Munnariyippu

My review: Munnariyippu

The writer-director who is also the cinematographer of the movie, Venu gives an indication of things to come right at the outset. The initial 3-4 minutes of "Munnariyippu" that one gets to see on screen is a dead lizard being dragged by some 15-20 ants on a wall as the titles appear. By this long shot which is terrifically shot the director achieves two things at one stroke. First he prepares the audience for the pace at which his narration is going to be for the next two hours as well as he underlines the fact that one character in this movie is going to be dragged by some others into something he/she is "dead" against. 

Movie is one of those rare ones where you experience rather than watch things unfold on screen. As the movie is told in the point of view of Anjali Arakkal played by Aparna Gopinath the audience too travel along as she experiences her thirty days with Raghavan, convicted for life who just gets out of prison reluctantly. We experience the surprises, expectations, happiness, frustrations that she goes through in her endeavor in making him write his life story for a publishing house. Half an hour into the movie the predominant emotions that Anjali and in turn the audience we go through is that of frustration by the activities or rather the lack of it from Raghavan. The director has stuck gold in getting his pace of storytelling exactly for the right emotions to resonate in the audience. As a result the end is something that would jolt you out of your seat as it does for the movie's female protagonist. 

 Mammooty has once again proved that all he needs is one shot to usurp all the accolades in his favor. The power-packed performer gets his due in the last few seconds of the movie which is more than sufficient for you to get awestruck. Who else can make your spine chill with such a casual smile in the end. Aparna Gopinath is actually the one who calls the shots right through the movie which only a capable actress like her could manage. 

"Munnariyippu" is a movie that needs its audience to invest patience in ample measures for them to enjoy the experience.It is excellent that the writer, director and the cinematographer of the movie is all the same person. Venu has successfully translated the written work on screen  and has presented to us a visually appealing movie with lots of long shots that captures the emotions of the actors so tellingly yet in the most unassuming manner. Though the movie gives you a art-house feel, it is by far one of the most terrific visual movie where the dialogues take a back seat. Bijibal's background score further accentuates the movie's eerie feel.   

On the whole, "Munnariyippu"  is an experience not a movie which is a throwback to the bygone golden era of Malayalam cinema. 

Bottomline: Awestruck !!

4/5