Malayankunju (2022) User Reviews

Fahadh soars again in a survival drama that doubles up as an intricate character study!

[nidhunmoviebuff · 8/10 · 24 July 2022]

The Fahadh Faasil-Mahesh Narayanan combination is one that has made a habit of only delivering superhits in Malayalam, right from the National Award-winning "Take Off (2017)" to the groundbreaking "C U Soon (2020)" and the moving "Malik (2021)". Despite Narayanan vacating the director's chair for his pupil Sajimon Prabhakar, the Mahesh Narayanan-ness of "Malayankunju" is clear for everyone to see, right from the intricate, rooted character study in the narrative to smooth intercuts as the storytelling uses the non-linear approach to good effect.

"Malayankunju" follows the journey of "Anikuttan" (Fahadh) a prickly, temperamental electrician living in the scenic foothills of rural Mulavumpara. Having suffered a devastating loss just some years ago, the enterprising technician is clearly suffering from PTSD and paranoia and is in many respects the antithesis of the happy-go-luck "Mahesh Bhavana" that Fahadh played so well in what I regard is his best work till date, the 2016 smash hit "Maheshinte Prathikaram". After painting a thoroughly enjoyable character persona of our titular protagonist, the story quickly moves into how he has his world literally and figuratively collapse around him after heavy rains cause a massive landslide.

Taking inspiration from the devastating Kerala Floods of 2018, it is no wonder that the makers had put out a warning before the movie's release that the film is not suitable for claustrophobes. Mahesh Narayanan's screenplay and cinematography come into full effect as we see the protagonist try to survive being caved in and figure a way out in scarily confined spaces. The cliched "Fahadh's eyes" have become a running meme these days, but it cannot be overstated how much the actor relies on them here to convey paranoia, dread and ultimately hope and redemption as the story movies along.

That Fahadh Faasil disappears into the character of an obsessive, irascible villager is no longer a surprise at this point but it is truly awe-inspiring that he makes us buy into and empathize with a persona that is so unlikeable and unrelatable at the onset. As the deft storytelling of director Sajimon shows us how the curmudgeonly electrician is suspicious of everyone and everything around him, interlinked flashbacks to his tumultuous past give us more insight into what made him this way and the pain he has undergone due to trying circumstances. "Malayankunju" delivers a poignant yet hopeful chronicle of how if you open your heart and relinquish your doubts and fears, redemption and absolution will find you rather than you going vainly in search for them. Highly recommended!

FaFa rocks and so does Ponni !

[cksquare · 8/10 · 22 July 2022]

Nicely done.

A lot of things are bandied about in this movie. Nice message, deserving for the humans of today.

But none of it hinders in the story telling. And individual performances from the lead played by FaFa and everyone else including Ponni stands out.

Good cinema.

Disaster drama

[cinish · 8/10 · 25 July 2022]

Fahad excelled not only in the nuanced portrayal of the various shades and times of the character, but also in portraying the extreme situations.

First half is all about the writing which has been brilliantly done and very well directed.

Art direction takes the lead in the second half. The writing might have taken a back seat there and just does finishing touches to bring the art direction to a close.

A R Rahman's background score complemented Fahad's stupendous acting in the second half. There were a few spots where the BGM seemed too loud and distracted the scene.

Unlike the pattern of overwhelm in disaster movies where the viewer has to suffocate through all the tragedy around, "Malayankunju" was laser focused on one plight.

A bit of a slack in the writing in the second half writing is probably what is leaving the movie slightly short of the total satisfaction feeling that some movie experiences give. Even then, it is a recommended watch - amazing art work, top notch performance from Fahad and great writing/direction!

I did not notice much about editing. And when that happens, usually that means the editing has been excellent. Thinking back, I think edits have been excellent. There has never been a distracting edit where the viewer is left wondering what happened there.

FaFa is just amazing

[vigneshxyz-56633 · 27 July 2022]

The movie is set in a village greenery atmosphere of Idukki. The plot is great. Casting is excellent. The climax scene is the highlight of the movie.. I really loved it... The technical side is applaudable and overall I enjoyed the movie...

Good movie, yet wanted more

[alphadude007 · 6/10 · 23 July 2022]

This is a good movie and the storyline, subtle undertones of casteism, and the music was all good. However, as an audein who watched it in the theater, I wanted a bit more. Again, could be the case that our expectations from.a theatrical release has been elevated due to the recent barrage of big movies (KGF2, RRR, Vikram etc.). Wanted the sequence where Fahad was trapped in the landslide to be a bit more longer and a tad more dramatic. But, overall was a good experience, and Fahad has acted his heart out. Would recommend a theatrical viewing, but wish there was a bit more to it.

