‘Mukundan Unni Associates’ movie review: A darkly funny take on a man obsessed with material success

When Mukundan Unni purchases a automotive with an air-bag just for the driving force, one would assume that he’s considering simply in regards to the lesser price. However, solely a lot later would one realise that his crooked thoughts might need been plotting one more devious plan, when he made that call. The person is so ruthless and devoid of empathy, that he’s able to pushing even these closest to him by the wayside or harming them.

There’s fairly some irony in casting on this function somebody like Vineeth Sreenivasan, who is thought for his heat, feel-good model of films, the place even the villains at instances show a virtuous coronary heart. Quite the opposite, Unni, an advocate who specialises in pretend accident claims, has drained out his final little bit of kindness. His relentless inside voice, which retains showing all through the film, tells us that he has adopted the maxims of exhausting work and perseverance in an effort to achieve success, however success has eluded him even in his mid-30s.

He’s so obsessive about this particular thought of success that no motion is past him. The best way the script units up the evolution of this character, from smaller fraudulent acts to one thing which most individuals wouldn’t even dare consider, makes us consider that he’s able to something, even making us worry for the lives of these round him. However the ones round him are not any saints both; not even Meenakshi (Arsha Baiju), the hospital receptionist he falls in love with (as a part of one other chilly, calculated transfer to help his enterprise).

He’s quite becoming himself right into a corrupt ecosystem, consisting of pliant medical doctors, policemen, ambulance drivers and safety males, and turning it additional evil, out of his personal picture. The character, in his unapologetic ruthlessness to climb up the ladder, is so paying homage to Jake Gyllenhaal’s character in Nightcrawler, who provides video footage of violent occasions to native information stations.

But, all of those acts — which in one other film might need been handled in a darkish, sombre temper — will get an uproariously humorous therapy by movie editor-turned-director Abhinav Sunder Nayak and co-writer Vimal Gopalakrishnan. It’s a selection that conveys the theme extra successfully. Even amid all of the revulsion that a few of his actions evoke in us, we chuckle at his tips, typically on the expense of an unsuspecting individual. The one draw back is that in concentrating on this one side of his character, we’re at instances served with scenes which may appear repetitive.

The one ones within the movie with their ethical compass intact are his good friend, his former girlfriend and a choose, and none of them obtain “success”, as outlined by the likes of Mukundan Unni. The script doesn’t make any ethical judgments, nor does it drive match a “optimistic” climax to ship a message.

However, ultimately, Mukundan Unni Associates does develop into a biting commentary on the various who’ve made it large by means of nefarious methods, though it doesn’t say this in so many phrases.

Mukundan Unni Associates is at present working in theatres