Blue Skies, Green Waters, Red Earth

Blue Skies, Green Waters, Red Earth, also known as "Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi" is an Indian Malayalam film released in 2013. The storyline of the movie mainly centers around the themes of friendship, self-discovery, love, and life, all beautifully framed against a larger backdrop of adventure and travel. The venture is directed by Sameer Thahir and features Dulquer Salmaan, Sunny Wayne, and Bala Hijam Ningthoujam in significant roles.

The film starts out in Pamban, Tamil Nadu and follows protagonist Kasi (played by Dulquer Salmaan) and his best friend Suni (Sunny Wayne) as they both set out on a challenging motorcycle journey from Kerala to Nagaland. The film captures the spirit of their adventure wonderfully, with every scene providing a breath of fresh air. It must be mentioned here that one of the highlights of this movie is its exquisite cinematography by Gireesh Gangadharan, whose camera beautifully harnesses the essence of India's rural landscape, capturing everything from Kerala's serene backwaters to the beautiful hills of North East India with utmost sincerity.

Kasi, the leading character, is driven by the search for his lost love, Assi, who is a student activist from Manipur portrayed by Bala Hijam Ningthoujam. Kasi's character is very relatable as a young man who is filled with dreams, yet is unable to shake off the melancholy of his unfulfilled love. Dulquer Salmaan’s earnest portrayal of such a complex character is one of the highlights of the film.

On the other hand, Suni, played by Sunny Wayne, is quick-witted and full of life. His character offers comic relief, lightening up the tension brought on by Kasi's circumstances. His optimistic character always has a way to keep things funny yet intriguing, and Sunny's performance adds life to the character.

The performances by the entire cast are commendable, with particular praise for their ability to perform dialogues in a language that is not their mother tongue. Along with the lead actors, the supporting cast also does a fantastic job.

This movie also illustrates the contrast between rural India and its people, showcasing a wide range of cultures, viewpoints, and perspectives. Moreover, the interplay of different elements in the movie- the blue skies, the green waters, and the red earth, have all been blended into one harmonious narrative that makes this movie a visual extravaganza.

The film's music, scored by Rex Vijayan, enhances the cinematic experience. Each song is placed suitably, complementing the film’s ethos. The soundtracks resonate perfectly well with the theme of the movie, further adding to the grandeur of the entire package.

Upon release, the movie was very well received by audiences and critics alike. Despite being a road movie, where the storyline is expected to be linear, the film has managed to engage the audiences with its twists and turns, keeping them hooked throughout. Every detail of the film has been taken care of - be it the choice of locations, or the selection of clothing for the characters. This shows the level of dedication from the director's end.

Overall, Blue Skies, Green Waters, Red Earth is not just a movie but a mesmerizing travelogue of life. It is an adventure-filled trip that explores deep, universal meanings. The film tells you about the diversity of India, yet at the same time, subtly puts forward that irrespective of the varied nature of the blue skies, green waters, or red earth, the theme of life remains constant – a quest, a longing, an exploration of the unknown, and an unwavering hope to find happiness at the end of it all. It exemplifies the spirit of youth- full of dreams, freedom, and the will to chase one’s happiness.

In a nutshell, this movie is a soul-stirring journey of two adventurous young men on a quest. Whether they find what they are looking for forms the crux of the film. The mesmerizing canvas of the movie, the stunning visuals, the dynamic performances by the leads, and the virtuoso direction make Blue Skies, Green Waters, Red Earth a must-watch movie.