Padakkalam movie review: Suraj Venjaramoodu, Sharaf U Dheen's fantasy comedy proves that an intriguing plot alone doesn't make a good film
Padakkalam movie review: Malayalees aren't alien to the concept of Parakaya Pravesha (the act of entering another person's body with one's consciousness) and other similar dark fantasy horror elements, thanks to cinematographer-director Santosh Sivan's acclaimed film Anandabhadram (2005). Hence, filmmakers who wish to explore such themes in Malayalam don't have to spend much time explaining the concepts and can immediately enter their narrative after a small and basic introduction that might help refresh people's memories. That means the makers of such a movie get almost 80-90 per cent of the film's runtime to tell their story without having to rack their brains over how to ensure clarity.
Despite having such favourable conditions, if you are unable to craft a movie with at least intriguing moments, whose fault is it? The predicament debutant director Manu Swaraj's Padakkalam, starring Suraj Venjaramoodu, Sharaf U Dheen and Sandeep Pradeep, ends up in is pretty much the same.
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Although both Shaji (Suraj) and Ranjith (Sharaf) eye the chair of the HOD in their college, the students are all in support of the latter since he shares a 'warm' rapport with them. However, as Shaji is the eligible one, the position 'naturally' goes to him, but only for a few minutes, as the other staff members soon notice some abnormalities in his behaviour, and he is forced to go on leave. In the meantime, one of their students, Jithin (Sandeep Pradeep), finds out the real reason behind Shaji's peculiar behaviour and realises that Ranjith had a hand in it and that he is well-versed in black magic. Although he explains it to his friends Ramzad (Arun Pradeep), Kannan (Saaf) and Nakul (Arun Ajikumar), they are hesitant to believe at first, but soon they also start noticing Ranjith's idiosyncrasies and come to the conclusion that he knows Parakaya Niyantrana (the act of gaining control over another person's body). They also find out that the source of his black magic powers is his Pachisi set.
Under the suspicion that he could be planning bigger things with it, the four students decide to steal and destroy the set. However, once they get hold of the set, their lives turn upside down as Ranjith takes control of Jithin's body too. Meanwhile, things escalate once Shaji returns to avenge the mishappenings in his life caused by Ranjith. At one crucial juncture, they all end up committing a massive blunder, which pushes them into bigger troubles. The remainder of the movie follows their attempts to unlock the tangle.
Despite having a fascinating plot, Padakkalam is let down completely by aimless writing. Although the movie establishes its setting and central characters well in the first act and piques the interest of the audience with the introduction of fantasy elements, the script, penned jointly by Manu and Nithin C Babu, takes a massive nosedive after a point. Regardless of occasionally showing slight hints of a possible comeback, Padakkalam never truly rises to its potential. Barring a few jokes that mostly land due to the actors' delivery and their on-screen chemistry, which has worked out decently well, the movie ends up being a series of missed opportunities.
And yes, the core idea and plot had potential, and there are at least a handful of moments where you can sense it, making you feel that it could have been something special if developed or executed well. Nevertheless, the writers never manage to leverage such instances, and most of the moments end up being undercooked. Although the character of Jeevika (Niranjana Anoop) appears occasionally, she never becomes more than Jithin's estranged girlfriend. Shaji's wife, Shobha (Pooja Mohanraj), on the other hand, showed promise to become a substantial character, but is largely ignored by the makers.
Regardless, the movie is kept afloat by the decent performances of the actors, particularly Suraj Venjaramoodu and Sharaf U Dheen, who showcase their comedic strengths and strike silver (yes, only silver) now and then. Suraj's attempts at physical comedy, with particular focus on facial expressions, reminiscent of his iconic characters such as Dasamoolam Damu in Chattambinadu (2009), do amuse, but they never reach lofty heights owing to the inherent lack of humour in the writing. Sharaf's portrayal of the witty schemer Ranjith is also commendable. Bizarrely, in my opinion, Sandeep's performance as Ranjith (after the Parakaya Pravesha) came across as sharper than his portrayal of Jithin. Arun Pradeep, Saaf and Arun Ajikumar also do their parts well, adding some essence to an otherwise flavourless dish that is Padakkalam.
The sudden entry of the iconic track 'Kalikkalam Ithu Kalikkalam' from the classic Malayalam comedy Ramji Rao Speaking (1989) as background score also offers some respite whenever it appears. Anu Moothedath's cinematography, Nidhin Raj Arol's editing and Rajesh Murugesan's music also help elevate the movie, compensating a bit for its many other shortcomings.
Padakkalam movie cast: Suraj Venjaramoodu, Sharaf U Dheen, Sandeep Pradeep, Arun Pradeep, Saaf, Arun Ajikumar
Padakkalam movie director: Manu Swaraj
Padakkalam movie rating: 1.5 stars
Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at anandu.suresh@indianexpress.com. ... Read More
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