2025 has been a great year for “non-star” Malayalam films, I guess. After Eko, here is another film that is a very good watch, though it is entirely different in genre. Ponman reminded me more of films like Thingalazhcha Nischayam, which are rooted in the nativity of a particular region of Kerala. Ponman is... Continue Reading →
Eko (Malayalam) – My Flash Review!
What do the films Ela Veezha Poonchira, Kishkindha Kaandam, and Eko have in common? They are slow-burn Malayalam films in the mystery-thriller genre. They are also films in which the places and surroundings in which the film is set become characters in their own right, playing a significant role in the storytelling. Remove these places... Continue Reading →
Dominic and the Ladies’ Purse – My Flash Review!
For a Gautam Vasudev Menon film, it is an odd title. But then, GVM, as he is fondly known, has been trying to reinvent himself and step out of his comfort zone for some time now. We saw that attempt in his earlier film Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu as well. Not just the title, Dominic and... Continue Reading →
Lokah Chapter 1 – My Flash Review!
In Indian cinema, this is a season of “Chapters”. Recently, we had Kantara Chapter 1, and now we have this. This sets the stage for a cinematic universe similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For Malayalam cinema to attempt this is ambitious in itself. In its first part, with intriguing world-building, though with the usual... Continue Reading →
Mirage – My Flash Review!
Mirage, the Malayalam film streaming on OTT, is directed by Jeetu Joseph. His reputation as a master of the crime thriller genre precedes his movies. He gained national recognition with Drishyam—1 & 2 and established a new genre called the Drishyam genre. However, his other films, like Memories, Neru, Nunakuzhi, Kooman, and others, confirm his... Continue Reading →
Hridayapoorvam – My Flash Review!
Nowadays, Malayalam films are known for investigative thrillers, police procedurals, and serious cinema in general. However, in the 80s and 90s, one out of two Malayalam films was a slice-of-life comedy of the slapstick or situational type. Mohanlal featured in many of those films as the hero, with co-stars like Srinivasan playing active foil roles.... Continue Reading →
Param Sundari – My Flash Review!
Kerala's Tourism Department has some of the best marketing minds among Indian states. It routinely runs high-quality social media campaigns that showcase Kerala at its best, depending on the season. The Onam season in Kerala is a “high” season in the state’s tourism calendar. This year, Kerala tourism seems to have wanted to do something... Continue Reading →
Thudarum – My Flash Review!
The poster and the trailer gave the vibes of another Drishyam-type film from Mohanlal. Indeed, the first half an hour or so proceeds like that. The hill town setting, family banter, teenage kids, and slice-of-life happenings all conform to the Drishyam template until that moment arrives. However, it then takes a different turn, and I... Continue Reading →
Ouseppinte Osiyathu (Malayalam) – My Flash Review!
The title of this Malayalam film seems complicated, but in English, it translates to Ouseppu’s Will. For convenience, let me call it O2. O2 is another simple Malayalam film sans any major stars, made at a fairly low budget. At a runtime of just under 2 hours, it solely relies on the plot points to... Continue Reading →
Officer On Duty – My Flash Review!
The film opens with a tight close-up shot for a few seconds of a police officer hanging from a noose, taking his life. As the film progresses, there are a couple of more people who hang themselves to death. In the hero introduction sequence, the male lead, who is a police officer, hits a woman... Continue Reading →