After the critically acclaimed 'Munnariyippu', veteran cinematographer-director Venu teams up with Fahadh Fazil (who is undoubtedly the best method actor among the current crop) on a film that sheds light on the newfound struggle (and eventual evolution) of a young bloke who relishes taking the shortcut route to success.
The protagonist Sibi (played by Fahadh Fazil) totally believes in the concept of 'working smart' as opposed to 'working hard' when it comes to making it big in life. As such, he deals in uncanny businesses that involve gems, barn owls, elephants, and Chinese cycles and racks up a huge amount in debt. He is deemed a 'failure' by the world. His family (especially his dad played by a nuanced Sphadikam George), however, is more concerned about his personal safety (because he goes 'missing' quite often and doesn't respond to calls/texts) than the loans he has amassed.
Circumstances lead Sibi to Mlamedu Palace - a project where he has been asked to transform a crumbling mansion into a tourist hot-spot both by giving it a physical makeover as well putting the word out to the public about its existence amidst serene surroundings. His conversations with Pillachettan (Kochupreman) the caretaker of the mansion, Stalin (Manikandan) an inhabitant of the area who knows his ways around the forests, and Sameera (Mamta Mohandas) a jungle fanatic, ultimately lead him into an adventure out in the wild in search of a lost treasure that dates back to Tipu Sultan's era.
While the storyline may not exactly be newfangled, what intrigues viewers is the treatment - the dialogues are utterly relatable (and sprinkled with clean humor), Fahadh comes up with a multitude of expressions that give every actor of this generation a run for his money, the visuals (by K U Mohanan) are ecstatic. The best scenes, in my humble opinion, are the ones where the viewer is unable to distinguish between real and mythical - such as the one with the mahout (played by an excellent Soubin Shahir), or the hallucinatory episode in the forest.
No one but Fahadh could have pulled off Sibi's metamorphosis this effectively. He is shown to be determined yet fearful and apprehensive for a good part of the first and second halves (he avoids family, undergoes crazy nightmares, is uncomfortable with the idea of sleeping out in the open, and is completely petrified at the thought of peeping into a bear's den) - how he overcomes his weaknesses is organically integrated into the screenplay. Vishal Bharadwaj's song compositions blend into the proceedings quite well (except maybe 'Doore Doore') while Bijibal's soundscape is apt. When it comes to performances, even folks who show up for just a few minutes (or scenes) manage to leave a solid impression - be it Vijayaraghavan, Dileesh Pothen, Soubin or Sharafudheen.
Having known Director Venu's fascination for forests and wildlife (as he also happens to be a family-friend), I had a feeling that it was not going to take long before he blew us audiences away with a story set in the woods. 'Carbon' may not turn out to be everyone's cup of tea - a sense of ambiguity prevails throughout, and the 'rushed' climax may appear underwhelming for audiences who enjoy being 'spoon-fed' all the time. But for me, 'Carbon' is certainly a thinking man's thriller. The aspects of mystery and magical realism are simply great add-ons. Experience it in a crowded cinema hall while you can, people!
