‘Malayankunju’ movie review: A superb Fahadh Faasil stars in layered narrative about what it takes to survive

What to anticipate in  Malayankunju was already revealed earlier than its launch — that it’s the story a couple of man’s survival instincts when a landslip buries him a number of toes underneath the bottom. The upcoming tragedy lurks in the back of the viewers’ minds as they watch the movie. However there may be extra to this Fahadh Faasil-starrer than simply being a survival drama, a uncommon style in Malayalam cinema.

Written by Mahesh Narayanan and directed by debutant Sajimon, the movie is ready in a hilly terrain throughout a monsoon.

The protagonist, Anikuttan/Anilkumar (Fahadh Faasil), lives along with his mom and makes a dwelling by repairing digital items. He’s a recluse, maybe due to his bitter previous. The ill-tempered Anikuttan works and sleeps at odd hours. Even worse, he’s a casteist who appears to be like down upon individuals from different castes. He can’t even stand the cry of a new-born, Ponni, within the neighbourhood, as she belongs to a unique group. And that’s when his world turns the other way up, actually. However as he scrambles to make his solution to the floor, it’s the identical little one’s cry that guides him.

Fahadh Faasil in Malayankunju
| Picture Credit score: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The well-paced first half successfully captures the life of individuals, who’re used to the devastating results of Nature’s fury. The timing of the landslip takes viewers abruptly and earlier than they comprehend it, they’re with Anikuttan, trapped within the particles.

The behind-the-scenes video has already revealed that the whole sequence has been shot in a set inbuilt a studio in Kochi. Watching the scenes on the big-screen is an amazing expertise, because of some astonishing artwork work by the manufacturing design crew led by Jothish Shankar and digicam work by Mahesh, his first as a cinematographer. The lighting — quite the shortage of it — and the encircling voices and noises improve the cinematic really feel. These are the moments whenever you realise the great thing about a theatrical expertise, when in comparison with watching a movie on an OTT platform.

The film is being promoted as an A R Rahman musical, because the maestro is again in Malayalam cinema after three many years. His stamp is certainly there, be it within the opening credit or the soothing melodies. Nevertheless, within the scenes the place Anikuttan struggles to make his manner up, one wonders if the background rating overpowers the sequence. Isn’t silence the perfect sound in sure parts?

In his first Malayalam theatrical launch after two years, Fahadh is stable as at all times and brilliantly emotes the ache, anguish and redemption of Anikuttan as he goes by means of a life-changing expertise. Though it’s a Fahadh-show all the best way, characters performed by Jaffer Idukki, Indrans, Rajisha Vijayan and debutant Jaya Kurup (as Anikuttan’s mom) are additionally integral to the narrative.

Fahadh Faasil and Indrans in a nonetheless from Malayankunju
| Picture Credit score: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A narrative about rebirth and redemption, the movie additionally provides us sure delicate insights which can be well-incorporated into the tight script and storytelling.; be it Mom Nature dropping the forest cowl or the necessity to condemn casteism. Malayankunju is a lesson on what it takes to outlive in a mishap, depicted with out melodrama.

Malayankunjuis at present enjoying in theatres