A director coming off a huge hit like 2018, collaborating with 2 newcomers as the main leads, with one being Vismaya Mohanlal and the other being Aashish Joe Antony, came with more hype than expected simply because of the sheer quality backing them. Music by the versatile Jakes Bejoy, cinematography in the hands of Jomon T. John, Akhil George and Sudeep Elamon and editing by Chaman Chakko, with this capable unit being backed by the biggest production house in Mollywood, Aashirvad Cinemas, with Mohanlal and Antony Perumbavoor giving their children a good platform to launch their acting careers. A cameo appearance featuring Mollywood’s biggest superstar would be enough to get audiences to flock to the theatres to see the great man on the big screen. How does Jude carry on after 2018 and is he able to deliver a film which acts as a launchpad for Vismaya and Aashish?
The story follows Meenu (Vismaya Mohanlal), who lives in a remote village in Idukki district in Kerala with her father (Sai Kumar), who goes missing returning from Ernakulam after giving her bank exam. What transpires that day, and her father’s plight, form the crux of this film.
Jude Anthany Joseph, riding high after 2018, continues in the same form with another winner. His ability to tell a very simple story emphatically is what makes him stand out in a pool of amazing talent in Malayalam cinema. Along with his co-writers, Akhil Krishna and Linish Nellikkal, he crafts the perfect screenplay for this kind of story, avoiding complications and overexaggeration—a racy screenplay throughout, balancing family emotions, thrill, suspense and action.
Vismaya Mohanlal and Aashish Joe Antony put up top showings as the main leads on debut. Vismaya, as Meenu, portrays every shade with sheer class. Be it the vulnerable shades, moments of gravitas, family emotions and even in the action sequences, she excels, displaying immense screen presence. Aashish, as the main antagonist, portrays it in absolute menacing fashion despite having minimal dialogue. Manoj K. Jayan and Sai Kumar do justice to their roles, lending their experience to this film. A delightful cameo from Mohanlal helps the story with a trademark action sequence, evoking a child-like excitement when you watch him, always wanting to see more.
The film is technically just as brilliant. Slick camerawork by the cameramen, crisp and fine editing by Chaman Chakko. Elite music directors can take a film to another level with their songs and background scores, and Jakes Bejoy is truly elite. Yet again, he proves why he is one of the best and most versatile music directors in Indian cinema. Be it the edge-of-the-seat moments, family emotions or the adrenaline-pumping moments, Jakes excels everywhere and brings Jude’s vision to life with his music.
It really is some ‘Thudakkam’ for Vismaya Mohanlal and Aashish Joe Antony, who start their acting careers in some style and could not have asked for a better script to set the ball rolling. Debutants in fine form with the quality backing them, truly delivering to their potential, making for a very good theatrical watch, and something Mohanlal and Antony Perumbavoor will take immense pride in seeing their children take off tremendously.
Rating: 4/5