Win from Fahadh

[panimozhi-j · 7/10 · 13 August 2022]

The man who treats us with sensible and different genres film, has now come with survival drama. The plot is simple and address the caste issue on sideline. Fahadh scores throughout the film no other major supporting doesn't got scope to do themselves.

Excellent movie

[najmalwork · 10/10 · 23 July 2022]

I just finished watching the movie. I am astounded by the acting skills of Fahad Fazil. I couldn't stop thinking about how much he has evolved as an actor as I walked out of that exit door. There are a lot of other positives related to the movie, such as the superb direction, brilliant cinematography and excellent cast. Also, much praise should be given to the art department. One cannot ignore the part AR Rahman played in this movie. The movie's very essence was elevated to the next level by his music and the BGM. Even though the movie's survival element isn't exactly gripping, it's still a great film that you should see in the theatre just to witness the master , FaFa , is becoming..

Apart from the last act, the rest of the movie works well!

[SoumikBanerjee1996 · 7/10 · 14 August 2022]

What I'm about to say might be upsetting for a lot of you, and it may also sound like I'm getting supercritical, but I gotta own up to the fact that I just couldn't appreciate the concluding act as much as I originally wanted to. By the way, you all must be mindful of the fact that this is not a survival thriller! Unlike what the trailers might have implied.

Yes, there is indeed a whole segment (like I said, the entire third act) that concentrates on the facets of survival but that is one of the many attributes of the script. The narrative here mostly puts its priority on the subject of casteism, bigotry & prejudice; which are still very much prevalent in our society.

The exhibition of survival has been established only as an instrument to showcase a transitory phase of a certain morality! While I do agree that, given the occasion, incorporating such an element was rather a necessity than a choice. However, the way it's been shown leaves a lot to be desired.

Now, barring the somewhat disappointing last act, the rest of the movie is pretty incredible! Whether it be the initial build-up of Anikuttan; (played by an unprecedented Fahadh Faasil), an incredible score (masterfully composed by none other than A. R. Rahman), or the graceful Cinematography; they all collaboratively make for an applaudable undertaking that not only disseminates an all-important statement but it also symbolizes what it takes to be a 'human'.

Malayankunju: One Man Show of FAFA with ARR Impact BGM

[skmenon1993 · 9/10 · 22 July 2022]

Malayankunju starring Fahadh Faasil in lead role... Also starring Indrans, Jaffar Iddiqui, Ramisha Vijayan...

Directed by Sajimon.... Written by Mahesh Narayanan.

Verdict of the Movie: Hit....

Plot of the Movie:

Anil Kumar played by Fahad Fassil is an electronic mechanic leading a life of distress..

The 1st half of the movie just takes us the journey of Anil Kumar's daily life routines, his inappropriate behaviour towards the people so on and so forth.... The 1st half ends with a landslide happening at one midnight....

The second half begins with the journey of Anil Kumar finding a way out from the 40 feet approx down towards the light of life and in that journey what all sufferings he need to cross and also what he realises about the life forms the rest part of the story....

Mahesh Narayanan had penned very well focusing on the pain of the people who looses everything on a landslide. We often hear news of landslides but what exactly happens to that family, how they emotionally overcomes the loss had been beautifully portrayed in Mahesh Narayanan screen play...

As Mahesh Narayanan also undertook the cinematography, he beautifully framed the sequences which made the 2nd half watchable

Sajimon directoral debut proved worthy....

A. R. Rahman music was very soothing...Also the BGM of his was the backbone which just gripped the screenplay during 2nd half...

Fahad Fassil spectacular performance... If 2nd of the movie was watchable it was the one man show of his stellar performance....

Overall Malayankunju delivers a decent survival thriller experience & also makes the people feel about those people who suffers due to landslide when they hear next time...

Fahadh Faasil - Mahesh Narayanan combo strike gold once again! [+73%]

[arungeorge13 · 7/10 · 11 August 2022]

Whenever Fahadh Faasil and Mahesh Narayanan collaborate, we have come to expect nothing short of quality work (Take Off, C U Soon, and Malik) and Malayankunju also rises to the occasion. Anikkuttan, an electrician, loses his father to suicide and the entire saga around this incident has left him somewhat traumatic. The effects of this trauma are deftly conveyed in the first half which can be deemed the "setup". He looks down upon people from lower castes, he has detached himself from his sibling, and the cries of a neighboring baby constantly bother him. What's highlighted in these portions is how much of a casteist moron he is.

