Joju George is the star performer in 'Antony'. His swag, dialogue delivery, and action scenes are brilliant. Kalyani Priyadarshan impresses as Ann Mary.
A poster of the film Antony'. (Supplied)
Antony (Malayalam)
Malayalam actor Joju George and director Joshiy are back after their successful movie Porinju Mariyam Jose (2019).
Joshiy, yet again, makes a movie with his old crew of Porinju Mariyam Jose. But this time, “action” takes a front seat.
Antony has a normal story and deals with the emotional connection between Antony and Ann Mary (Kalyani Priyadarshan).
The movie has an interesting plot. But as the story progresses, it becomes a normal affair. Let’s see why:
Joshiy’s directorial ‘Antony’. (Supplied)
The film starts with Antony (Joju George) killing a local goon named Xavier (Tiny Tom).
Ann Mary is Xavier’s daughter and Asha Sharath appears as Ann Mary’s mother Jessy. Ann Mary loses her mother in an accident. She becomes an orphan and Antony becomes her local guardian.
Father Paul Kattakayam (Chemban Vinod Jose) takes the initiative to protect Ann Mary.
Antony is the friend of Father Paul who is a priest in Avaran City — a fictional village in South Kerala.
Antony is the person who solves every issue in the village. His camaraderie with the priest is one of the highlights of the movie.
There are many characters in the film. Avaran City gets its name from Avaran (Vijayaraghavan) who was once the don and a resident. He is now old and is looked after by Maya (Nyla Usha), a home nurse.
Avaran was a saviour for Antony when the latter lost his parents and siblings.
Avaran City is now taken care of by Antony as he is the local don.
A boxer and a college-going girl, Ann Mary creates problems in her college. She initially doesn’t like Antony, but has a change of heart over the period and stays in his house. She also considers him her father figure.
As in any movie, Antony has a plot that has negative characters who plan to kill Antony.
How he overcomes these obstacles to live happily with Ann Mary forms the crux of the story.
Kalyani Priyadarshan and Joju George in ‘Antony’. (Supplied)
Female characters get good screen space in Antony. Kalyani Priyadarshan plays a meaty role as Ann Mary who is a boxer.
The director gives utmost importance to her character. The actor does some good action sequences. She looks energetic in both action and emotional scenes.
Nyla Usha as Maya, the home nurse, is decent. Her scenes with Avaran have come out well.
Asha Sharath is a smart choice for the role of Ann Mary’s mother Jessy. She takes advantage of a crucial situation in her life after her husband’s death.
The background music by Jake Bejoy and the action scenes are some of the takeaways. However, the script doesn’t give depth to some characters.
Antony has the appeal of a mass hero movie, which is aimed at enthraling a normal cinema-going audience.
Director Joshiy, a master craftsman, delivers a decent product with a predictable story.
Kalyani Priyadarshan in ‘Antony’. (X)
Joju George is the star performer in Antony. His swag, dialogue delivery, and action scenes are brilliant.
Kalyani Priyadarshan impresses as Ann Mary. It’s good to see the young actor play meaty roles like that in her previous movie Sesham Mike-il Fathima (2023) where she appeared as a football commentator.
Nyla Usha as Maya once again reunites with Joshiy after Porinju Mariyam Jose. Her looks and chemistry with Joju George have come out well. She plays a pivotal role in the climax scene.
Vijayaraghavan adds another feather to his cap. The veteran actor is pretty effortless as Avaran.
Chemban Vinod Jose as the priest is decent.
Jinu Joseph, as Lawrence, is good.
Sarath Appani, as Keecheri Simon, does his best.
However, all the negative characters are overshadowed by Antony’s character.
Antony is an action entertainer that engages the audience throughout.
(Views expressed here are personal.)
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