Producer: Mohan
Director: Madhupal
Cast: Prithviraj, Lal, Jagathy, Atul Kulkarni, Rohini
Music: Alex Paul

This Onam season has been a different one! With no superstar biggies or big banner films arriving, the focus has turned on films with narrative that boasts of good stories. This film is on the death of Naxalite Varghese and Keralites have seen different versions of the politically animated news about his death. Actor Madhupaal who is turns director with the movie   proves his proficiency and debuts as a promising director with this dramatic representation of the real account.

The film has been inspired by the killing of the Naxalite leader Varghese in the early 70s. He was a rebel but stood for the rights of the poor. He was killed in a fake police encounter. The incident hogged the limelight years later when the cop who had fired confessed that he did it on the orders of his senior officials. Ravindran Pillai (Lal) is the police constable who had killed the naxalite. He is struggling for salvation. He files a counter-affidavit in court and uncovers the truth that lay within him for thirty years. Ravindran Pillai is surrounded by media and men who want to learn the truth about the incident.

The film contrasts the real and surreal. It makes for an interesting watch and the good performances further elevate the effects.  Though the main plot focuses on the tormented life of the policeman and the mental agony that he undergoes after the incident, it also provides stern support to the activists who had died for political tolerance and social equality.

The script by Babu Janardhanan is one of the highlights of the film which has been intelligently built. The sequences have been randomly placed moving without any rigid time frame shifting from past to present. This kind of narrative has been used to the fullest here. At the end one does witness boredom creep in with family twists and loud sentiments, but for one such fare it is tolerable. The background score and the theme music by Shyam Dharman are also apt.

It’s also the performances from the acting front that registers an impact on the minds of the people. For Lal it is the role of a lifetime. He oozes pain, remorse, helplessness and the agony of his mind well. Amidst everything he delivers a believable performance and makes his character look real. Prithviraj also has to his credit a great role which he delivers with equal ease. Dhanya Mary as Saramma also gives a convincing act.

Madhupal in his debut film comes out with honest screenplay and is also truthful to the protagonist. Though the film delves into a serious issue, it doesn’t turn to be a documentary. A good film that is not worth a miss!