Akhil Sudhakaran

An Instant Classic for Malayalam Cinema! I recently watched Kishkindha Kaandam, and I must say it’s one of the finest mystery thrillers Malayalam cinema has produced. Written by Bahul Ramesh and directed by Dinjith Ayathan, this film sees a giant leap in both storytelling and performances. The movie plot is around the Ajayachandran (Asif Ali), a forest officer who comes back home with his newlywed wife (Aparna Balamurali) settling in the village infested with mysterious circumstances. The screen comes alive from the first shot, and this tale is weaved in a thick forest. As the plot thickens so too does details of secrets from the past resulting in a suspenseful and intriguing storyline. Vijayaraghavan (Appupilla), as a retired military officer living up to his screen stature in which she has a career defining role. It's his quirkiness and vulnerability that provide a touching dimension to the film, as does Asif Ali as the son, torn between allegiance with his father and secrets he would rather bury. Aparna Balamurali, as the faithful wife, looks engaging on screen—to both her inclination and spontaneity kick the life of the film. The cinematography, done by Bahul Ramesh himself, is simple and stark, keeping intact the enigmatic beauty of the trees. Mujeeb Majeed's score adds to that chilling effect. In every department, its pace, the screenplay, and the performances put Kishkindha Kaandam on a must-watch list. If you like your movies suspenseful and character-driven, there are few better examples than this one. I highly recommend it—it should be an instant classic!