Movies like Bramayugam are all about the art of cinema rather than weaving in elements that please the audience, writes Kausalya Suharika R.
Mammootty, a versatile actor has a variety of characters in his legendary list of credits. In the recently released ‘Kathal’ he played a homosexual and now with a bang role of a bad guy in a folklore kind of a story in ‘Bramayugam’ he continues to ace his game. Movie is splendidly created with philosophical to thriller/horror elements in a no-technology Portugese era in Kerala.
Bramayugam is entirely in the visual style of ‘Film noir’. Doing these movies is tough as it is but pulling mainstream actors and bringing a decent crowd to the movie theatres shows the movie makers dedication towards cinema.
Story: A man named Thevan (Arjun Ashokan) gets lost in a forest and stumbles upon an old mansion that’s falling apart. Hungry and in need of help, he enters the mansion without hesitation. The owner, Kodumon Potti (Mammootty), allows him inside only after Thevan sings for him, using his melodious voice as an offering. Inside the mansion, There are a couple of other people in the house, a cook (Sidharth Bharathan) and a lady (Amalda Liz). He is treated well and given delicious food. However, strange things start happening in the mansion, and when Thevan asks about them, the cook warns him not to worry and just do as he’s told. As the days pass, Thevan learns more about the mysterious mansion, its owner, and the people inside, leading to a suspenseful unfolding of events.
Bramayugam is that movie that inspires people towards the art of cinema:
Mammootty’s portrayal is the standout highlight of the film, as he breathes life into the character and captivates the audience’s hearts, a feat only achievable by him. He played the character with much ease. Even some of the action scenes, if someone else would be in his place in that age would have easily said no and asked the director to rewrite the scenes, but the movie is loyal to the script, so is the legendary actor.
Thevan played by Arun Ashokan is the mirror of the common audience who’s watching the movie. His portrayal of transformation from an innocent man to lead actor is appreciated. He is maintaining his standard, authenticity, and passion for acting doing roles like these. Sidharth Bharathan came out with an impressive performance for his role.
Photography: Movie is made in ‘Film noir’. All the scenes, especially thriller scenes will haunt you even after the movie for days. Reminds you of the old Hollywood movies that sincerely followed these techniques. Movies like ‘Brmayugam’ are rare nowadays. Visual thrillers are now focused on impressing viewers with rushed screenplay rather than prioritizing the quality of the movie itself, but this is broken by ‘Bramayugam’.
Christo Xavier’s musical composition is truly remarkable, adding depth and emotion to the film’s narrative.
Had the storyline been more compelling Bramayugam would have reached new heights:
Although, it has all the elements to be a more haunting hit, due to the lack of strong story, the movie hasn’t reached that high level which it deserves. You often find yourself asking questions like “Why did this happen?” or “Was this necessary?” These logical queries disrupt the flow of the story and can hinder your enjoyment of the movie. To truly appreciate the beautifully crafted film, you must suspend all the external thoughts and accept the events as they unfold.
Rahul Sadasivan(director and writer), T. D. Ramakrishnan(dialogues), Chakravarthy Ramachandra(producer), S. Sashikanth(producer), Shehnad Jalal(cinematographer), Christo Xavier(music composer), Shafique Mohammed Ali(editor), Night Shift Studios & YNOT Studios(production companies), and all the movie lovers should celebrate the revival of this extinct filmmaking brought to life in Bramayugam.
Rating: 3/5
