Avihitham

A wonderful movie! It is a film that relies on strong storytelling, good characterization, and humor rather than excessive theatrics or star power.

Here are a few takeaways::

Genre: Fantastic, light, fun-filled comedy.

Core Strength: Strong message, characterization, swift script, and lovely location.

Praise for Simplicity: Appreciated for having no grand theatrics, animation, gaudy dances, or loud songs.

Thematic Focus: Proves that simple, good stories can be more effective than "stupid loud movies."

Plot: Revolves around a tailor, his friends, and a mistaken identity involving a flirting wife, leading to a village-wide controversy.

Pacing: Tightly held with no drag-full marks for its pace.

Target Audience: A must-watch for youth and adults, especially Bollywood fans and those frustrated with mainstream fare.

It seems to be a real champion for simple, well-executed cinema!

Avihitham is a smart and subtle Malayalam satire that shows how gossip, curiosity, and moral policing can ruin relationships and peace in a village. The performances are natural, the humour is realistic, and the social message is strong. The film exposes the hypocrisy of people who judge others without knowing the truth.

The ending feels a bit predictable and slightly preachy, but overall it's a well-made, thought-provoking film.

Avihitham is a satirical and humorous drama that brilliantly questions the hypocrisy and suspicion men often hold toward women's modesty.

The story unfolds in a quaint village where a group of men come together to uncover the "truth" behind rumors of an illicit relationship in their neighborhood. What follows is a chain of events laced with sarcasm, humor, and thought-provoking undertones that perfectly capture the social psyche of small-town life.

Senna Hegde, staying true to his style, once again showcases his sharp political perspective and his strong portrayal of women in his films. Along with Ambareesh, he has crafted a screenplay that's subtly humorous yet deeply layered, using abstract dialogues and grounded storytelling to hold a mirror to society. Despite its slow pace, the film never loses grip-thanks to its witty one-liners, natural humor, and a brilliant climax that leaves a lasting impression.

Dhanesh Koliyat and Unni Raja are undoubtedly the showstoppers of Avihitham. Their performances are raw, authentic, and effortlessly engaging, carrying the film's emotional and satirical weight with ease. Rajesh Ushar, Ranji Kankol, Vrindha, and Vineeth Chakyar also deliver commendable performances that add texture to the film's ensemble cast.

On the technical front, Sreerag Saji's quirky background score, Sanath Sivaraj's crisp editing, and the meticulous sound design by Rahul/Seth and Jithin elevate the storytelling to another level.

Avihitham is a genuine cinematic treat for cinephiles who admire Senna Hegde's brand of content-driven, grounded, and socially reflective cinema. A film that makes you laugh, think, and reflect - all at once.

This movie intends to offer a sarcastic take on the everyday hypocrisies in society, like the peeping-tom mindset, moral policing, the "male gaze", and the undercurrent of extra-marital affairs. While the events leading to the climax are decent and the ending shot is really great, it is sad that the plot is given away in the very beginning and there are not enough engaging moments to keep you glued to the screen. It is almost just good enough for second-screen viewing, where you know what is going to happen and you just watch it because there is still something raw and natural about the making and the dialogues.

The Kanhangad language and slangs do not feel artificial or exaggerated, which is great. And it feels refreshing to see some good actors too on the screen. Especially Unni Raja (Marimayam fame), Renji Kankol (although very similar to his usual roles), and Dhanesh Koliyat, who played the brother-in-law.

The movie is not bad, but it does not have enough substance to be made into a movie. The politics it tries to discuss is very relevant and will remain relevant for another three or four decades considering how backward-thinking Malayalis are. A classic example from recent times is Anumol winning the Bigg Boss show.

Anyway, coming back to the point, I would say Avihitham is a light and easy watch on an evening when you just want to relax and not really care about anything, even what is happening in the movie.

The premise, the setting, characters and cinematography and script (atleast for the most part) was pretty good - realistic and rustic.

But the main problem was the pacing and editing and a very weak and almost illogical climax.

It is sad as the characters and acting were really good and deserved a better treatment.

Verdict - Watchable - but you might fast forward quite a lot and does not warrant a repeat watch.