Matinee

Matinee is a 2012 Malayalam-language drama film directed by Aneesh Upasana and starring Maqbool Salmaan and Mythili in the lead roles. The film marks the directorial debut of still photographer Aneesh Upasana while Mammootty's nephew Maqbool Salmaan plays his first lead role. The story is about two person's journey to filmdom and how their life changes on one Friday's matinée show. The film's lead role is played by Maqbool Salmaan who had earlier appeared in a short role in A. K. Saajan's Asuravithu. Maqbool is the nephew of noted actor Mammootty. He is the son of Ibrahimkutty, the younger brother of Mammootty who had been a popular star in the miniscreen. The film is produced by AOPL Entertainment which also launched Mammootty's son Dulquer Salmaan earlier the year through Second Show. Matinee released on 13 December to positive reviews from critics and audiences. The film was appreciated for its realistic approach and the performances by lead actors. Plot The plot of this film revolves around two people who come from different backgrounds but are united by fate. Najeeb is a youngster from an orthodox background who wishes to be a film star while Savithri is a motherless girl from an economically backward family who lands up in the film industry to escape her abusive father. The duo get a chance to be the lead pair in a film that appears to be an ordinary love story but turns out to be an adult film when it releases. The pair, subsequently, is ostracised from society. The duo eventually gets together and moves into the city to find the person responsible for the situation, who but turns out to have been caught in the blind by the actions of the director and producers of the film himself. Repenting and regretful of his hand in causing their predicament, he helps them find an apartment as well as finding them roles in the film industry, which mainly comes in the shape of some item song slots which Savithri fills, out of desperation as they need a certain income to maintain themselves in the city. These songs, and herself as a result become successful, turning her into a much sought after X rated movie phenom, which also comes with its share of controversy from moral pundits, while pushing her into her spiral of depression, which is in direct contrast to Najeeb who meanwhile have become unable to land a movie role, much less a lead, the first step toward his aspiration as a megastar.