It's pure, almost sadistic joy to watch the story unfold and slip into total chaos in Ayyappanum Koshiyum (Ayyappan and Koshy; given names in Malayalam) where a grim-looking police officer with a sinister past named Ayyappan (Biju Menon) locks horns with an influential, alcoholic ex-army businessman Koshy (Prithviraj) after the latter gets into trouble with the law for possessing liquor while travelling through a dry area. The drama begins without preamble and lets the effervescent male ego take the baton ahead as the two adults get into the rink to fight it off even as a tit-for-tat game emerges between them that sees collateral damage of the highest order. It is rather difficult to describe the ways in which these two characters behave but you are bound to get it from the first frame as the thirst for revenge quickly encapsulates them, one after other. Both Menon and Prithviraj put up a show that is hard to resist, backed with Sachy's linear storytelling and thumping music by Jakes Bejoy that does not ever get dull despite the 3-hour running time tag. And when a drama - that although tends to become repetitive in the middle - manages to keep you glued to the screen for such a long time with some terrific sequences of violence, it should be praised and watched on the big screen. But even then, Ayyappanum Koshiyum is not just about the male ego, but also aspires to describe the workings of it which is where Ranjith's father character comes and takes you by the collar. Also notable is the character played by Gauri Nanda and the fluid performances of Sabumon and Anil Nedumangad. Watch it because it is a rare feat for Malayalam cinema. TN.
