minnal murali :

a fresh perspective on superhero genre

PLOT:

The film, set in the late 1980s and 1990s, takes place in a small village in Kerala and revolves around two starkly different individuals who develop supernatural powers when hit by lightning. It has two parallel stories, of which one is about a character Jaison, who becomes the purported hero and the other about Shibu, who turns into the villain. The turn of events forms the basis of the film. It is directed by Basil Joseph, starring Tovino Thomas and Guru Somasundaram as Jaison and Shibu, respectively.

REVIEW:

'Minnal Murali' has made its trademark in the Superhero genre with a refreshing Terran Cognito script, especially in Mollywood. The story's protagonist, Jaison, is a small-time tailor in a village with big dreams of settling in America. He is in love with the daughter of the sub-inspector of police in his town. The antagonist Shibu is a lunatic working in a tea shop and nurturing feelings for his childhood love, Usha.

As the story progresses, both characters fail in love and life. One fine day a few unforeseen events occur to both the characters. They are struck by a tremendous lightning bolt, which bestows supernatural powers upon them. Jaison, on the one hand, utilises power positively. On the other hand, Shibu uses them to gain the life he desires. The divergent choices make them lock horns

Despite being his first attempt in this genre, Basil Joseph has nailed it. The character arcs of both the protagonist and antagonist and taken forward deserve to be highlighted and appreciated. The brilliant characterisation in which he emphasises both characters and draws parallels between the duo is highly impactful. The two main characters resemble two sides of a coin.

Coming to the performance, the superhero element in the movie is interesting, but the well-drawn characters and convincing performances keep it engaging. Both Tovino Thomas and Guru Somasundaram have done a splendid job in terms of the performances in Jaison and Shibu characters, respectively. Unlike the stereotypes in superhero films, where heroes dominate, Basil Joseph gives almost every supporting surface equal space. The special effects and stunt choreography are first-rate for a movie with a moderate budget of around 18 Crores.

Although the ambition and rootedness in writing make the film feel universal, the filmmakers managed to bring out the Malayalam magic and essence in the movie. Apart from the story, the makers have portrayed the village culture and people’s mannerisms with much authenticity. The characters present in the report are rooted, enhancing the nativity element and allowing the audience to relate on a fundamental level. Even as it strictly follows the superhero tropes, the film creates its own identity.

Overall, Minnal Murali is a meticulously written superhero script with the perfect blend of action, emotions and humour, and aptly BGM elevates the film to high standards. Notwithstanding its few flaws, such as a slow-paced first half some logical loopholes, Minnal murali is everything that a cinephile would want out of a superhero origin story and more.

Yashwanth Chand is the Video Editor of 'The Pigeon'. He is also an avid movie watcher and likes to write about the films that have made a mark on him.