In this episode of Start, Action Cut, Swathi, Meenu and Padmakumar are decoding the Malayalam investigation thriller movie Rekhachitram scripted by John Manthrickal and Ramu Sunil and directed by Jofin T Chacko. The movie stars Asif Ali and Anaswara Rajan in the lead and with Manoj K Jayan, Siddique, Jagadish, Harisree Ashokan, Zarin Shihab and Indrans in supporting roles.
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[00:00:11] Hello and welcome to Onmanorama Movie Podcast, Start, Action, Cut. Today we are decoding the Malayalam Investigation thriller, Rekhachithram, scripted by John Mantrikalantra Amo Sunil and directed by Jofinti Chako. The movie stars Asif Ali and Anaswara Rajan in lead roles and with Manoj K. Jayan, Siddiquh, Jagadish, Hari Shri Ashogan, Zarin Shihab and Indran in supporting roles. So the movie is a fascinating plot.
[00:00:39] And it's quite inventive in nature and it's quite cleverly schemed. So this novelty is what makes this movie a fresh engagement. So today we have Swati and Meenu to discuss the film. Swati, why do you think the movie is a thrilling affair? Well for me, Patmogumar, Rekhachithram was more than just a crime thriller. It was a tribute to the 80's Malayalam cinema and that really stood out for me.
[00:01:07] The way the film incorporated Kadho to Kadho Ram and with it a young Mammooti from the 80's along with the songs and the nostalgic feel was incredibly intriguing. I haven't watched many films from the 80's and so seeing a younger version of Mammooti like that was truly a very unique experience. It made me think about how huge Mammooti is as a star now and I was wondering about his star power back in the 80's.
[00:01:33] Now coming to the crime aspect of the film, I think Malayalam cinema has been seeing an influx of crime thrillers lately. It's interesting to observe how these films are evolving and the different approaches they take. But what made Rekhachithram stand out for me was how it combined its crime narrative with the nostalgia of a bygone era creating something more than just a regular thriller. And a speculative fictionist genre rarely explored in Malayalam cinema.
[00:01:59] And in that sense, the way they wore murder mystery into the backdrop of film was kind of interesting. But I wouldn't say that it gave me a very oh wow kind of experience. Because the crime aspect of it was pretty normal. It was neat. I wouldn't say bad or anything. It was kind of neat. But it did not excite me because I did not feel like there were too many twists or turns or any shocking factors in the way the plot progressed. But all in all, it was a very neatly made movie.
[00:02:28] Yeah, I too find it a very ordinary film. But seeing the rev reviews and both critical and commercial reception it's getting, people are saying that it's a great script. It's a very intriguing movie. And Minu, you two have the same opinion. What makes you think so? Yes, Patma Kumar, for me, Rekhachithram is actually decent narrative. Actually, the screenplay of the movie is undoubtedly the film star for me.
[00:02:58] Like weaving intelligent writing with seamless transitions between timelines. And here were past and the present organically weave in and out of the narrative. So here what stands out for me is the screenplay itself. And again, for me, this is not just an investigative thriller. Like, it's actually a speculative fiction. It's another yana. I think we need to treat the film as like it is.
[00:03:25] And again, Settegain is the backdrop of an unsolved 1985 murder. The film pays homage to 80 cinemas as Swadhi said earlier. And 80 cinema nostalgia actually pays homage to 80 cinema nostalgia and references to Parathan's Kadodakadaram. And an AI-generated appearance of Parathan as well as Mamuti. From that era evokes a sense of time travel for the audience, I think so.
[00:03:51] And the tribute to the iconic Devadoda party, which appeared recently in another film by Kunshaka Boban also. These things further Simmons in its connection to Malayalam cinema's history also. And I have seen many people saying this is just an average thriller or an average movie. And I have seen many movies in the movie comparing this to Kishkinda Vandam, the previous success one of Asifeli.
[00:04:16] But that movie is entirely set in a different plot and it's a different yana also. A complete neat investigative thriller. But this is not like that. It's something else. So we have to treat both movies in different ways, I think. And again, the technical brilliance of using modern techniques in the movie. This AI tools and things like that. We have to appreciate that thing also. And the casting of the movie is still out as if delivering a solid performance.
[00:04:45] And again, in trends as Chandrapan. He shines in the movie despite his minimal screen time. But leaving a lasting impact, I think. Again, Jagadish cameo and Anashita as Rekha. Like in the social media circles, she's now being a retro star after DQ. Through her performance. This is from this Osler and I think Pranay Vilaasam. She's now the new retro star in the Malayalam film.
[00:05:14] And again, Manoj Keejian, I think he continues to prove he's one of the Malayalam cinema's underrated gems. I just loved his performance in this also. And then another notable performance was by Zarin Shikharp. Who impressed again after Artem previous year. Yes, these are all praiseworthy adhesions in the movie. And I think it's a clean win for Joffindy Chaka also marking a significant improvement over his previous Vangelic Priest.
[00:05:43] Comparing to Priest with a sorted and organized narrative. And it proves that the screenplay is truly the hero of this gripping tale, I think. I think the connection the makers made with the story, the crime investigation and a movie of the past. So, people will be very curious to know how the sets might be then. And how the actors might be, how the audience might be.
[00:06:10] So, that curiosity I think kept the interests alive. And the other takeaway for me was, as Minu just mentioned, the performances. Asif Ali is sure to make his roles meticulous in this kind of roles. So, he has done several such movies before too. As an ever curious, confused and intensely motivated investigating officer. He was very brilliant in this movie.
