal.[6] The team met again in July to have further discussions on the project.[7] On 16 November 2013, Mohanlal confirmed the project through his Facebook page. He announced the title as Lailaa O Lailaa and stated it would have Amala Paul in the lead and would be produced by Finecut Entertainments.[8] It is the second collaboration of the trio Joshiy-Mohanlal-Amala after the success of Run Babby Run (2012).[9][10] There were several reports in online news medias that Mohanlal would play an investigation officer in the film.[11]

Financing

The film introduced a new concept of film financing in Malayalam cinema. The idea was developed by three NRIs based in the Middle East - Santhosh Kottayi, Bijou Antony and Preeta Nair. The trio formed the production company FineCut Entertainments Private Ltd. The funds for the film were collected through a fundraising technique known as equity crowdfunding, a popular idea in the west to raise funds for start-ups. The model permits anyone to invest in the production company, who can then expect preferential shares in return. The idea perceives film financing as a prospective investment venture. Unlike crowdfunding, where funds are mobilised from the public, equity funding allows investors to own shares and remain investors for a longer period, and they can benefit from the future production and distribution projects of the same company. Dividends are distributed to each investor based on the profitability of the company.[12]

The model ensures that the movie sails through the break-even point, its total budget realized, prior to its release. Bijou Antony, one of the directors, said, "We have moulded the concept of crowd-equity funding in such a way that our friends and colleagues, who are interested in our movie project, could be part of the venture by investing in it. The investments are capped at a maximum of Rs 5 lakh per investor, which is well within the risk appetite of the investor profile we have had so far".[12]

Casting

Mohanlal is in the lead along with Amala Paul for the second time after Run Babby Run. Tamil actor Sathyaraj was chosen for a pivotal role in the film. Earlier there were speculations regarding the change in the heroine as soon as actress Amala Paul announced her wedding. Several reports suggested that Manju Warrier would replace Amala Paul, and that writer Suresh Nair was keen to cast Manju opposite Mohanlal. But no official confirmations came out, the production team remained silent leaving it as rumours only. Later in an interview, Amala confirmed that she would play the lead opposite Mohanlal and the shoot of the film would begin in August 2014.[13][14]

During the pre-production stage, there were reports about Sonu Sood playing the antagonist opposite Mohanlal. However, there was no official confirmation.[15] In an interview Ramya Nambeeshan stated she would be a part of Lailaa O Lailaa in a cameo role.[16][17]

On 11 September 2014. Times of India reported that Ashvin Mathew had been cast in a role.[18] It was also reported that Joy Mathew would be seen in the movie. It is the first time he is doing a film with Mohanlal.[19] Bollywood actress Kainaat Arora is doing a pivotal role in the movie. "I really don't have the liberty to open up about my role. All I can say is that my character is pivotal to the story, and the central plot revolves around her. That's not all, I have a lot of combination scenes with Mohanlal," she says.[20] Rahul Dev will play the antagonist opposite Mohanlal. Confirming the news scriptwriter Suresh Nair said, "Rahul Dev has been roped in to play a villain. He has joined the set in Bangalore.".[21] Amala Paul's brother Abhijeet Paul also has a role in the film.[22] During the final schedule, Junaid Sheikh joined the crew who acted in Salaam Kashmir (2014) with Joshiy playing a villain.[23]

Filming

The filming was postponed multiple times.[24] There were also reports that the shooting was shelved due to creative differences. But Joshiy clean off all the rumours and confirmed that the project is very much on board.[25] In February 2014, it was heard the shooting will start on 15 June 2014 which never happened.[26]

The principal photography commenced on 31 August 2014. The filming was scheduled for a long 110 days.[27] The film was shot at different locations across Goa, Mysore, Bangalore, and Ernakulam.[28] Laila O Laila was originally scheduled to release during Christmas 2014 but could not complete filming. The second schedule was set to begin only after Mohanlal completes filming for Sathyan Anthikkad film.[29]

On 30 October, Mohanlal announced that the second schedule of production was over in Bangalore and Kochi with 80 percent of filming being completed. The production team planned to regroup after taking a break for filming the climax action sequences.[30] After the break, the third schedule started at Ernakulam in December's second week after Mohanlal returned from his Antarctican tour on 5 December 2014. Mohanlal's part was then planned to be completed first in the third schedule.[31] The final schedule went off in February 2015 at Kochi, and the team went to Bangalore for shooting the remaining action sequences.[32] The climax was shot in Bellary, Karnataka, in 5 to 7 days schedule.[33]

Marketing

An official first look logo (title design) was unveiled in November 2013.[34] A redesigned title look was revealed on 5 April 2015. The first look of the official posters were released on 6 April 2015, with the tagline The Biggest Risk of His Life...His Wife.[35] On 8 April, the production team announced the official trailer will be unveiled on the auspicious day of Vishu on 15 April. The first look theatrical poster was released by Mohanlal on his Twitter and Facebook pages respectively on Friday, 10 April. The poster featured Mohanlal and Amala Paul.[36]

