:: IFFK 2008 ::

The film Castles in the Air (Akashagopuram) is about a man who looks at the ends and not at the means. Samson Albert (Mohanlal) has spent his life in building up his career as an architect. His sole aim is to remain the master builder forever, and for that, he is ready to put his personal life at risk. His fear that the next generation would conquer his empire is driving him mad. But then an ebullient charming girl from "the next generation," Hyda (Nithya), who admires him since her childhood, comes into his life. Inspired by Hyda, his life takes a new turn..

According to the director K.P. Kumaran, Castles in the Air is supposed to be a faithful adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s play The Master Builder. However, from the beginning to the end, the film suffers from a tinge of artificiality, especially in the dialogues, the performance of the actors and the décor. Even Mohanlal, usually a fine actor, is not convincing at all in his role as the master builder.

The adaptation to the screen of a popular and critically acclaimed drama induces high hopes in the audience, and it is unfortunate to say that the film does not come to the expectations. K.P. Kumaran’s deliberate effort to avoid a naturalistic approach and to adopt instead a theatrical format, fails to convince the audience. The set design, especially the famous tower — the achievement of the master-builders career — looks too cheap to be up to the intentions.