[00:06:37] And who surprised me were Zarin Shikharp, as Minu just mentioned. She played the young Pushpump. And the whole essence of the intrigue lies in the deep and convincing performance she showcased. Then there is Manoj K. Jain. If you have no prior idea about who is who in the film, you will take a few minutes to identify the actor appearing as the aged Vincent.
[00:07:06] So, such is his transformation into the character and his demeanor. And gay perfectly matches the self-assured arrogance and indifference of a business mogul. What do you say, Swati? Well, Patma Kumar, I agree with you when you said about Asif Ali's performance. Obviously, there is no comparison with Kishkinta Kanda as such, because it's completely a different genre. But I think we really have to give credits to the kind of scripts that he has been choosing in the recent past.
[00:07:34] And all of it has been excellent. But if you look at the performance aspect of it, I would not agree to you, because they all gave out very decent performances, but I wouldn't say it was exceptional. Because as a police officer, his role was quite convincing. We've seen it in movies like Talavan as well, where he plays a police officer. I think Talavan was also a crime thriller. There is no similarity between the two characters, but he's taken police roles.
[00:08:03] And so, he's done a very decent performance. And Anashwara too, because we've seen her playing a very similar character in Oslo, I think there also I wouldn't, I couldn't say that I was quite impressed by it. She, of course, is a great performer. So she gave out like, like I said before, a very decent performance. But then again, I wouldn't say it was exceptional. I don't know. I'm sorry, but I didn't find very exceptional.
[00:08:27] But Sirin Shihab, on the other hand, I think it was very refreshing to see her take on a negative role in this movie. Because in Atom, we saw a completely different side, a shade to her. And here, in this story, she's somebody with, in the gray. And she is actually an evil person in this movie. And the way she, there are many scenes where she's shown calculating and thinking and plotting against certain people. And all of that really was interesting for me.
[00:08:55] So I think for me, performance wise, it was her performance that truly stood out. And other than that, all the other artists, all of them are exceptional. They are all proven their skill and talent. But it was her performance that really stood out for me. I think what puts the movie down a bit is the artificiality in the dialogues. It takes a toll on the movie. The language used is not realistic.
[00:09:23] For example, each time C.I. Vivek, the character played by Asif Ali, meets someone in connection with the investigation, he begins with the words like, in the year 1985, so and so things happen. And then he goes on like that. And I think each of the dialogues that they speak, they deliver, are bookish.
[00:09:45] The language is so bookish that it doesn't, nowadays I think, people are going so natural and so realistic. It may go well with you in terms of enjoying the movie. What do you say, Swati? I completely agree with you, Pat Mugmar. Because whenever Asif Ali is questioning or talking to a person, he's directly going to the 80s and he's like, Do you remember from this period somebody went missing and things like that?
[00:10:12] Nobody in their right, like nobody can recollect memories from that long ago I guess, just if you just ask them from this point of time. Just mentioning the year and the year. Yeah, yeah. I mean that was kind of absurd because especially there is one thing I particularly remember where he goes to Indran's character and he's like, Shetta, do you remember this person from that year? So, then they cover it up saying that Indran's somebody who never forgets anything. Well played in that part.
[00:10:38] But other than that, I don't think if you come and ask me what something had happened back in 2003 or 2004, I would remember anything from there, from that year. So, that is there. But, and another thing that, you know, like I mentioned, it felt more like a heartfelt tribute to the Malayalam cinema than a tightly crafted crime thriller. While the film does have enough material to qualify as a good crime thriller, it lacked that truly shocking moment that would leave you stunned. There weren't any twists or revelations that made me think,
[00:11:08] Oh wow, I didn't see that coming. Instead, its charm lay in the nostalgic note of the cinema because you know, you're seeing Mamuti, like Minu said, with the use of AI and stuff like that. That was really interesting for me because I was not from that era. And I was really thinking about the star power he has and the kind of impact cinema has on so many people, their aspirations. This one person comes from Kanya Kumari all the way to Kerala to be an actress. Her story, who was she? What did she have to say?
[00:11:36] And the whole point that who is this person? Because initially when you, when that skeleton is found, you don't know who that person is, where that person is from, no idea. But it's Asif Ali's job to find out every single detail about this person and that he does. How he reaches that point is interesting. But for me, it quite didn't hit the mark, I would say. Okay, Minu, wasn't that, didn't you find anything absurd or odd with that aspect in this movie?
[00:12:03] I just disagree with one point that, yes, there are a few dialogues which we feel like artificial or something. But that never haltered my cinematic experience of viewing this. I think that's okay while mixing up both the 90s kind of thing. That was okay and that never affected my cinematic experience of viewing this movie.
[00:12:27] And again, as Swati mentioned, there are some things like that, whether you remind something from 25 years back, yes, he remembers, but they brilliantly, like what, they gave an explanation for this thing and that's just went. That's it. There is nothing more for me to take on. So the novelty of the theme is something that gives the movie its freshness.
[00:12:54] And you have an engaging watch with curious moments of revisiting history of the making of films in those days. I mean, the movie Kadur Kaduram, which was released in 1985. And it sets the makers and the actors of that time and the present investigation. So what makes it the winner is the suspense that leaves no clue to the final revelation.
[00:13:22] I think I liked and I think almost all the audience might have loved it. So that brings us to the end of this episode. Thanks for listening to the podcast produced and hosted by me, Pat Mogumar. Follow www.onmanorama.com for more podcasts and movies. And be sure to come back for the next episode of Start Action Cut out on Mondays. Thank you. Thank you.