Diwanjimoola Grand Prix

Diwanjimoola Grand Prix is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language sports comedy film directed by Anil Radhakrishnan Menon. The screenplay was co-written by Menon and former Kozhikode District Collector, Prasanth Nair, fondly known as Collector Bro, while dialogues are written by Riyas Marath. The film features Kunchacko Boban, Nyla Usha, Vinayakan,Nedumudi Venu, Siddique and Sijoy Varghese.
The film was releases in theaters on 5 January 2018. The film is also a crossover to four cult classic malayalam films like Pranchiyettan and the Saint, Kasthooriman, Thoovanathumbikal, and Sapthamashree Thaskaraha.

Plot

A newly appointed district collector of Thrissur takes up the task of cleaning up the city of its shortcomings and rallying people for a noble cause, by bringing back a bike race at the Diwanjimoola race track after three decades. The race serves as a platform to settle old scores and unearth new heroes for the residents of Diwanjimoola.

Cast

Kunchacko Boban as Sajan Joseph IAS
Nyla Usha as Effy Mol
Vinayakan as Vareedh
Siddique as Jithendran
* Shaheen Siddique as Young Jithendran
Nedumudi Venu as Davisettan
Nirmal Palazhi as Sivan
Sijoy Varghese as Christo
Rahul Rajasekharan as Saththan
Ketaki Narayan as Peeli Mol
Rajeev Rajan as Elluminungi
Jithin Paramel as Para
Ravi Menon as Alavi
Rajeev Pillai as Gunman PP Shibu
Assim Jamal as CA Kunjahammad
Midhun Ramesh as Himself
Vijayan Peringodu as Narayanan
Manikandan Pattambi as Anirudhan
Hareesh Kanaran as Ganeshan
Abraham Koshy as Accomplice
Ashokan as Rishi '
Sudheer Karamana as Leaf Vasu '
Tini Tom as Subhran
Umar Payyanur as taxi driver

Production

Menon co-wrote the film with Prashant M. Nair, the former Kozhikode district collector. Principal photography commenced on 12 April 2017 in Thrissur, Kerala. The film was shot in different locations in and around Thrissur town. Some parts were shot in Ernakulam. Many of the actors were selected after an extensive audition. The film marks the debut of many of these actors. A motion poster of the film was released on 18 Oct 2017 Diwali day.
Sudheer Karamana reprises the role of Leaf Vasu from the director's earlier film Sapthamashree Thaskaraha, Ashokan as Rishi of Padmarajan's Thoovanathumbikal, and Tini Tom as Subramanian of Ranjith's Pranchiyettan & the Saint.

Critical reception

Rating the film, Meenakshy Menon of Cinema Express stated, "Diwanjimoola has the right focus, steady flow and when the film ends, it feels complete and fills us with positivity." Sanjith Sasidharan of The Times of India rated the film said that "The film is a lighter and the satire has its heart in right place – discussing issues of false promises by politicians, youth without purpose, neglecting the travails of the voiceless and significance of culture. However, it tries to highlight too much without really thrusting on any. That would have packed some power to the film". Filmibeat rated and stated: "the film is definitely a watchable one for its characters, performances and the light humor which is there in the film in abundance".

Soundtrack

The background score and songs have been composed by Gopi Sunder. The lyrics were written by Harinarayanan.