Padakkalam

Kudos the debutants for pulling this off. Such a fresh idea filled with laughter and superb performances. However, the idea had so much potential that it could actually be India's Jumanji but wasted midway. It feels the director lost the plot post the interval and was just dragging it. The three main leads have done a fabulous job with a special mention for the guy who played Jithin. The change in the characters has been played so beautifully that one get totally immersed in their world of madness.

I hope some big names come to help the newbie director and they have a better sequal soon.

Interesting movie with surprise and twist and execution also good. Movie team know how to make this concept works for all type audience and make audience engaged in movie with predictable and unpredictable twist which give both surprising element and satisfaction.

Though the execution of concept done well actors in movie also carry the success of the movie in their shoulder because of the differentiation they need to show in the film after the main twist in the film.

Comedy work very well and it mixed with the flow of movie and in any place it didnot affect the story and flow.

Simply fun filled family entertainment awaits if you decide to watch this movie.

Watched the Tamil Dubbed Malayalam Movie 'Padakkalam'.

Recommended by my niece, I went in with absolutely no expectations. All she said was, "It's unique and enjoyable" - and that was spot on.

The movie is refreshingly original and thoroughly entertaining. I usually avoid reading about a film before watching, so I was open to surprises. For a moment, I thought it was heading into the horror genre, only to discover it's a supernatural comedy-thriller!

The depiction of friendship stood out. The narrative kept me engaged throughout with no dull moments. As the story unfolds with twists and turns, emotional scenes seamlessly transition into bursts of comedy. Just like Guilty Minds felt like an Indianized version of Suits, this movie reminds one of Jumanji in spirit, though the plot and story are entirely different.

It's a bold attempt, with a unique storyline, screenplay, and direction. The team has pulled it off successfully. The film dives straight into the plot, holds your attention, and never lets go. A well-made, distinctly different movie that's worth watching.

Padakkalam is a unique enough experiment in a rather unused genre like supernatural fantasy comedy. The movie starts well and sets up the plot convincingly, but I do have issues with how the characters arrive at understanding the nuances. Well, let's give the makers some leeway for trying something different, and take it in the spirit of entertainment.

In spite of the decent start, it gets horribly confusing midway. At least to me it did. I know the swap-acting is super clever and all, but if you leave the crowd confused in the middle of an important scene, it defeats the purpose.

Sandeep Pradeep did a really good job, as did Sharaf U Dheen, who actually felt like he was breaking away from his usual style. I did not like Suraj in this one though. His performance felt off-key for the overall tone of the film.

All in all, it's a bold attempt to turn this thought into a film. But it drags and struggles for ideas toward the middle and the end. Once they got into it, the premise felt underused. The story had so much potential. It lacked intelligence, craft, and the screenplay was dull. Still, for what it tries to show, it did bring something new to the table.

Rating - 3.75/5

An out and out laughter treat that pulls you into a mind loop with exciting and engaging story served in a humour template.

The plot of the story is about how 4 boys try to tackle the evil intentions of their Professor through a mysterious dice board on the backdrop of an engineering college.

Manu Swaraj has exceptionally placed the story on screen with an incredible screenplay leaving no loose ends. He has effortlessly managed to incorporate mystery and spoof elements without affecting the pace and mood of the story. The brilliance of the script in hooking the audience is blatantly visible by the way he manipulates the minds of the audience. Hats off to you for giving an unforgettable movie experience with immense laughter moments,funny dialogues and interesting developments in the story.

Subtle performance by Suraj and he has carried the mood of an emotionally broken family man precisely. SharafUDheen gave a marvellous delivery through his attitude and his infectious smile. Zandeep has made a stellar performance and he proves that he is here to stay with his unparalleled delivery in the latter half. Arun Ajikumar,Saafboi and Arun Pradeep also made impressive performances as the boys gang and they kept the quirkiness and mood alive through their funny performances and dialogue delivery. Pooja Mohanraj also gave a brilliant performance in the movie through her witty and instant reactions.

Kudos to Anu Moothedan for effortlessly capturing the quirkiness and mystery perfectly trimmed by Nidhin Raj Arol maintaining the pace and vibrance of the story. The scores and BGM's by Rajesh went well synchronized with the story and Renganaath Raave's contribution to sound design is worth mentioning. This is another golden feather to the Friday Film banner exploring and encouraging unique stories.

A perfectly steam cooked and aromatic fun to watch entertainer on the weekends.