Though the trailer was due for release on 15 April, it was delayed due to technical reasons and was released one day later. The trailer received positive response from audience as well as from film personalities and was trending on social media sites. The trailer was peppered with some car chases, exotic locales and a melodious music track. It garnered over two lakh views within a week.[37] The New Indian Express commented "The film promises to create a genre that has never been seen before in Mollywood. Many of its sequences have been likened to Bollywood flicks. It also marks the coming of age of Malayalam cinema, as it’s a unique recipe with all the required ingredients needed for a success story at the box office". LailaaOLailaa the official website was launched on 26 April 2015.[38]

Music

Lailaa O Lailaa
Soundtrack album by Gopi Sundar
Released
  • 24 April 2015 (2015-04-24)
Studio Sensa Digital World
Genre Film soundtrack
Length 19:17
Language Malayalam
Label Muzik 247
Producer Gopi Sundar
Gopi Sundar chronology
Ivan Maryadaraman
(2015)		 Lailaa O Lailaa
(2015)		 Oru Second Class Yathra
(2015)

The soundtrack and film score were composed by Gopi Sunder. He has composed 5 songs in the film. Anna Kathrina has written the lyrics of the title song.[39]

The films music launch event was held on 24 April 2015 at Kochi. Audio release function was attended by director Joshiy, the main actors, music director Gopi Sunder among others, Anna Katharina, Anjali Upasana, A. L. Vijay were some of the guests who attended the event.[40][41]

Lailaa O Lailaa (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
No. TitleLyricsSinger(s) Length
1. "Dil Dilvana"  Anna Katharina, Gopi SundarAnna Katharina 04:16
2. "Maruhaba (M)"  B.K.Hari NarayananK. S. Harishankar 05:11
3. "Meharuba (F)"  B.K.Hari NarayananPreethi Bella 05:11
4. "Nanayumee Mazhai"  Gilu JosephSithara 04:51
5. "Rathri Mulla Than"  B.K.Hari NarayananNajim Arshad, Radhika Narayanan 04:39
6. "Lailaa O Lailaa Theme"  Gopi SundarGopi Sundar 01:12
Total length:
 25:43

Release

The film released on 14 May 2015 in 168 screens all over India, distributed by Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments in about 106 screens in Kerala alone and remaining in rest of India including Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat, Pune, Coimbatore, Punjab, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Hyderabad.[42][43][44][45]

Critical reception

IB Times said that the movie has failed to meet the expectations of the viewers regarding the pre-release hype.[46][47][5]

Sify.coms reviewer said the concept, basic storyline and presentation has been inspired from the loud commercial masala flicks of the 1980s or even before. Storyline is similar to James Cameron's 1994 film True Lies. Sify also criticized Suresh Nair's script, saying the actors are wasted in the script and that the music did not meet expectations[48] Paresh C Palicha of Rediff.com rated 1.5 out of 5 stars and called it "A tacky film that wasted the resources at its disposal", stating "This film is stretched in many directions and everything is shabbily handled. It is as if the makers hoped that every flaw would be glossed over by the charm of the actors. This does not happen and the actors are not to blame."[49] Arathi Kannan of Malayala Manorama stated that "Mohanlal looks uncomfortable, to the say the least, in the movie. It’s not his day, not his movie." She also wrote, "A recent spoof movie in Malayalam was bang on when it came to exposing such overstated scenarios in Malayalam cinema."[50] Veeyen of Nowrunning.com rated the film 2 out of 5 and said, "Lailaa O lalaa is a sparkless action caper that digs through implausibly convoluted cinematic cliches to narrate a tale that seems to scoff at us for being told. Of the many bullets that are fired in the film, none remains engraved in our memory as much as the colossal style-over-substance misfire from scenarist Suresh Nair who has penned this massive fiasco that fittingly qualifies as a foggy snoozer."[51]

