Churuli (เดเตเดฐเตเดณเดฟ)
Well I had to re-watch it as I couldn't digest the 2nd half and connect between the dots of the instances in 2nd half,also was pretty much zoned too. But after reading some detailed reviews, damn, LJP's Churuli blew my mind. He has experimented with various genres in Mollywood where other directors haven't dared to and 'Churuli' may be his Magnum opus as it has a genre of its own.. Caution - Spoilers incoming! First of all,Churuli (เดเตเดฐเตเดณเดฟ/ helix or spiral in English) is not everyone's cup of tea and it's based on a thread from the Novelette, 'Kalingaminarile kuttavalikal' by Vinoy Thomas. LJP took an unconventional approach in conveying the story emerged with fantasy and loads of cuss words,that may be uncomfortable for some people. The bridge crossing scene depicts that you're gonna enter into LJPs mystical world, and eventually we get lost along with the 2 protagonists. But if you think deeply, the bridge connects two worlds: the one where humans are living under law, influenced fanatically by religion & caste, pleasing society and hiding their true selves..the other world being where humans can be raw and be in ecstacy.
โFind ecstasy within yourself. It is not out there. It is in your innermost flowering. The one you are looking for is you.โโ Osho. This quote might be the mentality of the inhabitants portrayed in this film.
I loved the cinematography, it's stunning and sounds effects are stupendous. Is moon a mind controlling object? Was it placed closed to earth by an advanced civilisation to control human beings? And we humans, trapped in this life maze, this labirynth? LJP gave us so much to think about.. definitely got a Stanley Kumbrick + C. Nolan vibes, maybe he is influenced by them. Churuli has explored into time loops, grey shades of life and in some situations, it keeps up baffled.
For the performances, Vinay fort gives ๐ฏ for his role as Shajivan and Chemban vinod being LJPs regular lead actor gives whatever the movie demands. Joju George astounds in a short appearance while Jaffar Idukki,the defacto headman and toddy shop proprieter rivets his role perfectly. To people who are making fun of the film on social media for the use of cuss words and profanity, how else do you think, the people of a remote village, a haven to highwaymen, conmen and fugitives from the law speak like? The people in this movie are criminals and outcasts who are possessed by a phantom alien ( soubin), who is time controlling entity shuttling between past and present. Once you reach at the eye of the maze, there is no escape. I think, the real Maadan is LJP himself๐
If you want to experience something entirely different , go for it. No cliche, just an elegant cinematic journey with a horizon that has no boundaries. Will the average audience will like this or not? Well it's strictly subjective.
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