Rekhachithram

This is the first time I am seeing such a movie in Indian Cinema . To tell the flashbacks, AI was used perfectly well. But the screenplay is a let down at multiple places .. Performance of Siddique, Anaswara Rajan and lot many new comers are superb. The flashbacks scenes and the artwork for those scenes are also , aptly made. Overall, I would say , a brilliant story, an outstanding direction, and an average screen play. Songs also could have been better , but background score is good. The editing is also a good one . To point out the downside of screenplay, I would have to put down spoilers, so I am not doing so.

Set in 2025, Rekhachitram is an investigative alternate history centered on a case from 1985. In films like Talvar, which is rooted in real events, investigations of decades-old crimes are portrayed as extremely challenging. Given that Rekhachitram's case is 40 years old, one would expect a complex, arduous investigation. However, the film surprisingly presents a case that unravels too easily.

Nearly every character connected to the original incident effectively solving it, rather than leaving the breakthrough to officer Vivek. Additionally, the visual presentation feels lacking; instead of introducing fresh character dynamics, most characters appear unchanged from their 1985 depictions.

I would say, Kishkindha Kaandam has better representation. Go watch it. Then compare with rekhachitram 😀.

Very highly rated and highly anticipated. It's finally out and.......was unfortunately a let down for me.

The film has done something spectacular and new which, I have a feeling, connects differently with the Mollywood audience, especially the regular movie watchers. Without spoilers, there are references to...some big names in the industry, present and past, that may go over your head - which takes away from the experience that the film wants all its watchers to have. I wish I'd lowkey spoiled the film for myself so that I watched it with context but...ah well.

That said, the one thing that I did catch had me like "Wait, no way they did that. How did they....? Oh. Interesting." That's sadly my only highlight from the film because the plot overall is very predictable. How the weave the plot with real life Mollywood, I think, was the USP. As long as you know enough to catch the novelty in this film, (Y) If you can't, because you didn't have any context, which I didn't, this might be a let down, even though the film is a blockbuster hit in Kerala. All that said, what a few months has Asif Ali had. Thalavan, Kishkindha Kaandam, and now this. Good for him!

I'd encourage you to watch the film anyway, to support the effort, but just tame your expectations if you haven't watched a lot of Malayalam movies, especially the old ones.

Hey all, I just watched Rekhachithram (2025), and I must say, it's a nice movie. To be honest, I'm a bit confused about the genre of the film. It doesn't feel like a complete thriller, nor does it fit entirely into the drama category. Instead, it's more of a mixture of genres-an investigation drama thriller.

The film carries elements of mystery, but it's not overloaded with twists or the kind of suspense typically found in a traditional mystery. Yet, it holds enough intrigue to keep you engaged. What impressed me the most is how the film blends multiple genres seamlessly. I've seen this kind of genre-blending in Hollywood, but I'm doubtful if Malayalam cinema has explored it to this extent before.

The casting is spot-on, with each actor delivering a commendable performance. The cinematography is well-executed, capturing the essence of the narrative beautifully. While the film uses limited music, the background score is impactful and elevates the thriller aspects, adding a gripping pace to the story.

What stands out most is the fiction itself. The movie revisits themes from the classic Malayalam film Kathodu Kathoram (1985), and it does so in a way that makes the fictional elements feel real. The narrative blurs the line between fiction and reality, leaving you questioning whether the events and circumstances portrayed could have actually happened. To me, that's the hallmark of a well-crafted fiction.

I also appreciated how the film transitions between past and present, portraying both time periods effectively. It's a thoughtful way to structure the story and adds depth to the overall experience.

In conclusion, Rekhachithram is a film you can enjoy in theaters without the burden of overhyped expectations. It's unique in its storytelling approach, and for that alone, it's worth watching.

• Antony Padikkala.