Vinayan's latest film Black Cat starts with Suresh Gopi enjoying Rajnikanth's Basha on TV with a bunch of kids. The location is a fishing community. But the way Suresh Gopi behaves raises doubts that the director has tried to rework his own Karimadikuttan starring Kalabhavan Mani.
Talking of Suresh Gopi, we see shoulder length mane and dark make up and childish dialogue delivery. He is a glutton and hitman of the local rich boss played by Rajan P Dev. Black Cat as our man is known dotes on his boss' daughter Blessy (Suja Karthika). So, we sit easy knowing full well that this is typical Vinayan's film. But we forget that this is also a Suresh Gopi film.
And, can we imagine a Suresh Gopi film without him being an honest cop? No. So, Vinayan makes a story that will leave you numb by the end if not anything else.
Black Cat called as Black by his people is given a flash back story where he is the Commissioner of Police in Mumbai who got evidence of people behind bomb blasts in the city incriminating some high and mighty people governing the city. Let us leave the story there because the tale of Black Cat cannot be described without disclosing it in full. So, if disclosed, it would be as good as watching the film.
There is also unintended advertisement for Ayurveda proving that it can treat amnesia and that it is the foundation of modern medical science. All that is good if it keeps us engaged. But, when it hampers the pace of the film, it is plain boring even if thespian Thilakan is in the scene.
The performance of the two leading ladies -- Meena and Suja Karthika is nothing special. Veterans like Thilakan, Rajan P Dev and Nedumudi Venu have their moments. Harisree Asokan and Indrans hold the comic plank without much fuss.
In the final analysis, Vinayan's efforts do not rise above the tacky formulaic standards and expecting any more than that would be asking for too much.
Rediff Rating: 
