Narivetta

Narivetta (2025) : Movie Review -

Narivetta is inspired by real-life events and bravely attempts to break the silence surrounding systemic oppression by government officials-a bold move, especially in a cinematic space where many cop dramas prefer to play it safe. While this thematic foundation places it in familiar territory, making the narrative somewhat predictable, the film manages to rise above its limitations thanks to its raw honesty and emotional weight. The final 30 minutes, in particular, hit hard-both in execution and sentiment-and are bound to leave audiences shaken. For many of us living in urban, privileged societies, the Muthanga Tribal Agitation might be a footnote in history books-if it exists there at all. But Narivetta forces you to confront the reality: the plight of tribal communities is not only real but far more complex and widespread than imagined. It's not just Wayanad; similar stories of displacement and discrimination unfold across the country, and this film offers a much-needed window into that world.

The story follows Varghese (Tovino Thomas), a young man aiming for a higher post in the police force. Though selected for a constable's role, he initially refuses, wanting something more prestigious like an SI position. But under family pressure and emotional expectations, he takes up the job. His training leads him to the dense forests of Wayanad, where tribal communities are protesting for their basic rights-land and housing. Initially instructed to disperse the protestors, Varghese approaches the task with youthful aggression, only to be reined in by his seniors. As he slowly uncovers the truth behind the police action and the desperate pleas of the protestors, a moral transformation begins. The question lingers-will he choose to stand by the truth, even at personal risk?

Narratively, Narivetta is a slow-burn. At over two and a half hours, it feels stretched-especially in the first three quarters. The pacing drags, and while one could argue that the screenplay uses this time to develop context and emotional stakes, it often feels more meandering than meaningful. The story lacks suspense, and the key twist-one involving betrayal and brutality from within the system-is one we've seen before. You can sense it coming from miles away. Despite that, the final act pulls everything together with striking clarity and emotional depth, thanks to a chilling portrayal of state violence that is as disturbing as it is necessary.

Tovino Thomas once again proves his acting prowess with a restrained performance, though the character arc written for him feels somewhat inconsistent. For a young man with dreams and intellect, his actions often come off as naïve or confused. This works to some extent, making him more human than heroic, but it also leaves the audience distanced from fully sympathizing with him. Suraj Venjaramoodu makes the most of his limited screen time, delivering a role that quietly anchors the film's message. Cheran, however, steals the show with a performance full of gravitas, emotional range, and conviction. Arya Salim also impresses, supported well by Pranav Teophine and Priyamvada Krishnan. Other supporting actors, including Prasanth Madhavan, Rini Udayakumar, Badusha NM, and Nadhu, provide decent contributions.

Technically, Narivetta may not be a high-budget affair, but it certainly looks like one. The cinematography by Vijay is stunning, capturing both the haunting beauty and the oppressive weight of the forest landscapes. Editing by Shameer Muhammed could have been sharper, particularly in the first half where scenes linger too long. The art direction is serviceable, while the film's music and background score-rich with local textures-enhance the emotional stakes and atmosphere. The soundtrack immediately grabs your attention, whether or not you're familiar with the cultural and language setting. Director Anuraj Manohar, known for the emotionally resonant Ishq (2019), returns with a film of a very different genre but a similarly lasting impact. Narivetta is not without its flaws-it's lengthy, thematically familiar, and predictable in places-but it lands where it matters. The director focuses on details, sometimes at the cost of pace, but the payoff in the finale is worth the wait. This is not just a film, but a statement-about privilege, injustice, and the human cost of silence. In final words, Narivetta is a brutal, realistically fictionalized take on a real-life tragedy that has long been ignored. It deserves to be watched-not for entertainment, but for awareness. And if nothing else, watch it for those unforgettable 30 minutes that will haunt you for a while at least.

RATING - 6/10"

Rating - 3.5/5

A socio political drama set on the backdrop of a tribal forest area questioning the political authoritative powers against their cruel atrocities on humanity.

The plot of the story revolves around a young struggling guy who had to join Police force succumbed to family pressures and how he discovers his real purpose of life therein forms the storyline.

