siju chanath

A Review: Overhyped and Underwhelming I had the opportunity to watch the film today in a theater that accommodated approximately 30 viewers—far from the packed audience I had anticipated when booking my ticket four days in advance. Unfortunately, the film did not meet expectations, failing to engage on both a narrative and thematic level. Contrary to the pre-release controversies surrounding the film, there is little within its content that warrants such strong reactions. The uproar generated by certain political groups appears misplaced, leading me to believe that the film’s hype may have been strategically amplified rather than organically earned. What Works: The filmmaking is undeniably polished. Cinematography stands out, particularly when compared to typical Malayalam cinema. The framing and shot composition are visually impressive. Manju Warrier delivers a commendable performance, though no other performances leave a lasting impact. What Falls Short: The story lacks cohesion, failing to establish a compelling narrative connection. At times, the film feels like an extravagant world tour rather than a purposeful storytelling exercise. The excessive globe-trotting lacks justification within the plot, making the international locations feel unnecessary. Several scenes are repetitive and could have been trimmed to improve pacing. The screenplay meanders without a strong central thread, leaving the narrative disjointed. One can’t help but wonder whether the film’s team intentionally leveraged controversy to generate buzz. Had it been released without the surrounding noise, it might have struggled to find commercial success on its own merits. Ultimately, despite the ongoing debates, I found no significant controversial elements in the film that justify the current social media outrage. Cinema should be evaluated for its artistic and narrative strengths, irrespective of political or ideological leanings. Whether it’s Empuraan, The Kerala Story, The Kashmir Files, Pathaan, or any other film, they should be judged solely on their cinematic value rather than external narratives.