Nizhal is a thriller movie currently streaming on Primevideo in orig. Malayalam w/Eng. Subs. It was a lot more engrossing than expected.
The film starts on a somewhat eerie note with the sudden sound of a car crash on a forest road waking a (fake looking) frogmouth type of bird. The bird wakes but just blinks. Quite effective, had it been a real bird.
Cut to : A judicial magistrate John Baby (Kunchacko Boban) recovering from a bad car accident, resumes his court duties wearing a peculiar Batman type of nose guard while his nose heals. This of course causes a mild flutter in the staid courtroom atmosphere and left me wondering if it was a Batman type fantasy film, which fortunately it is not! The accident has left Baby seeing rain showers when it is not raining at all. His doctor assures him this is a temporary PTSD and will pass. Baby's boss the CJM (Saiju Kurup) is also very supportive. Baby's best friends (Rony David) and his psychologist wife Shalini (Divya Prabha) also reassure and encourage him.
Shalini mentions about her patient, a young boy Nitin (Izin Hash) referred by his school as he bizarrely narrates murder incidents and obscure place names which a child of that age should have no inkling about. She arranges for Baby to meet Nitin and his mother Sharmi (Nayanthara). Baby is more than intrigued and starts investigations which indeed turn up a skeleton ...... going back a few decades.
No Spoilers, whoever has bothered to read this far can watch or not watch per their inclination.
The narrative continues in this vein, sometimes rather scary though this is not a horror or supernatural film even if one is led to believe so for a moment. The locations are realistic, some beautiful old houses showcased, the best scenery of Hogenakkal and overall effective cinematography.
The film has its moments of medium suspense though not of the edge of your seat variety, and there are quite a few loose ends such as why Baby is being followed which is not disclosed. The courtroom scenes are quite humorous with a sly satirical dig or two here and there!
Kunchacko Boban essays his role well. Nayanthara is okay. The child actor Izan Hash is somewhat stilted but looks cute enough. Saiju Kurup, Rony David, Divya Prabha, Baby's mother (Srilatha), his court clerk Valsala (Jolly Chirayath), his driver, the old man Vishwanathan(Lal) and all the police characters are realistic and effective but their roles are limited.
The background music is tacky and soap opera melodramatic style sound effects which take the overall film down a notch or two. The last song in the end frames is good.
Overall, very watchable. Despite the flaws I liked Nizhal much better than Kunchacko Boban's superhit Anjaam Pathira. Though his best film till date remains the outstanding Take Off .....
The film starts on a somewhat eerie note with the sudden sound of a car crash on a forest road waking a (fake looking) frogmouth type of bird. The bird wakes but just blinks. Quite effective, had it been a real bird.
Cut to : A judicial magistrate John Baby (Kunchacko Boban) recovering from a bad car accident, resumes his court duties wearing a peculiar Batman type of nose guard while his nose heals. This of course causes a mild flutter in the staid courtroom atmosphere and left me wondering if it was a Batman type fantasy film, which fortunately it is not! The accident has left Baby seeing rain showers when it is not raining at all. His doctor assures him this is a temporary PTSD and will pass. Baby's boss the CJM (Saiju Kurup) is also very supportive. Baby's best friends (Rony David) and his psychologist wife Shalini (Divya Prabha) also reassure and encourage him.
Shalini mentions about her patient, a young boy Nitin (Izin Hash) referred by his school as he bizarrely narrates murder incidents and obscure place names which a child of that age should have no inkling about. She arranges for Baby to meet Nitin and his mother Sharmi (Nayanthara). Baby is more than intrigued and starts investigations which indeed turn up a skeleton ...... going back a few decades.
No Spoilers, whoever has bothered to read this far can watch or not watch per their inclination.
The narrative continues in this vein, sometimes rather scary though this is not a horror or supernatural film even if one is led to believe so for a moment. The locations are realistic, some beautiful old houses showcased, the best scenery of Hogenakkal and overall effective cinematography.
The film has its moments of medium suspense though not of the edge of your seat variety, and there are quite a few loose ends such as why Baby is being followed which is not disclosed. The courtroom scenes are quite humorous with a sly satirical dig or two here and there!
Kunchacko Boban essays his role well. Nayanthara is okay. The child actor Izan Hash is somewhat stilted but looks cute enough. Saiju Kurup, Rony David, Divya Prabha, Baby's mother (Srilatha), his court clerk Valsala (Jolly Chirayath), his driver, the old man Vishwanathan(Lal) and all the police characters are realistic and effective but their roles are limited.
The background music is tacky and soap opera melodramatic style sound effects which take the overall film down a notch or two. The last song in the end frames is good.
Overall, very watchable. Despite the flaws I liked Nizhal much better than Kunchacko Boban's superhit Anjaam Pathira. Though his best film till date remains the outstanding Take Off .....