References

  1. ↑ Byju Aryad (9 April 2015). "Startup Lets You Fund Films and Pick up Perks". The New Indian Express.
  2. ↑ Gayathri Krishna (1 September 2014). "Mohanlal starts `Laila o Laila`". Sify.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2014.
  3. ↑ Akhila Menon (10 March 2015). "Lailaa O Lailaa On April 30?". Filmibeat.com.
  4. ↑ "Box office report: 'Premam', 'OVS' rule 2015 first half". 30 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  5. 1 2 "ജോഷിക്കും ലാലിനും എന്തുപറ്റി?". Filmibeat. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Sanjith Sidhardhan (23 April 2013). "`Kahaani' scribe Suresh Nair to pen Mohanlal-Joshiy film". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Ammu Zacharia (30 July 2013). "Mohanlal to begin Suresh Nair project soon". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  8. ↑ admin (17 November 2013). "Mohanlal to have Amala Paul as heroine in Laila O Laila". Indiancinemagallery.com. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Mohanlal and Joshiy team up". Deccan Chronicle. 18 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Amala Paul Celebrates Onam with Mohanlal and Sathyaraj". International Business Times. 5 September 2014.
  11. ↑ Raj Vikram (6 July 2014). "Mohanlal as an investigator in Laila O Laila ?". metromatinee.com.
  12. 1 2 Aswin J Kumar (14 May 2013). "Invest in films, just like share markets". The Times of India.
  13. ↑ Sruti Karthikeyan (6 July 2014). "Laila O Laila to go on floors in August". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 Sep 2014.
  14. ↑ Radhika C Pillai (18 July 2014). "Manju will not team up with Mohanlal !". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 Sep 2014.
  15. ↑ Rajeevan Francis (25 November 2013). "Sonu Sood as antagonist opposite Mohanlal in "Lailaa O Lailaa".". Metromatinee.com. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  16. ↑ Raj Vikram (21 Sep 2014). "Remya nambeeshan in 'Laila O Laila'". Metromatinee. Retrieved 22 Sep 2014.
  17. ↑ Shruti karthikeyan (21 Sep 2014). "Remya Nambeesan to play a cameo in Laila O Laila". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 Sep 2014.
  18. ↑ Radhiak C Pillai (11 Sep 2014). "Ashvin Mathew as Minister!". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 Sep 2014.
  19. ↑ NR (26 September 2014). "Joy Mathew to share screen space with Mohanlal". nowrunning.com. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  20. ↑ Radhika C Pillai (28 September 2014). "Kainaat Arora makes her M-Town debut". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  21. ↑ Shruti Kathikeyan (9 October 2014). "Rahul Dev will play a villain in Lailaa O Lailaa". Retrieved 16 Nov 2014.
  22. ↑ Shruti Karthikeyan (6 November 2014). "Suresh Nair is like my buddy now: Amala Paul". The Times of India.
  23. ↑ "Junaid to play villain in Lailaa O Lailaa". The Times of India. 23 February 2015.
  24. ↑ "Lailaa O Lailaa Filming Postponed". filmibeat.com. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 16 Nov 2014.
  25. ↑ "Lailaa O Lailaa Started Rolling". filmibeat.com. 1 September 2014.
  26. ↑ "Lailaa O Lailaa will start on June 15 itself !". onlookersmedia.com. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  27. ↑ Akhila Menon (28 August 2014). "Mohanlal To Have A 110 Days Shooting Schedule". filmibeat.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2014.
  28. ↑ Raj Vikram (24 August 2014). "Mohanlal's 'Lailaa O Lailaa' postponed again.". metromatinee.com.
  29. ↑ "It was a Christmas 'sans' superstars". Kaumudi.
  30. ↑ Deepa Soman (30 October 2014). "Laila O Laila second schedule over". Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  31. ↑ "Laila O laila to restart". indiaglitz.com. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  32. ↑ "Mohanlal's stunt scenes without dupe, speciality of 'Laila O Laila'.". Metro Matinee. 18 February 2015.
  33. ↑ "LOL on its final schedule". Indiaglitz.com. 28 February 2015.
  34. ↑ Gayathry (27 November 2013). "Mohanlal's Lailaa O Lailaa Logo Unveiled!". filmibeat.com. Retrieved 16 Nov 2014.
  35. ↑ Deepa Soman (7 April 2015). "Laila O Laila first look out". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  36. ↑ Online Desk (10 April 2015). "First look poster of Mohanlal's 'Laila-o-Laila' is out". Manoramaonline.com. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  37. ↑ Express Features (22 April 2015). "Lailaa O Lailaa Trailer Garners 2 Lakh Views". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  38. ↑ "Lailaa O Lailaa official website".
  39. ↑ TNN (26 April 2015). "Anna pens the title song of Lailaa O Lailaa". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  40. ↑ TNN (25 April 2015). "The music of Lailaa O Lailaa launched". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  41. ↑ Correspondent (25 April 2015). "Audio of Laila 'O' Laila unveiled". Manoramaonline.com. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  42. ↑ "Lailaa O Lailaa Theatre List". Moviespicy.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  43. ↑ Biju Cherian. "Lailaa O Lailaa malayalam Movie Theatre List in kerala". Cinetrooth.com. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  44. ↑ "Lailaa O Lailaa (Laila O Laila ) Movie Review, Theater list & Showtimes in Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi & Online Ticket Booking". Proshouters.com. 15 May 2015.
  45. ↑ cineframes (14 May 2015). "Laila O Laila Movie Kerala Theatre List". Cineframes.com.
  46. ↑ Nicy VP (14 May 2015). "'Lailaa O Lailaa' Movie Review Round-Up: Critics Rate Mohanlal–Amala Paul Starrer as Average". IB Times. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  47. ↑ Anu James (16 May 2015). "'Lailaa O Lailaa' Actor Mohanlal Visits Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala [PHOTOS]". International Business Times. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  48. ↑ "Review: Lailaa O Lailaa". Sify.com. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  49. ↑ Paresh C Palicha (15 May 2015). "Review: Lailaa O Lailaa fails miserably". Rediff.com. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  50. ↑ Arathi Kannan (15 May 2015). "Lailaa O Lailaa: Guns, roses and terrorists". Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  51. ↑ Veeyen (15 May 2015). "Lailaa O Lailaa Review". Nowrunning.com. Retrieved 16 May 2015.

External links

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