The second half is where the "survival thriller" part kicks in. From there on, dialogues are absent and the film is driven by A R Rahman's score, Fahadh Faasil's expressive eyes, a claustrophobiic milieu, and the same baby noises that troubled him earlier, now guiding him. Knowing the film's plot earlier, I couldn't help but take note when Anikuttan (Fahadh) purchases a water-proof torch from a shop in the first half of the film. It's details like these that enhance the second half even when it's just Fahadh crawling through tiny spaces for a considerable amount of time. His electrician skills also come into play at multiple points. But his concern for the baby's life while trying to save his own, overrides most of it. This redemptive arc, coupled with technical finesse, makes the 1h 54m film worth a watch.

A R Rahman's score is a bit overdone in places, but if this is any indicator of his full-fledged re-entry into Malayalam cinema, I'm all in for it. Jothish Shankar's production design, Vishnu Govind's sound design, and Mahesh Narayanan's cinematography are all splendid!

Background Music all over the place

[sarnab123 · 5/10 · 24 July 2022]

1) Lacked plot 2) It seemed that AR Rahman's background music was brought in to negate the lack of plot.

3) The background music was loud and lacked the emotion infact it overpowered the audience's connection with the characters. We dont have to go far , just listen to "Joji"s BGM - it amplifies the audience's emotions.

Just a filler movie for FaFa. Not as bad as "Irul" - not even close to his better movies.

Super movie

[bibinbabyynaryalil · 9/10 · 23 July 2022]

Excellent acting by fahad supported by jaffar idukki .. excellent camera .... Altogether we have another cinematic experience Not getting the AR music magic.

Fahadh Faasil is an absolute show-stealer in this burning survival drama.

[SAMTHEBESTEST · 6/10 · 26 August 2022]

Malayankunju (2022) : Movie Review -

Fahadh Faasil is an absolute show-stealer in this burning survival drama. If I say Malayalam cinema makes most of the sensible movies and Fahadh Faasil is one of the finest actors we have in the country currently, tell me, would I be wrong? Unlike his previous classics, Fahadh Faasil plays a very tough role - physically. I haven't seen this guy putting so much physical effort into any other film before, and let me warn you, I have seen almost every acclaimed film of his before making this statement. Malayankunju is a human survival drama, but it has got several other aspects to the disaster story. In the first half, it's just a plain human drama, and a very slow one. But then the second half has a lot of action and thrilling moments that eventually describe the entire narrative. The climax has a subtle meaning, and it's easy to understand. Anikkuttan is an ill-tempered electronics technician who leads a quiet life with his mother. His daily routines are disrupted when his next-door neighbor's newborn baby stirs up undesirable memories from his past. The mother of the baby is actually his sister, and there is a small backstory to it, which makes good sense. However, this predictable and decent-looking story turns the tables in the second half and leaves you stunned for a while. Hats off to Fahadh Faasil's dedication. No doubt, Malayankunju is one of his finest performances, but also the toughest role he has ever played on screen. Those last 30-35 minutes will show you what a hard-working and focused actor Fahadh is. And how dedicated he is to his work. It's a one-man show actually, but the supporting cast has done a good job too. Sajimon Prabhakar's direction is fine, but I think the pace could have been fastened a little. It takes time (for unknown reasons), but is worth the wait. Watch it for Fahadh's amazing performance and the new dimensions of human survival drama.

RATING - 6.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Plain, boring, Meh !

[cool_andhot · 4/10 · 12 August 2022]

First of all , I don't see anything wrong with Anikuttan. I can't sleep with a baby crying next door. He definitely healing the loss of his father and shows the anger, understandable. Then landslide and survival. He did any other human being would have done. He is not a changed man because there was nothing to change. Very linear, kind of boring film. But Fahad was brilliant.

Survival thriller

[vibhus-17780 · 7/10 · 18 August 2022]

Good survival thriller . Once again Fahadh Faasil gave a marvelous performance . His characterisation was well written , his character arc was quite intresting to watch . First half , it took some time to build the story and second half was complete survival thriller . Second half was nail biting and tense they created was good but it ended quite early . Movie ending was bit rushed . Cinematography was great . Overall a good survival thriller to watch with your family.

