Aashaan Review: Johnpaul George's film is a heartfelt celebration of both Indrans and cinema

Aashaan Story - Aashaan, who has long dreamed of working in Malayalam cinema, meets Anant, an aspiring director, under unexpected circumstances. As they each aim for their big break, their dreams collide with the realities of this industry posing challenges. Will they be able to leave a mark in the film industry?

Aashaan Review - Johnpaul George is back with another story that evokes profound emotions in the audience which was kind of anticipated following the announcement of this film's release. Expectations were high for Aashaan because his previous films, Guppy and Ambili, established his brilliance in telling an ordinary tale with the magic of emotionally engaging the audience. With his most recent film, the director mostly fulfils these expectations. Meanwhile, the filmmaker's depiction of the harsh reality of the film industry in a humorous and empathetic way through Aashaan also deserves appreciation.

The only way that ambitious director Anand can assist popular hitmaker director KRS is by making arrangements in an apartment with a circular construction. He begs his friend who lives in such a building to assist, but the latter puts him in touch with Aashaan, a well-liked community member and someone who aspires to work in film. The two quickly become friends through their shared love of cinema, but they also encounter some of the challenges in the industry. The main question of the movie is if this will be their only opportunity to establish themselves in the film industry.

In a nutshell, Indrans, who is perfect in his role as a lively old man who would make one tear up a bit, is the reason Aashaan stands tall. It's fun to see how the actor switches from being a shy lone man and an all-in-all at both a movie set and an apartment complex throughout the film. 

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Aashaan's exploration of the realities of the film industry without regard to any particular language is another of its most impressive highlights. It's entertaining how he pokes fun at the ego clash and hypocrisy that frequently effect an artwork's outcome. Aashan certainly reminds one of Udayananu Tharam, which tells the tale of an ambitious director's struggle for achievement. However, the protagonist of this Indrans-starring movie helps a budding filmmaker realise his full potential and value filmmaking just as much as he would any other art form. 

Vimal Jose Thachil's cinematography and John Paul's music provide the ideal tone for the plot to develop, and all the actors heighten its effect. Joemon Jyothir's portrayal of Anand reveals his versatility as a talented performer. The audience is consistently entertained by Bibin Perumbilli as Superstar Karan Chanth, Shobi Thilakan as KRS, and Kanakam as Violet Aunty.

Everything about this feel-good movie, which could easily fit in two hours, is excellent, with the exception of some lag. But given how engaging Aashaan is, this problem would seem to be relatively minor.

Aashaan Verdict - Johnpaul's 'movie in a movie' concept works well mainly due to Indrans' performance as Aashaan, which serves as an anchor for the film's emotional and amusing elements.