Doubles (2011 film)

Doubles is a 2011 Malayalam-language action comedy drama film directed by debutant Sohan Seenulal and written by the Sachi-Sethu duo. It stars Mammootty, Nadhiya Moidu and Taapsee Pannu, with Saiju Kurup, Anoop Chandran, Bijukuttan, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Anandaraj, Suresh and Avinash in other roles. It also features Roma and Rima Kallingal in cameo roles, and music by James Vasanthan. The film marks the comeback of Nadhiya and the debuts of Taapsee Pannu and Avinash in Malayalam cinema. The film released coinciding with the festival of Vishu on 14 April 2011. Doubles is a story of two siblings who rescue victims of road accidents.

Synopsis
The film tells the story of fraternal twins Giri and Gowri, who lost their parents in an accident early in life. They grew up together in an orphanage, inseparable. When they grew rich, they set up an accident rescue unit in Puducherry in memories of their parents. They have even learned mountaineering to carry out rescue operations. Their team consists of Sameer, Susheelan, Bijukuttan, and a good for nothing ambulance-chasing lawyer named Lawrence. Giri and Gowri are absolutely inseparable, and for the same reason have remained unmarried as well. One day they rescue a girl named Saira Banu from an accident, but then on, with Saira's identity remaining a mystery. Saira remains behind a purdah for a long time, and the antics that the men around her come up with to take a look at her face forms the comedy element of the film. Giri finds that Saira's accident was fabricated by Gowri's fiancé Mishal. Everything around their happy life takes a sudden change from that point.

Cast

 * Mammootty as Giri
 * Tejus Ameer as Young Giri
 * Nadia Moidu as Gowri
 * Raihana Mariyam as Young Gowri
 * Taapsee Pannu as Saira Banu
 * Suresh as Mishal Pierre
 * Saiju Kurup as Sameer
 * Anoop Chandran as Susheelan
 * Bijukuttan as Joji
 * Suraj Venjaramoodu as Adv. Lawrence
 * Salim Kumar as SI P.P Joseph (Mayyazhi)
 * Anandaraj as Patan
 * Avinash as Louie
 * Y. G. Mahendra as Pierre Sayippu
 * Narayanan Kutty as Mukundan
 * Geetha Vijayan as Giri's and Gowri's mother
 * Anita Alex as Gowri's daughter
 * Joju George as a doctor
 * Abu Salim
 * Jaya Menon
 * Kiran Rathod (cameo)
 * Roma (cameo)
 * Rima Kallingal (cameo)
 * Sruthi Ramakrishnan as Dr. Beena (cameo)

Production
Doubles is the directorial debut of Sohan Seenulal. Seenulal had previously worked as an assistant director for many films including three starring Mammootty. It was during the filming of Mayavi (2007) that Seenulal approached Mammootty with the intention of making a film with him in the lead. Nadia Moidu, who was one of the most adored actresses of Malayalam cinema of all time, makes her comeback in Malayalam with this film. Mammootty and Nadia had earlier worked in Shyama (1986) and Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal (1986). Both the actors will be working together again after over two decades. Originally planned to begin on 15 November 2010,

Music
The soundtrack was composed by James Vasanthan.
 * "Aaru Nee Arike" – Hariharan
 * "Kiliyamma Koodu Koottum" – Deepa Miriam, Karthik
 * "Chaattamazhayo" – Sangeetha Sajith
 * "Vedaanthame Doore" – Benny Dayal

Theatrical
The film released coinciding with the festival of Vishu on 14 April 2011.

Critical reception
Paresh C. Pallicha of Rediff.com rated the movie two in a scale of five and stated, "On the whole, Doubles has fallen to the level of a never-ending tacky television serial." Keerthi Ramachandran of Deccan Chronicle stated, "Doubles was more like a plot done in impromptu. With a very thin storyline of two siblings running an accident rescue service in Puducherry after their parents bled to death in a road accident, goes on to have a totally unrelated story behind." She also criticized the technical aspects of the film. Veeyen of Nowrunning.com rated the film 1.5 in a scale of five and said, "Doubles offers a desultory tour through streets that you have been through several times before. It's a dreary drama that has been dipped in the mundane. So, the disappointments are double, the predictability double and the corniness even more than double." The reviewer of Sify.com stated, "This one has been a disappointment, nothing less."

Box office
The film was commercial failure in Kerala box office but its Tamil version Puduvai Managaram was commercial success in Tamil Nadu box office and it ran over 50 days in theatres.