Fahad fasil , Mahesh Narayan combo works again

[crravikiran · 7/10 · 11 August 2022]

Although this movie was promoted as comeback of AR Rahman into Malayalam, fahad fasil stands apart once again with his great acting. The movie sends a big message to mostly short tempered people.

Dada's best performance

[ksgsujith · 10/10 · 23 July 2022]

Best performance ever by Fafa and Rahman has taken this movie to another level with his music. All actors have done their best. Director has made is debut a remarkable one. Mahesh narayanan has done his part very well.

Solid drama

[m-ramanan · 7/10 · 29 August 2022]

RATED 7/10 Language: Malayalam Source: Amazon Prime

Started to watch with too much of expectations based on the very positive reviews. Bit disappointed, mostly because of the expectations. The story is very simple and the survival drama is only last 30 minutes. The survival part was filmed very well and it looks so real. FF shined very well. Even in the survival portion, the repeated dialog irritated bit more.

The drama is solid and so realistic. The location, art work and camera is so good. And ARR is clearly presented his mark in each and every scene. ARR really added grand values to the scenes.

Good one...

Slow at times but worth it

[rahulmani45 · 8/10 · 22 July 2022]

The films starts slow, introducing characters and giving us a picture of Fahad Faasil's Anil, an electronics repair man.

First half was bit slow for my liking when it builds the narrative, till the event of the movie comes up in the interval. The one hour pre interval bit feels stretched.

Post interval is when the plot moves on to the rebirth of Anil, when he escapes from the old self, and becomes a changed man.

And the second part of the movie goes fast, making the audience gasp when finally the credits roll in awe of how fast it ended.

The technical aspects are perfect, creating the feeling of being trapped in the second half and AR Rahmans music adds to the mood.

So definitely a watchable flick from Fahad.

Not everybody's cup of tea

[nitheeshcg · 6/10 · 26 July 2022]

First of all it's a pure ott film. The sound effects was good hats off to ARR sir, a song and the bgm was in sync with the film. The actors did a good job, they played their part perfectly. That being said I got bored often and few scenes in the sond half doesn't make any sense at all. Personally, I strongly believe this movie is overrated.

A tedious watch. Not my cup of tea!

[joppanLive · 3/10 · 12 August 2022]

In simple words, first half is 'ok', and second half is just 'meh'. Overall an exhausting watch. I watched it knowing this is a survival movie, and still didn't like it; just watched it till the end just to finish it; a very tiring watch. For me, this is only a OTT watch, and would be curious whether this really attract people in theater. Because at the end, I along with my family just said the same thing, and that is " ithu Enthu cinimaya! "... and I am sure many will say the same. Strictly not everyone's cup of tea.

More realistic movie

[brawlmedia · 9/10 · 23 July 2022]

The movie explores the caste based segregations which is still rampant in the society and gives realistic visual representation. Also, it shows the terror of how landslide works in the most realistic way.

First half deserved a 9.8 and 2nd half falls short of expectations a little( I give a 8.2).

Sound system is perfectly used in this movie. Don't watch any pirated version of this movie. Either watch in theatres or dont watch at all.

A below average film, definitely not worth watching

[sachinxavr · 2/10 · 25 July 2022]

I watched it on theatre. One may feel that the story is incomplete but it's quite okay. Fahad acted well but just because somebody acted well in a film doesn't make the entire movie great.

For me it was a below average movie. Throughout the movie we can see a poor writing, script must be solid for a survival thriller.

And those who show goosebumps by watching this movie must watch any fairly rated Hollywood survival thriller, then you will understand how poorly this movie is executed.

It's an universal subject so makers could have made it much better.

That mother character was so good.

Direction is average and cinematography is below average.

Usually theatre watching gives a better experience when it's a survival thriller. But this movie is definitely not a worth watching on theatre.

Story, cinematography, emotions and yea Fahad = 10/10

[akshaysuvarna · 10/10 · 25 July 2022]

Beautifully crafted master piece of emotional roller coaster, Only and only Fahad could pull it off . Hats off to the acting maestro.

Beautifully crafted master piece of emotional roller coaster, Only and only Fahad could pull it off . Hats off to the acting maestro.

.

Fahad Fazil Magic

[karthajayakrishnan · 8/10 · 29 July 2022]

Again Fahad fazil magic took this film upto the mark. This is a theatrical experience and well made one. Story is simple one but making and acting made this movie awsome. Breathe taking one.