Doubles (2011 film)
Encyclopedia
Doubles is a 2011 Malayalam comedy-action drama film
directed by debutant Sohan Seenulal and written by the Sachi-Sethu duo. It stars Mammootty
, Nadia Moidu and Taapsee Pannu
in the lead roles, and features an extensive cast of supporting actors with Saiju Kurup
, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Salim Kumar, Anoop Chandran, Bijukkuttan, Y. G. Mahendra and Avinash amongst others. It also features Roma
and Rima Kallingal
in cameo roles. The film is an emotional drama that also combines comedy and action contents. It is produced by K. K. Narayanadas under the banner of Reels on Wheels Entertainment. The film released coinciding with the festival of Vishu
on 14 April 2011.
The film features music by James Vasanthan
, cinematography by P. Sukumar, and editing by V. Sajan. Doubles, which is a story of two siblings who rescue victims of road accidents, is a subtle portrayal of the general mindset of the people to run away from trouble without trying to help an injured victim of an accident. Mammootty plays the role of Giri and Nadia his twin sister Gowri. Mumbai
based model Taapsee Pannu acts Mammootty's heroine role. The shooting of the film held at Goa
and Pondicherry.
) and Gowri (Nadia Moidu), who lost their parents in an accident early in life. They grew up together in an orphanage, inseparable. And when they grew rich, they set up an accident rescue unit in Pondicherry in memories of their parents. They have even learnt mountaineering to carry out rescue operations. Their team consists of characters played by Saiju Kurup
, Anoop Chandran and Bijukkuttan, and good for nothing ambulance-chasing lawyer named Lawrence (Suraj Venjaramoodu).
Giri and Gowri are absolutely inseparable, and for the same reason have remained unmarried as well. One day they rescues a girl named Saira Banu (Taapsee Pannu
) from an accident, but then on, with Saira's identity remaining a mystery. Saira remains behind a purdah for a long time, and the antics that the men around her come up with to take a look at her face forms the comedy element of the film. Giri finds that Saira's accident was fabricated by Gowri's fiance Mishal. Everything around their happy life takes a sudden change from that point.
(2007) that Seenulal approached Mammootty with the intention of making a film with him in the lead. Nadia Moidu, who was one of the most adored actresses of Malayalam cinema of all time, makes her comeback in Malayalam with this film. Mammootty and Nadia had earlier worked in Shyama
(1986) and Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal
(1986). Both the actors will be working together again after over two decades. Originally planned to begin on 15 November 2010, the film started principal production only by January. Filming took place from January 2011 through March 2011 in Pondicherry and Goa
.
An item song, featuring Sonia Agarwal
, Roma
and Rima Kallingal
was reportedly included in the film. However, Sonia has officially confirmed that she will not be doing any cameo in the film. She said, "I was approached by the director Sohan of Mammootty's Doubles to do a song but due to personal reasons I politely refused. Now I see that in media and internet sites, the news about me in the film. It is baseless".
on 14 April 2011 in 80 cinemas. It released in 65 centres across Kerala, and around 15 cinemas in rest of the country.
rated the movie two in a scale of five and stated, "On the whole, Doubles has fallen to the level of a never-ending tacky television serial." Keerthi Ramachandran of Deccan Chronicle stated, "Doubles was more like a plot done in impromptu. With a very thin storyline of two siblings running an accident rescue service at Pondicherry after their parents bled to death in a road accident, goes on to have a totally unrelated story behind." She also criticized the technical aspects of the film. Veeyen of Nowrunning.com rated the film 1.5 in a scale of five and said, "Doubles offers a desultory tour through streets that you have been through several times before. It's a dreary drama that has been dipped in the mundane. So, the disappointments are double, the predictability double and the corniness even more than double." The reviewer of Sify.com
stated, "This one has been a disappointment, nothing less."
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by debutant Sohan Seenulal and written by the Sachi-Sethu duo. It stars Mammootty
Mammootty
Mammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
, Nadia Moidu and Taapsee Pannu
Taapsee Pannu
Taapsee Pannu better known mononymously as Taapsee, is an Indian model-turned-film actress who works mainly in the Telugu and Tamil film industries. Born to a Punjabi family, Taapsee worked as a software professional and also pursued a career in modelling before becoming an actress...
in the lead roles, and features an extensive cast of supporting actors with Saiju Kurup
Saiju Kurup
Anirudh Saiju Kurup is an Indian actor in Malayalam cinema. His debut movie was the critically acclaimed movie Mayookham by Hariharan. He has starred in several movies as the main lead, villain, supporting artiste and done guest appearances in several more.- Filmography :- Upcoming movies...
, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Salim Kumar, Anoop Chandran, Bijukkuttan, Y. G. Mahendra and Avinash amongst others. It also features Roma
Roma (actress)
Roma Asrani is an Indian model-turned-actress who works mainly in Malayalam-language films. She made her début in the Telugu film Mr. Errababu in 2005. She has acted in Tamil and Kannada films too.- Family :...
and Rima Kallingal
Rima Kallingal
Rima Kallingal is an Indian model and film actress, predominantly appearing Malayalam films. After being named First Runner Up in the Miss Kerala 2008 contest, she went to pursue a career in acting...
in cameo roles. The film is an emotional drama that also combines comedy and action contents. It is produced by K. K. Narayanadas under the banner of Reels on Wheels Entertainment. The film released coinciding with the festival of Vishu
Vishu
Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, usually on April 14 of the Gregorian calendar. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit into the Mesha Raasi , according to Indian astrological calculations, and represents the vernal equinox...
on 14 April 2011.
The film features music by James Vasanthan
James Vasanthan
James Vasanthan is a popular Indian television anchor and a film music composer. For more than a decade, he worked as an anchor in popular Tamil satellite television channels like Sun TV, Vijay TV and Makkal TV before turning into a film music composer in the Tamil Film Industry.-Biography:James...
, cinematography by P. Sukumar, and editing by V. Sajan. Doubles, which is a story of two siblings who rescue victims of road accidents, is a subtle portrayal of the general mindset of the people to run away from trouble without trying to help an injured victim of an accident. Mammootty plays the role of Giri and Nadia his twin sister Gowri. Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
based model Taapsee Pannu acts Mammootty's heroine role. The shooting of the film held at Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
and Pondicherry.
Plot
The film tells the story of fraternal twins Giri (MammoottyMammootty
Mammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
) and Gowri (Nadia Moidu), who lost their parents in an accident early in life. They grew up together in an orphanage, inseparable. And when they grew rich, they set up an accident rescue unit in Pondicherry in memories of their parents. They have even learnt mountaineering to carry out rescue operations. Their team consists of characters played by Saiju Kurup
Saiju Kurup
Anirudh Saiju Kurup is an Indian actor in Malayalam cinema. His debut movie was the critically acclaimed movie Mayookham by Hariharan. He has starred in several movies as the main lead, villain, supporting artiste and done guest appearances in several more.- Filmography :- Upcoming movies...
, Anoop Chandran and Bijukkuttan, and good for nothing ambulance-chasing lawyer named Lawrence (Suraj Venjaramoodu).
Giri and Gowri are absolutely inseparable, and for the same reason have remained unmarried as well. One day they rescues a girl named Saira Banu (Taapsee Pannu
Taapsee Pannu
Taapsee Pannu better known mononymously as Taapsee, is an Indian model-turned-film actress who works mainly in the Telugu and Tamil film industries. Born to a Punjabi family, Taapsee worked as a software professional and also pursued a career in modelling before becoming an actress...
) from an accident, but then on, with Saira's identity remaining a mystery. Saira remains behind a purdah for a long time, and the antics that the men around her come up with to take a look at her face forms the comedy element of the film. Giri finds that Saira's accident was fabricated by Gowri's fiance Mishal. Everything around their happy life takes a sudden change from that point.
Cast
- MammoottyMammoottyMammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
as Giri - Nadia Moidu as Gowri
- Taapsee PannuTaapsee PannuTaapsee Pannu better known mononymously as Taapsee, is an Indian model-turned-film actress who works mainly in the Telugu and Tamil film industries. Born to a Punjabi family, Taapsee worked as a software professional and also pursued a career in modelling before becoming an actress...
as Saira Banu - SureshSuresh (actor)Suresh is an Indian film actor, primarily works in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Suresh is more popular as the Romantic hero of South India in 1980's. He is known for his outstanding performances in films like Panneer Pushpangal and Kozhi Koovuthu. He was the popular pair of actress Nadia Moidu...
as Mishal - Saiju KurupSaiju KurupAnirudh Saiju Kurup is an Indian actor in Malayalam cinema. His debut movie was the critically acclaimed movie Mayookham by Hariharan. He has starred in several movies as the main lead, villain, supporting artiste and done guest appearances in several more.- Filmography :- Upcoming movies...
as Sameer - Anoop Chandran as Susheelan
- Bijukkuttan
- Suraj Venjaramoodu as Adv. Lawrence
- Salim Kumar as Mayyazhi
- Avinash
- Y. G. Mahendra as Piyari Sayipp
- Francis
- Abu Saleem
- Narayanankutty
- Anand Raj as Pathan
- Jaya Menon
- Geetha Vijayan as Giri and Gowri's mother
- RomaRoma (actress)Roma Asrani is an Indian model-turned-actress who works mainly in Malayalam-language films. She made her début in the Telugu film Mr. Errababu in 2005. She has acted in Tamil and Kannada films too.- Family :...
