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Synopsis: An amnesia ridden cop, ACP Moses (Prithviraj), is reassigned the murder case of his colleague ACP Jacob (Jayasurya). The case is deeply personal for Moses & Commissioner Farhan (Rahman); since both were close friends with the slain officer. This inseparable trio was infamously known in local circles as 'Mumbai Police', owing to their erstwhile connections with that city. What seems like an obvious case of professional contract killing, gradually unravels into a complex tale of friendship, honour & some deviant secrets linked to the 'perfect' deception.

Review: After the atrocious 'CasSanovVa' (even the mention of which gives me a headache), director Roshan Andrews needed to come up with something really special to redeem himself. And to my pleasant surprise, he has excelled in this comeback endeavour because 'Mumbai Police', is one of the ballsiest investigative stories ever filmed in Malayalam. The mood & texture of the film might remind one of the Bollywood suspense drama 'Talaash'; but make no mistakes - there are no spooky skeletons to be discovered here (though something 'taboo' does come out of the closet eventually). The non-linear screenplay zig-zags from one plot point to the other, keeping the viewer guessing all along. The narrative pace is unhurried, yet it retains its focus throughout. All the disjointed events leading up to the big reveal make perfect sense when viewed in unison, and nothing in the story seems to be added as an afterthought. The film also alludes to a couple of real life incidents, with one involving an old showdown between the Indian Navy & Kerala Police. After long, it was heartening to see a mature investigative story devoid of the usual manipulative cliches. The sting in the tale took me by complete surprise & had an equally profound emotional impact. However, the unconventional "twist" & its subsequent resolution is likely to alienate the orthodox Malayali audience who are used to the conventional stereotyping of characters. Coming to the cast - As ACP Moses, Prithviraj delivers a gutsy performance playing a character with conflicting shades. Rahman lends the right touch of dignity & gravitas to Commissioner Farhan's role, and Jayasurya is equally impressive in his limited screentime. The rest of the supporting cast is reasonably functional. The background score complements the dark ambience of the film, and the Cinematography is technically refined. The dialogues are extremely natural & non-melodramatic. The director has paid attention to the smallest plot detail; and the only blooper I could notice was a marginal inaccuracy in the Naval Uniform. Scenarists Bobby & Sanjay have succeeded in breaking the shackles of a saturated "Police Story" genre with this multilayered story. Rosshan Andrews has filmed the subject with great restraint & sensitivity, avoiding any commercial gimmicks so as to retain a realistic feel throughout. The overall experience is cerebral & in a class of its own.

Conclusion: Even with no ghosts within its ranks, "Mumbai Police' leaves a haunting impression. Highly recommended for the discerning viewer, though the casual moviegoer is unlikely to be as receptive.

Rating: 9.5/10.

Synopsis: A mysterious girl named Chandra comes to Bangalore and starts residing adjacent to 3 goofy boys. One of them (Sunny) develops an overt attraction towards Chandra, and accidentally discovers that she is no ordinary human. Subsequently, Chandra & Sunny get entangled in a dark web involving a corrupt, egomaniac cop.

Review: "Lokah: Chapter 1 - Chandra" is the first part of a new Mollywood Cinematic Universe, and also the first female Superhero film of India. Right from the first frame, you feel drawn to the lively audio-visual atmosphere of the film and it retains this aura till the very end. The origin story of the female lead is rooted in mythology, although a few questions about her tribe & their mission are left unanswered for the forthcoming sequels. Performance wise, Kalyani Priyadarshan is pretty good in her mostly stoic but weighty role & Naslen is funny as usual. Dance choreographer Sandy Master makes for a creepy antagonist. There are lots of cool cameos too, mainly for the purpose of World building. The background score & cinematography are excellent, and the action set-pieces & fights are also superb. Coming to the film's direction, Dominic Arun has presented the story with ample style & finesse, and the film never loses its grip on the audience. Visual effects & production values of the film are top notch, and it's hard to believe that it was made on a modest budget of INR 30 crore !!! The aspect ratio of the film has been set at 16:9 in lieu of cinemascope, probably for enhancing the IMAX screen experience.

Verdict: "Lokah: Chapter 1 - Chandra" is a spectacular big screen experience with thrills, heart & humour. In my humble opinion, even non-fans of the Superhero genre would enjoy this epoch-making film.

Rating: 9.5/10

PS: Don't miss the 2 post credit scenes !!

This is a passable reboot of Superman, with action & acting being its strongest points. Too many unnecessary jokes don't allow us to take the characters & proceedings seriously.. in other words, the movie doesn't feel relatable.

Coming to the performances, David Corenswet is very good as Superman and Rachel Brosnahan is also quite good as Lois Lane. Nicholas Hault makes for a mean & menacing Lex Luthor. The "justice gang" doesn't make much of an impression except for Mr. Terrific. The background score is pretty good and reminds us of the OG Superman from 1978.

Overall, my rating is 6/10.. this is a one time watch for Superman fans but doesn't have too many memorable or emotional moments.