Mohanlal Effeminate Act for Jwellery Ad rocks / Kalyani Priyadarshan Onam Bonanza

Mohanlal appearing in an advt for VINSMERA Jewels is talk of the town and add to it that the ad Director is Prakash the baddie of Thodarum. After seeing the advt, I searched for reactions on the net and I copy paste a post by Karthik on X. I found this concise. Personally I had to revisit the advt to see the name of the client that has footed the bill.

A man yearning for his feminine side in a jewellery advertisement? That's precisely what Mohanlal pulls off with ease here! Directed by Prakash Varma (veteran ad film director and the one who recently debuted as an actor/villain the recent Mohanlal starrer Thudarum), the ad's narrative starts with a routine idea - big star is going to act in an ad and walks into the set. When the jewellery goes missing, there are enough signs for you to see what's going on. But not the why. As in, why would a superstar "steal" that? The 'why' is the ad's highlight. This side of Mohanlal is familiar to his fans, from films like Kamaladalam and Vaanaprastham. While we do have men's jewellery (the Men of Platinum campaigns have been showcasing sports stars like MS Dhoni, Suryakumar Yadav, among others) being endorsed by famous men, they don't go into getting those men to demonstrate or showcase their feminine side. They simply use the jewellery within the confines of 'manliness'. And many jewellery brands use male brand ambassadors already - Malabar Gold (including Mohanlal as a brand ambassador!), Jos Alukkas, etc. have used literally the who's who of Indian male film stars already. In this ad though, Mohanlal seems to be transfixed with the jewellery, removed from a female model's neck moments ago, in a way that he not only remembers his feminine side but also embraces it momentarily... till he is interrupted by Prakash Varma. The idea is particularly admirable in these days of the 'Animal' and Manosphere where men seem to forget XY and imagining that they are the non-existent YY. The only other actor who can pull such a thing effortlessly in India is Kamal Haasan. But Mohanlal is adequately versatile enough too, for this idea. While I admire the gender fluidity showcased in the ad, the larger question is this, though: Would women prefer/crave for jewellery if it is shown as being craved by a man (who happens to be Mohanlal, no less)? Or, would they prefer it if they see how it sits on another woman, Source; Karthik on X

Kalyani Priyadarshan has two Malayalam films slated for release during the Onam festival in 2025: "Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira" and "Lokah Chapter One: Chandra". "Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira", a romantic comedy co-starring Fahadh Faasil, is scheduled for release on August 29th, while "Lokah Chapter One: Chandra", a superhero film with Kalyani as the lead, is expected to be released during the Onam season, but the exact date is not specified. 

Here's a breakdown:

• "Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira":

This film, directed by Althaf Salim, features Kalyani Priyadarshan and Fahadh Faasil in the lead roles. The movie is set to be a romantic comedy with a blend of humor and heartfelt moments. It is scheduled to clash with another film, "Maine Pyar Kiya", on August 29th. 

• "Lokah Chapter One: Chandra":

This film marks Kalyani Priyadarshan's foray into the superhero genre and is the first Malayalam film to feature a female superhero. The movie is produced by Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films and directed by Arun Gopy. It's described as a visually rich and action-driven story with a contemporary setting. The film also stars Naslen, Chandu Salim Kumar, and Arun Kurian, with Dulquer Salmaan rumored to make a cameo appearance.