Narivetta

Reached the theatre late.

Tovino has performed reasonably. Great music work from Jakes Bejoy.

The script is pretty light for a subject as intense.

When the attrocities appeared on the screen, I was shaking. So through a seemingly innocent and simple narrative, the movie did find me emotionally.

Suraj gave a good short performance.

The movie is Tovino centric, and Tovino has done well.

The script set up a daunting challenge, and gave an easy win. The writing has it's issues.

Movie does fizzle out from the expectation it set. Nothing stark and bold in the movie.

It does have a heart, and wants to stand by the adivasis of Muthanga.

Vaada Veda song has more fire in it than the movie.

Narivetta is a powerful and bold Malayalam film that brings to light the harsh realities still faced by lower caste and tribal communities in the 21st century. It courageously portrays the dark side of the police force, highlighting the systemic injustice and brutality that continues to affect marginalized people.

The film delivers a raw and emotional narrative, without sugar-coating the violence or the silence of the system. However, amidst this darkness, Tovino Thomas shines brilliantly as a symbol of humanity. He plays a police officer who defies the norms of a corrupt system. Instead of blindly following the orders of a tainted force, he takes a stand for justice-not for personal gain, but for the memory of a fallen colleague.

Tovino's character brings out the inner conflict of a man torn between duty and morality. His portrayal is deeply moving and layered, showing that even within flawed institutions, there can be individuals who choose the right path.

The film's message is clear and powerful: silence in the face of injustice is complicity. Narivetta is not just a film-it's a statement, a mirror to our society, and a call for introspection.

Overall the movie was satisfactory. In the first half tovino has no role just backing suraj but second half was nice. Acting was great and emotions connected well. The climax was too small can make it better. Arya salim performed well and priyamvatha krishnan was just for that song minnal vala. The tribal cultures shown there was good. The film tell deep about pand rights and slavery of tribles. In this movie music played a huge role the second half was carried by the music and the bgm. Some seena there are some logical oissues but it does not care while watching. Overall it is a one time watchable movie.

Kudos to the team for shedding light on a dark chapter in history - the Kerala government's and police's brutal treatment of tribal groups. The film is well-crafted, with impressive cinematography and background score, making for a engaging viewing experience. However, the narrative's impact is somewhat diminished by the choice of central character. By not making the protagonist a member of the affected tribal group, the film misses an opportunity to authentically portray the struggles and injustices faced by the victims.

The casting is mostly fine, with Arya standing out, but Tovino and Cheran's performances feel artificial. The movie's pacing is also marred by unnecessary subplots, including a cringe-worthy love story and family drama. These scenes waste valuable screen time that could have been used to delve deeper into the core theme, diluting the seriousness of the central plot.

Despite these flaws, the movie is well-intentioned and tackles a significant subject. With some tweaks and a better script it could have been even more effective in conveying the gravity of the issue. The film's good intentions and technical proficiency make it worth watching, but it's clear that a more nuanced approach would have elevated the narrative. Overall, it's a commendable effort that falls short of its full potential due to some questionable creative choices.

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.