Some movies are like that. They never entice all moviegoers. Bu they have that flair of frankness, that earnest sense of story telling that gives it some charisma make it a worthy watch. Trivandrum lodge is one such movie. It is a frank retelling of people's cravings and desires and if not entirely successful, it does have something going for it.

Directed by V K Prakash and scripted by Anoop Menon (The same duo who came with the superhit film Beautiful) is one more Malayalam film on the path of experimental cinema in Malayalam films.
While one cannot deny the honesty and conviction on the part of the director, scriptwriter and the actors, we cannot help but say that Trivandrum Lodge completely lacks a strong scriptline to carry it forward. While bold scripts are encouraged by the modern Malayali audience, it's visually frustrating to see the characters breathe, talk and think of nothing but sex!

Cinematography by Pradeep Nair and music by M. Jayachandran are commendable. Human emotions is touched upon with great sincerity and certain scenes are truly artistic and beautiful. The plot seems to roam around aimlessly, but nevertheless the film engages and interests you for sure.

Dhawni (Dhawni formerly known as Honey Rose), who is recently divorced, wants to write a novel about Kochi. It's not the usual stuff about the Portuguese or Dutch invasion, but about the contemporary city and its underbelly.

Being a modern and fearless woman, she wants to experience the smells and sounds of such a place on her own.She thus gets accommodation in a rather dilapidated looking place called Trivandrum Lodge, whose other occupants are mostly on the verge of destitution. There is a retarded looking young man Abdu (Jayasurya), the sub-editor of a sleazy film magazine (Saiju Kurup), and a retired government servant Kora (P Balachandran) who claims to have in-depth knowledge of the female form. The attempt is to depict a wide spectrum of people from Abdu, who considers his celibacy a curse, to Ravi Shankar (Anoop himself), the owner of Trivandrum Lodge, a widower, who feels that his celibacy after his wife's death is bliss, he being a 'one-woman man' who had given his body and heart to only one woman.

The crisis that presents itself when authorities threaten to take the Lodge away from Ravishankar and his lodge mates dissipates on its own, without the main characters having to do any great battle.
Is the writer offering a glimpse to a new morality that is taking shape in the society? Or is he trying to contrast Dhwani's search for sexual liberation with Ravishankar's faith in everlasting love? If there is a message for the audience that is not made abundantly clear.

Trivandrum lodge has its on qualities and though relative to audience, the taste transforms from bitter to sweet.