Second Show

Second Show
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Srinath Rajendran
Produced by	AOPL Entertainment Private Limited
Written by	Vini Vishwa Lal
Starring	Dulquer Salmaan Gauthami Nair Baburaj Sunny Wayne Sudesh Berry Rohini
Music by	Nikhil Rajan Avial
Cinematography	Pappu
Editing by	Praveen K. L. N. B. Srikanth
Studio	AOPL Entertainment Private Limited
Distributed by	AOPL Entertainment Private Limited (Kerala) Fox Star Studios (rest of India and abroad)^[1]
Release date(s)	February 3, 2012 (2012-02-03) ^[2]
Running time	126 minutes
Country	India
Language	Malayalam
Budget	1.3 crore (US$220,000)^[3]
Box office	10.56 crore (US$1.8 million)^[4]

Second Show (Malayalam: സെക്കന്റ് ഷോ) is a 2012 Malayalam action crime film directed by Srinath Rajendran and written by Vini Vishwa Lal. The film, set in the backdrop of criminal gangs of varied varieties in Kerala, tells the story of young Hari who rises from an illicit sand miner to a smuggling baron in a short time. It stars Dulquer Salmaan, Gauthami Nair, Sunny Wayne, Baburaj, and Sudesh Berry. Upon release the movie received positive reviews from viewers as well as critics. The film ran successfully for 100 days in Kerala. The cast and crew celebrated this at Hotel Renai in Ernakulam [1] on 17 June 2012.

Plot

The film proceeds as the flashback of an ex-convict Hari (Dulquer Salmaan) narrated to a man he meets at a bus stop on a rainy night. It is revealed that Hari (whose nickname is Lalu) is a poor young man who works for the local sand mafia as a driver. He is friends with Kurudi (Sunny Wayne) whose real name is Nelson Mandela PP. One day while at work, Kurudi draws Lalu to a fight leaving the sand smugglers without a driver that causes them to get caught by the police. Now jobless, Lalu and Kurudi join the group of Chaver Vavachan (Baburaj), who is a financier, and take up the job of retrieving vehicles for non-repayment of loans.

Chaver Vavachan is the younger brother of a notorious former goon 'Chaver Antony' who dies due to a cracker burst by a young lad. Vavachan swears revenge and, after a long wait, finds the lad (who is now a man) at a hospital and bursts crackers on him. The injured however happens to be one of the henchmen of an influential smuggler, Vishnubuddhan(Sudesh Berry) who, enraged, kills Vavachan. Impressed by his courage, Vishnubuddhan takes Lalu into his gang. During one of Vishnubuddhan's deals, Lalu is betrayed by one of his friends and Vishnubuddhan mistakes Lalu for making away with the goods. Vishnubuddhan's henchmen severely thrash Lalu, forcing him to flee. He however returns as a smuggler in his own right and starts overshadowing Vishnubuddhan. Angered by this, Vishnubuddhan kills Kurudi and Lalu avenges his friend's death by killing Vishnubuddhan and taking over his business. However, Lalu is eventually caught by the police and sent to prison.

Back in the present, as Lalu finishes his narration, he sees Vishnubuddhan's son sitting in a car parked nearby. Realising it to be a trap, Lalu becomes alert but the man to whom Lalu has just narrated his story shoots him. Before leaving the man reveals that he was actually sent by Vishnubuddhan's son to kill Lalu. The final scene shows Lalu lying badly wounded but his hand moves slightly, revealing that his chapter is not yet over.

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Cast

Dulquer Salmaan as Hari Lal (Lalu)
Gauthami Nair as Geethu (Geethanjali)
Sunny Wayne as Kurudi (Nelson Mandela P. P.)
Baburaj as Chaver Anthony/Chaver Vavachan
Rohini as Lalu's Mother (Devaki)
Sudesh Berry as Vishnu Budhan
Kunjan as Janardanan (Lalu's uncle)
Mithun Nair as Sidharth Budhan
Bibin Perumbillikunnel as Abu
Anil Anto as Neerali
Murali Krishna as Sethu
Ratheesh as Ummar
Aneesh Gopal as Vikadan
Baiju Varghese as Babu
Sam as Sunil
Vijay Kumar as Sachi
Noora Michael as Surabhi
Sundar as Abhi
Joby as Kochu
Sreekumar Kozhikode as S.I. George
Jayaraj Kozhikode as Ramettan
Kottayam Bose as Moopan
Dominin as Interview
Bibin as Sajan George
Sidhu R. Pillai as Shyam

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Production

Noted Indian actor Mammootty's son Dulquer Salman made his debut in films through Second Show. Salman starred alongside debutante Gauthami Nair in debutant director Sreenath Rajendran's film. Both director and screenplay writer are friends of Salman. Director Sreenath Rajendran was the assistant of Jayaraj for the film Loud Speaker. Debutant Vini Vishwalal has penned the screenplay and dialogue. Salman plays the role of an underworld Don. Pappu, assistant cinematographer of Rajeev Ravi, will crank the camera. AOPL International Pvt Ltd is producing the film Second Show. Baburaj is also appearing in supporting roles. Kaithapram has handled the music. Avial band is also contributing with a musical number. Bollywood TV and cinema actor Sudesh Berry makes his Malayalam debut with this film. The Project Designed by Shaz Shabeer Strikers & Crew. The film was shot without having anyone except the film team known that it was shot. Many of the scenes were shot without notice of the citizens of the local area, in which most of them thought they actors were just youngsters running around doing the depicted work in the film.

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Reception

Critical response

Second show received favourable reviews from critics.

Malayalamnet.in rated the film 3.25 out of 5 and said that its a pure class movie that comes rarely in Malayalam.^[5]
Nowrunning.com rated the movie 2.5 out of 5 and said "Srinath Rajendran's film does have a head-spinning quality to it that leaves you dazed at times, but remains entertaining and witty to the hilt".^[6]
IndiaGlitz.com rated the movie 6.5 out of 10 by saying "Overall, 'Second show ' though with its share of little negatives, is an honest effort that deserves to be encouraged".^[7]
Rediff.com gave the movie 2 out of 5 stars and said the movie was disappointing.^[8]
Mathrubhumi Movies gave the movie a favorable review by saying "Sparks of promise dampened by a cliched theme".^[9]
Sify.com in its review said that "Ultimately, it's an above average film, at best time-pass viewing. Watch it with no expectations and if you’re ready to think unconventional, this film could be a nice option." ^[10]
Theater Balcony gave a 2.5 out of five and said that "An attempt to make this film a good one is there from its crew. After all Malayalam film have got some more new blood. Go and give some cheers for this young talents." ^[11]

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Online Marketing

The film made its presence felt in the Internet with an active Facebook Page, a Twitter page, Flickr photostream, and a YouTube Channel. All its Social Media Marketing was handled by IZE Creative and its Online Media Publicity by Prime Glitz. On 28 November 2011, the SMM Team started an Online Contest - Second Show FIRST TICKET, to give their Top 5 fans a chance to attend the Premier Show [2] of the movie, along with the actors. The Premier Show [3] was held at Oberon Mall on 2 February 2012. As part of its Social Media publicity, on its Facebook Page was held the first Celebrity Facebook Wall Chat in Kerala [4] with Gauthami Nair on 28 January 2012. The second such Celebrity Facebook Wall Chat was held on 30 January 2012 with Sunny Wayne [5].