Anilkumar, who repairs electronics at his home, is a recluse, after suffering a personal tragedy. He lives with his mother and has a strained relationship with everyone else including his sister and neighbours. His frustrations peak after the cries of his neighbour’s newborn interfere with his only solace – work. But after a landslide traps him several feet underground, the baby’s cries become his only hope for survival.
Fahadh is solid as always and brilliantly emotes the pain, anguish and redemption of Anikuttan as he goes through a life-changing experience. Although it is a Fahadh-show all the way, characters played by Jaffer Idukki, Indrans, Rajisha Vijayan and debutant Jaya Kurup (as Anikuttan’s mother) are also integral to the narrative.
Debutant Sajimon Prabhakar, who sets his story in the high ranges of Kerala, handled it decently. The first half of the film explores the daily struggles of the people of the high ranges. The well-paced first half effectively captures the life of people, who are used to the devastating effects of Nature’s fury. The timing of the landslip takes viewers by surprise and before they know it, they are with Anikuttan, trapped in the debris.
The dialogues are minimal and most of what we experience is through Fahadh’s frenzied eyes and his faltering screams. The underwater sequence is stunningly conceived and shot. Art work by the production design team led by Jothish Shankar and camera work by Mahesh, his first as a cinematographer is the major plus of the movie.
Music plays an important role in Malayankunju. A. R. Rahman composed the music for the film. The background score in the underground scenes elevates the claustrophobic feeling offered by the film. The production designer Jyothish Shankar deserves a special mention. Malayankunju hits the right notes of emotions in its climax scenes.
Verdict; Malayankunju is a technically brilliant film backed by solid performance from Fahad Faasil. Sajimon delivers a decent survival thriller, that is worth your time! 4/5