Basil Joseph in a scene from ‘Pravinkudu Shappu’
A well-crafted sequence can sometimes make a film worthwhile, even when the film in its entirety falls a notch below its potential. These sequences tell us about the possibilities a filmmaker has, and serve as a showreel of someone whose work is worth looking forward to. Such scenes abound in the films of debutant Sriraj Srinivasan Praveenkudu ShappuPartly thanks to cinematographer Shiju Khalid, who has shot some of the leading Malayalam films of the last decade.
To list a few of them, there is a school bus chase sequence that sends chills down your spine because of its clever staging; There are thoughtfully lit night scenes inside a toddy shop, and near a pond where a murder is taking place under the dim, red tail lamps of a vehicle; Or like a masked man attacking a house at night, seen from the perspective of the woman confronting him; Or even the opening sequence that combines a classic nostalgic song with a shocking scene.
However, the deftness in handling these scenes is not equally reflected in the film, which brings together a powerful blend of an investigative thriller and a black comedy. At its core is a typical Agatha Christie-like situation, with a death in a particular location and a handful of suspects. But instead of elite mansions or luxury trains, the venue here is a toddy shop frequented by village regulars, some of whom have had dubious records in the past. When the owner of a toddy shop is found dead, fingers are pointed at all of them.
Pravinudu Shappu (Malayalam)
director: Sriraj Srinivasan
mold: Basil Joseph, Soubin Shahir, Chandini Sreedharan, Chemban Vinod Jose
Order: 148 minutes
Story: The owner of a toddy shop is found dead one night, fingers of suspicion are pointed at some dirty customers, most of whom have had a questionable past
Police officer Santosh (Basil Joseph) takes more pride in solving crimes using intelligence than violence. It is Santosh who brings the humor to this film, and with easy transitions from goofiness to sharpness, Basil’s performance is one of the elements that holds the film together. As the investigation progresses, the past lives of the dead man and the suspects are revealed. However, some characterizations and situations are intentionally vague, perhaps to maintain the mystery until the end.
There seems to be a certain simplicity to the way the murder is carried out, you feel a little satisfied with the roundabout way of getting to that point. It just does the job without throwing you off your seat, which is something truly extraordinary people achieve. The editing is spot-on for the most part, with lots of changes back and forth in the non-linear narrative, but some scenes feel too long-winded and even unnecessary, given the information we already know. Are. Additionally, there are examples of insufficient or irrelevant information regarding motive.
Despite its interesting setting and generous dose of black humor, Praveenkudu Shappu End up underutilizing your potential.
Praveenkudu Shappu is currently running in theaters
published – January 16, 2025 05:30 PM IST