(cameo) - Rima KallingalRima KallingalRima Kallingal is an Indian model and film actress, predominantly appearing Malayalam films. After being named First Runner Up in the Miss Kerala 2008 contest, she went to pursue a career in acting...
(cameo) - Sruthi RamakrishnanSonu (actress)Sonu or Sruthi Ramakrishnan is a Kannada film actress. She recently appeared in the film Gulama.-Filmography:*Inthi Ninna Preethiya *Paramesha Panwala *Gulama *Police Quarters *Sivappu Mazhai...
as Dr.Beena (cameo)
Production
Doubles is the directorial debut of Sohan Seenulal. He is the fiftieth director to collaborate with Mammootty for the debut film. Seenulal had previously worked as an assistant director for many films including three starring Mammootty. It was during the filming of MayaviMayavi (film)
Mayavi is a 2007 Malayalam masala film directed by Shafi and written by the Rafi Mecartin duo, starring Mammootty in the title role with Salim Kumar, Manoj K Jayan, Gopika, Vijayaraghavan, and Saikumar...
(2007) that Seenulal approached Mammootty with the intention of making a film with him in the lead. Nadia Moidu, who was one of the most adored actresses of Malayalam cinema of all time, makes her comeback in Malayalam with this film. Mammootty and Nadia had earlier worked in Shyama
Shyama (film)
Shyama is a 1986 Malayalam–language romantic drama film directed by Joshiy and starring Mammootty and Nadia Moidu in the lead roles. The film was critically well received and was a box office hit.-Plot:...
(1986) and Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal
Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal
Poovinnu Puthiya Poonthennal is a 1986 Malayalam film by Fazil starring Mammootty, Nadiya Moidu and Baby Sujitha. It was later remade in three languages . The three remakes had three different endings for the movie...
(1986). Both the actors will be working together again after over two decades. Originally planned to begin on 15 November 2010, the film started principal production only by January. Filming took place from January 2011 through March 2011 in Pondicherry and Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
.
An item song, featuring Sonia Agarwal
Sonia Agarwal
Sonia Agarwal is an Indian film actress and model. Having predominantly acted in Tamil films, she is probably best known for her performances as Divya...
, Roma
Roma (actress)
Roma Asrani is an Indian model-turned-actress who works mainly in Malayalam-language films. She made her début in the Telugu film Mr. Errababu in 2005. She has acted in Tamil and Kannada films too.- Family :...
and Rima Kallingal
Rima Kallingal
Rima Kallingal is an Indian model and film actress, predominantly appearing Malayalam films. After being named First Runner Up in the Miss Kerala 2008 contest, she went to pursue a career in acting...
was reportedly included in the film. However, Sonia has officially confirmed that she will not be doing any cameo in the film. She said, "I was approached by the director Sohan of Mammootty's Doubles to do a song but due to personal reasons I politely refused. Now I see that in media and internet sites, the news about me in the film. It is baseless".
Release
The film released coinciding with the festival of VishuVishu
Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, usually on April 14 of the Gregorian calendar. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit into the Mesha Raasi , according to Indian astrological calculations, and represents the vernal equinox...
on 14 April 2011 in 80 cinemas. It released in 65 centres across Kerala, and around 15 cinemas in rest of the country.
Reviews
The film received mostly mixed to negative reviews upon release. Paresh C. Pallicha of Rediff.comRediff.com
Rediff.com India is a news, information, entertainment, and shopping portal. It was founded in 1996 as "Rediff On The NeT" and is headquartered in Mumbai, India with offices in New Delhi and New York City, USA....
rated the movie two in a scale of five and stated, "On the whole, Doubles has fallen to the level of a never-ending tacky television serial." Keerthi Ramachandran of Deccan Chronicle stated, "Doubles was more like a plot done in impromptu. With a very thin storyline of two siblings running an accident rescue service at Pondicherry after their parents bled to death in a road accident, goes on to have a totally unrelated story behind." She also criticized the technical aspects of the film. Veeyen of Nowrunning.com rated the film 1.5 in a scale of five and said, "Doubles offers a desultory tour through streets that you have been through several times before. It's a dreary drama that has been dipped in the mundane. So, the disappointments are double, the predictability double and the corniness even more than double." The reviewer of Sify.com
Sify
Sify Technologies Limited is an Internet service provider established in 1998, based in Chennai, India.-Company profile:...
stated, "This one has been a disappointment, nothing less."