Microscope Movie Review: Nazriya Nazim, Basil Joseph headline a cleverly written thriller that provides a satisfying high

A scene from ‘Sukshmadarshini’. Photo Credit: @thinkmusicofficial/Youtube

To prying eyes, the most innocuous actions may appear suspicious. Priyadarshini (Nazriya Nazim) is a little mischievous in her neighborhood microscope is set. At times, she almost behaves like the kind of neighbor no one would ever want. We get an interesting character detail that he is a microbiology graduate, for whom a microscope (Microscope) is a part of his business. Simply his lens is trained more on his neighbor rather than on germs.

The character’s inherent curiosity and his suspicion towards newly arrived neighbor Manuel (Basil Joseph) drives the story of MC Jithin’s film. Manuel is not a typical suspicious character unless you look very closely, like Priyadarshini. He takes care of his sick mother, throws a lavish feast for his new neighbors and generally appears to be well-behaved. But there is always something unique in his behavior, something that no one can put a finger on.

Screenwriters Libin TB and Atul Ramachandran don’t let you fully understand this character or the events surrounding him till the end, as they throw us off with well-placed twists at various points. Only on a few occasions are we one step ahead of Priyadarshini, who is accompanied by some equally bumbling neighborhood detectives (Akhila Bhardwaj and Pooja Mohanraj), who are constantly connected via WhatsApp. The writers excel only in managing to maintain this sense of intrigue around Manuel’s house until almost the end. microscope In an entertaining time.

A scene from ‘Sukshmadarshini’. Photo Credit: @thinkmusicofficial/Youtube

Some of this may be achieved through fictional writing, but the way it is portrayed on screen makes us overlook such minor failings. The unexpected humor in tense situations also distracts you, leaving one to wonder if this is all a clever creation to elicit laughs, and not something sinister as everyone suspects. The writers really step up their game in the latter half when they bring together all the elements laid out along the way to deliver a satisfying high. Ultimately the script details every little detail, from the accidental dent on Priyadarshini’s car to the red cloth that Manuel ties to a pole.

Just when Basil Joseph was starting to get a bit typecast as the happy-go-lucky guy next door, he chose a role that gave him a chance to effectively explore his unlikeable side. In her comeback after four years, Nazriya Nazim’s role is almost in the territory of her most popular bubbly characters, but there are points where her performance goes well beyond what is required. The supporting cast, especially Siddharth Bharathan in an uncharacteristic role, always keeps the journey interesting.

microscope is a cleverly written thriller that transforms an otherwise easy-going movie into an elevated experience. This marks yet another addition to Malayalam cinema’s consistent performance this year, both in terms of quality and diversity.

Microscope is currently running in theaters