Sampling the subject of online shaming (that was previously touched upon in Ashraf Hamza's Thamaasha), this poignant drama with a powerhouse performance by Suraj Venjaramoodu, Vikruthy (English: Prank) offers a commentary on how things can be when tasteless memes or trolling campaigns are started against people who have no idea about any of these things. It could be your security person who hasn't heard of Facebook or a daily wage worker who decided to take a nap on a reserved train berth. But more than the theme, Emcy Joseph's ordinary characters are what makes Vikruthy a pleasant experience, giving us enough to laugh and think about. While Soubin Shahir sleepwalked through the drama, Sudhi Koppa, Vincy Aloshious, and Irshad drive the vehicle forward with ample doses of 'naadan drama and comedy' which has defined Malayalam cinema in 2019. There's a lot of authenticity in how the film has been made. Though it could have struck gold had it shown the victor to be a careless guy who did what he does both for the fun without being apologetic. To borrow a line from a fellow Redditor, the final act by Venjaramoodu made me believe that he was really dumb. I would even go ahead and say that his performances in this drama and in Android Kunjappan (2019) can both be counted among the best of 2019. There's no doubt. Not even about how much this film works and makes you think and cry. It's a sweet little film and a definite contender for one of this 2019's best. TN.
