Before considering this film, I had no idea that actor Sohan Seenulal was into direction. I remember laughing to his comical dialogues in A K Saajan's Puthiya Niyamam (2016), but this crime drama, his second feature film, really impresses.
Riyaz (Anoop Ramesh), Vivek (Vishnu Unnikrishan), and Krishna (Sumith Samurda) are three close friends who get together on a daily basis to booze at the former's cycle repair shop. With the exception of Riyaz, the other two do not have a steady job, and waste their time off by either watching porn or showing their envy to other young men who are romantically successful. The trio are upset over their inability to find women with whom they can sleep and satiate their hyperbolical erotic needs. After failing to find a prostitute, a last resort, they decide to target a local woman, which changes the lives of at least three people forever.
It is only because of the three lead actors and their playful yet monstrous activities that the film moves forward without any hiccup. Viewers will be immersed into the screenplay as you loathe the men and their ability to think in such mind-numbing way. These are partially educated men from learned backgrounds who talk like the ultimate goal of life is rough sex. The screenplay thankfully never preaches, but tries to understand the aftermath of a pre-meditated crime. Unfortunately, there is no deep explanation into the cause or why the characters behave in a particular way. These, although fallacies, do not entirely work against the film. There is also a side-arc of Biblical righteousness that the makers sample, questioning the very idea of what is and is not a sin.
Having said that, director Seenulal seems to be raw in his approach of concluding who the real culprit is. There is a dialogue towards the end of the film where a character loudly tells to a shopkeeper the stark reality: there is a molester in every man. It rings true and natural human instincts are to be blamed.
All in all, the film works because it is a well-written and well- executed crime drama which focuses on its single primary topic. And it succeeds in conveying the point. A must-watch for all young men and women out there.
BOTTOM LINE: Sohan Seenulal's "Vanyam" is arguably the top Malayalam film of 2016 that you haven't heard about. It is that stinging film which will make you uncomfortable throughout its 100-minute running time, and then force you to discuss the theme without friends and family. Watch it right now on YouTube.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? No (but you should).
