I haven't written a review here for some time now, but the critical reception to what I feel is one of the best movies to come out of the Malayalam film industry in recent times moved me to pen down my thoughts.
Critics seem to have not been very favorable to this work of art, which is quite beguiling. The desperate desire for change which most lovers of Malayalam cinema have been holding onto since Malayalam films took a turn for the worse at the turn of the century seems to be finally arriving, and while a few fine efforts are getting appreciated (eg. Salt 'n Pepper), this one doesn't seem to be. I can only assume it is because of the lack of commercial elements, which I guess something like a Traffic (while it is a good film, I get a feeling it was so appreciated because of the commercialized aspects of it) did well.
The movie explores the lives of two individuals living on two socially opposite edges of a metro. While Fahd Fazil plays a sophisticated, rich and young corporate honcho who is also an inveterate flirt, Vineeth Sreenivasan plays the role of Ansari, a sweeper in a supermarket. Arjun and Ansari would normally have never had to interact with each other, as both live lives of vastly different circumstances. Arjun has the arrogant, confident outlook of someone who has probably made achieving things (professional and personal) a habit. He does not notice most of the grime surrounding him in the city and has no problems sleeping with his secretary, Sonia (Ramya Nambeesan), while at the same time planning his wedding with Ann (Roma). Ansari, on the other hand, is someone who has always been timid and used to being beaten down by life.
Arjun, on a spur of the moment decision, records a lovemaking session he has with Sonia on his phone camera. When Sonia finds out about his impending marriage with Ann, they have an altercation in a café, which leads to Arjun losing his phone. As fate would have it, Ansari picks it up. From then on in, the story becomes a cat and mouse game as Arjun tries to get back the phone from Ansari, worried as he is that the clip he recorded will end up on some website. Ansari, on the other hand, experiencing having power over someone for the first time in his life, plays around with Arjun getting him to do things Ansari could not. The game ends in a gritty, raw and thrilling denouement with one of the best fight sequences picturised in Malayalam.
Fahd Fazil is brilliant and carries the movie. A perfect role for him, he exudes the uber cool handsomeness and arrogance needed for this kind of role and I sure hope he continues doing stuff like this in the future. Vineeth Srinivasan provides an able foil as the down on his luck Ansari. Remya Nambeesan was a revelation. It was so refreshing to see a leading lady in Malayalam who is not your coy, village belle kinds and who doesn't mind expressing herself on screen. Nivedita as Ansari's colleague and burgeoning love interest is also nice. The music by Rex Vijayan is quite interesting and different from the usual fare seen mostly.
While good movies like Salt 'n Pepper are getting the critical and commercial appreciation they deserve, I hope this one also does not fall under the radar and gets the recognition it deserves.
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