Mammootty has been on an extraordinary run lately, earning widespread acclaim for his choice of roles, outstanding performances and an incredible range. From the haunting Kodumon Potti in Bramayugam to the deeply moving Mathew Devassy in Kaathal: The Core and the grounded realism of Kannur Squad, the Megastar has boasted a range which very few actors of his stature dare to explore. He is joined by Vinayakan, who is riding high after playing the spine-chilling and ruthless Varman in Jailer, taking on the role of the protagonist. Kalamkaval has arrived as yet another anticipated project with its posters and trailer hinting at yet another negative shade character played by Mammootty. Written and directed by Jithin K. Jose, does Kalamkaval continue Megastar Mammootty’s run of reinventing himself?
The story follows SI Jayakrishnan (Vinayakan), a police officer investigating a series of missing women who end up dead, all last seen with an unidentified man. As the case grows complex, Jayakrishnan is joined by Special Branch officer SI Stanley Das (Mammootty). The two officers navigate a maze of clues and their pursuit of the culprit is what forms the crux of this thriller. The first half takes a slow pace, focusing more on building the mood, introducing the characters and showing the course of the investigation which sets a good foundation for what follows. The narrative steadily gains momentum and the first half culminates with a brilliantly executed interval twist. The second half maintains a consistent and engaging pace with an astounding last 45 minutes keeping viewers at the edge of their seats. The film builds that tension and concludes in a way that leaves audiences pondering long after the credits roll.
With each film coming out from Mollywood, the march of new generation of brilliant storytellers continues relentlessly and Jithin K. Jose announces his arrival in emphatic fashion. On debut, Jithin crafts a thriller that offers a different narrative structure. His biggest achievement with Kalamkaval is his portrayal of Mammootty, not as the superstar he is but just another character in a well-written plot. At no point does the film feel star-driven or overpowered by the star’s presence which is down to his brilliant writing.
Mammootty, yet again is phenomenal as Stanley Das. Be it the investigative scenes or in moments that reveal his darker shades, he dominates the screen in every frame giving yet another spine-chilling performance. He shows time and again his unmatched range, versatility, his willingness to take on complex roles and his stardom doesn’t affect his choice of roles. Vinayakan delivers a restrained and natural performance as SI Jayakrishnan, grounding the film with realism and complementing Mammootty perfectly.
The film is strengthened by its technical aspects with cinematographer, Faisal Ali, doing a brilliant job in capturing the duality of Stanley Das, cleverly using contrasting visual tones to reflect his nature. Praveen Prabhakar’s editing does the trick to keep the narrative engaging and crisp. Mujeeb Majeed’s background scores subtly heightens the tension, amplifying the suspense elements and supporting the visual narrative.
Overall, Kalamkaval is winner that strikes the right chords and balances it out well between an investigative thriller and character-driven drama thanks to Jithin K. Jose’s well-written screenplay. With its parallel narrative of crime and investigation, strong writing, assured direction and standout performances from Mammootty and Vinayakan, this films stands out as yet another addition to the rich collection of thrillers from Malayalam cinema.
Rating: 4.5/5