Hats off to the writer and director for showing the grit to pull off a politically sensitive story inspired from true events that happened in the landscape of Kerala. The story shows us how the patience and rights of the underprivileged strata of the society is tested by the bureaucratic power. The filmmaker has portrayed his political stand like in his previous outings and highlighted the fact that the powerful people can influence on what the public should be known. The story narration through the realistic narrative approach lost its traction towards the climax wherein the lead actor takes a transformation in his character shade.

Good performance by Tovino and he has moved through the character with distinct layers in ease. Suraj Venjaramood has given a subtle and composed performance. Impressive performances by Cheran & Arya Salim.

Anuraj has given a technically brilliant movie that can be best enjoyed in theatres. Vijay has captured the scenic beauty of Alleppey and the raw earthy landscape of Wayanad without losing its essence. Shameer Muhammed has chopped the movie into a realistic drama with good songs & background score by Jakes Bejoy. Art team deserves appreciation for setting the premises in the forest area. Good sound design by Renganaath Raave and Vishnu P C best enjoyed on Atmos screens.

A good watchable realistic drama on the life of underprivileged from the POV of a cop.

I always said, Tovino is the Crime thriller genre king. When it comes to story selection from mollywood Tovino wears all the hats!

Just watched "Narivetta" and I'm absolutely blown away by your performance! The way you portrayed the character's internal conflict, his journey from reluctance to a deep understanding of justice, was incredibly powerful. It's such a bold and essential story that "Narivetta" tells, and your acting truly brought its important message to the forefront.

You made me feel every bit of his struggle and his eventual resolve.

Thank you for giving us such a powerful and thought-provoking performance!

Whether this message finds you or not, as a fan, I felt compelled to share how deeply your portrayal resonated with me.

Verdict: Semi-Hit.

Review: Narivetta - 7/10

First, my thanks to the entire Narivetta team. I wasn't fully aware of the real-life incident the film is based on, as I typically don't follow such news. That unfamiliarity made the storyline feel fresh and engaging. Though I recognized the real-life figures, their on-screen portrayals were both compelling and convincing.

The film moved at a steady pace with no noticeable lag. The scenes were thoughtfully crafted, and the storytelling held my attention throughout. One creative choice that felt unnecessary was the use of timestamps-they didn't add much value, in my opinion.

Casting was a definite highlight, lending a refreshing vibe to the film. The first half flew by, likely because I was deeply immersed. While the second half didn't lag, it did feel like the energy and narrative momentum dipped slightly.

The natural tone of the scenes-especially the dialogues among the Muthanga people and the realistic settings-added authenticity. That said, the performance of Tovino at the protest sequence felt out of place. Tovino's performance in that part leaned too much into melodrama, breaking the film's otherwise grounded feel.

The portrayal of relationships-mother-son, uncle-nephew, and romantic-was heartfelt and thoughtfully done. Certain emotional scenes stood out for their depth. Priyamvada Krishnan was particularly impressive, thanks to the nuanced writing of her character. Her dialogue exchanges with Tovino felt organic and real.

Cheran's performance reminded me at moments of Padmasree Murali, one of my all-time favorite Malayalam actors-not in terms of comparison, but in spirit. Cheran delivered a solid performance true to his role. Arya Salim showed great potential, and her performance was notably strong. Suraj Venjaramood, playing a key role, was effective, though I expected a bit more given his character's weight in the story.

The protest (or "war") scenes were executed with surprising clarity and control-an area where many films falter. Tovino, overall, performed well, though those particular scenes felt a bit overacted.

In summary, Narivetta is a well-crafted and absorbing film with a few minor flaws but a strong emotional core.

As always, this is just my personal perspective.

Sheejith Payyaratta.

The movie is a really good one but the ending felt uncompleted. But the movie still gave out good awareness about the cruelties from the society against people facing problems and poverty. The actors did a great job from their part and they did not disappoint at all. The movie showed a good amount of romance from the protagonist and it was not disappointing either!. But the ending slipped a bit out of my expectations because it felt uncompleted. Like the continuation to the protagonist story after the ending will be a mystery, because no idea to that could be acknowledged. But the ending do gives audience endless ideas about what could've happened next!. Good job, team!. I enjoyed watched the movie.