MINNAL MURALI (2021)
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| Critic No 253 |
Director: Basil Joseph
Written by: Arun Anirudhan, Justin Mathew
Produced by: Weekend Blockbusters
Casts: Tovino Thomas, Guru Somasundaram, Aju Varghese, Bajju, Harisree Ashokan, Femina George
Music: Sushin Shyam, Shaan Rahman
Language: Malayalam
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
SYNOPSIS:
Jaison (Tovino Thomas), a tailor in a small village gains special powers after being struck by lightning, but must take down an unexpected foe if he is to become the superhero his hometown needs.
REVIEW:
Superhero films are generally quite rare in Indian cinema and the existing ones have all succumbed to either overloading hero glorification or suffered with underdeveloped characters and lack of focus in narration. When ‘Minnal Murali’ was first announced, honestly I really felt that this was probably going to join the short list of underwhelming Indian superhero films. Little did I know that I was in for a stunner.
Jaison (Tovino Thomas) is just another boy-next-door with big dreams. During one unfortunate night, a lightning bolt randomly strikes him and that changes things for the youngster. He acquires a spectrum of powers, and explores them with the help of his nephew Josemon. However, a threatening nemesis who is equally powerful as him arises and how he takes over him through the string of problems forms the crux of this superhero flick.
The first notable factor about the film is that it doesn't aim to be all gritty and over-stuffed like some of the previous superhero flicks such as the Krishh series or Mugamoodi (2012). Instead, director Basil Joseph and his writers Aruyn Anirudhan and Justin Mathew treat the film with a tongue-in-cheek approach. The comedic portions and situations are highly entertaining, especially during the mishaps that happen when Jaison tries out his newly learned super powers.
‘Minnal Murali’ ticks all the boxes in the superhero genre convention list and goes for a straightforward yet rooted screenplay. The semi-rural setting the director took in hands, where nobody’s aware of the concept of a superhero, gives Minnal Murali a fable-like quality. This fantasy is heightened by the absence of any clear sign of the time in which the film is set (though the dressing looks like the 70s or 80s). There are no smartphones or mobile phones, and there is not even any television. Whatever the time it is set on, the decision to have a superhero story in a time and space enclosed from all markers of modernity is a superb idea. It really elevates the tension and drama between the villagers, which makes the rise of a village super hero more authentic. In addition, these aspects make the comedic moments during the discovery of Minnal Murali even more natural.
Another striking aspect of the film is the strongly designed backstories for both the super hero and his formidable villain. In fact, I really liked the way Joseph blended a poetic love story in the villain’s sub plot that really rises gradually to form up a chaotic climax. Tovino Thomas looks fit, dashing and convincing as Minnal Murali while Guru Somasundram steals the show with an impressive performance as Shibu, the village’s outcast. Among the tons of supporting actors, Baiju Santhosh, as the town’s superintendent of police, and Femina George, as the local karate teacher are commendable.
Technically, Minnal Murali is quite strong for a film that is made with a lower spectrum of budget scale. Sameer Thahir’s cinematography brings a carnivalesque tone to the story. I would never want to compare the film with Hollywood productions that are thousand times more expensive, but the visuals and colour grading really looked like they were frames from a high budget foreign production. The songs by composers Shaan Rahman and Sushin Shyam suited the film’s tone, particularly the quirky title track. The visual effects sequences are kept to have a more natural flavour to it and look quite neat in overall.
On the flipside, Minnal Murali does take a safer bet by having a formulaic story that can be quite predictable at most parts. It sticks to the template ingredients, like the absence of parents, underdog qualities, ‘the means for greatness discovery' and joker like villain to name a few. But what is striking about the film is its simplicity and neat direction. Instead of fumbling with an overkill superhero film, it takes a tried and tested formula and whips it into a fun joy ride. I am definitely waiting for the sequel!
VERDICT:
'Minnal Murali’ is an engaging adventure with electrifying performances by the lead pair and neat direction by director Joseph, resulting in the first properly executed superhero flick in Indian cinema.
CELLULOID METER- 3.5/5:
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