Career as a fireman is a job that no one aspires or wants to pursue. The reasons are many, and the prime one of them is life threat. While the film's basic premise is based on the idea of firemen carrying out life-threatening operations, it also uninhibitedly advocates the perks of being a fireman. The first few minutes will hypnotize you into becoming a fireman (adventure, fat salary, honor, pension, high- paying corporate job after retirement, etc.), but the nerve-racking mission that follows may ultimately prevent you.
The film starts off shedding light into a day in the lives of firemen while they are on duty. Ironically, our protagonist Vijay (the ever-glamorous Mammootty) is a senior fireman who runs errands in his duty time, and then dramatically embarks on an errand of mercy, which becomes the principal plot. An LPG tanker is part of a road mishap which puts the whole area under a state of emergency and confusion, due to incessant gas leak. After a number of casualties, Vijay turns up with his team and the film actually starts talking. It instantly starts to address issues like police apathy, lack of general knowledge among public in dire situations, and most chiefly the red tape involved in salvaging such incidents. A tense atmosphere is quickly created and we are pulled into it, thanks to the screenplay. Nevertheless, some of the characters falter to execute and capture the requisite seriousness; realism goes missing.
The ongoing rescue mission turns into a gripping thriller as plot twists and new revelations are introduced. We, as an audience, sympathize as well as despise the characters that are part of the mission. A marvelous chronicle of how real-life operations are carried out, the film exemplifies the involvement of bureaucracy and the consequential delay. The tension grows exponentially with time and Vijay takes the mission in his own hands. The fuss, if and when it ends, looks like a story polished with different genres. It has bits of mystery and drama, but it surely has some thrills to deliver, disallowing its audience to lapse into boredom. Also, the scientific explanations further clarify what would've been grave plot holes, although it isn't free from few.
Mammootty is brilliant, and after a long time, I am happy with his performance. You can also catch Salim Kumar as he misbehaves and overacts as a careless yet righteous civilian who at a later stage tries to act over-smart. His character and intentions were not fully clear. Nyla Usha plays the role of a Police Commissioner which she happens to sample with that of an arrogant corporate manager; she is terrible. Supporting cast is fine, while the suave Unni Mukundan is wasted.
There are annoying montages that are used as fillers between important sequences that tend to add a drag into the plot line. The film also leaves many questions unanswered about the antagonists that were seemingly involved. Had the reasonable running time been used to explain the final outcome in a more proper way, Fireman would have made a brilliant thriller. Not much impressed with the special effects. The audio is apt but becomes maddening. But, for all the fine elements it has, Fireman is a good show.
BOTTOM LINE: Recommended; because it is entertaining and does not solely depend upon pretense. With 6/10, it is the second watchable Malayalam film this year.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
