Ayyappanum Koshiyum
Introduction
This movie was in my list for the longest time. And I had been getting requests to review it. But owing to the new releases, this kept getting pushed to the backburner. But come this weekend with shockingly not many new releases, I decided to watch and review the Malayalam film Ayyappanum Koshiyam on Amazon Prime. Rule number 1 : Lets call this film AK (not to be confused with AK vs. AK) and Rule number 2 : Check Rule Number 1. So here we go!
Story & Screenplay
AK is the story of a rivalry between a police officer and a Hawildar(ranked in the army with a strong political connect) due to an ego tussle. That is all you need to know. One of the simplest premises that has resulted in cinematic brilliance! The screenplay was tricky as is the case with all Malayalam movies. But the screenplay is extremely engaging from the word go! If anything, certain scenes could have been avoided as they just added to the length of the film but otherwise this is a 172 minute joyride! The twists that the film takes are predictable but fun to watch. This almost unfolds like an action thriller without over the top action sequences. Speaking of which the action sequences seem just so real. This could easily have been a commercial potboiler with people flying from the kicks and blows. Instead you get scenes that are real and really keep you invested.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are excellent and add a layer of engagement to the drama. I loved the BGM too and the music that actually enhanced the drama. The direction by Sachy was an uphill task but it was truely spot on! This could so easily have gone haywire by overindulging in the subject, yet the man was in full control of the proceedings.
Performances
The performances by all actors is impeccable. But the film hinges on the performances of Biju Menon as Ayappan and Prithviraj as Koshy. Recently we had seen Anurag Kashyap and Anil Kapoor feed off each other in AK vs AK. Well this is no different. The chemistry that these two share is infectious. The writing doesn’t allow you to take sides and so you end up rooting for both of them. Two fabulous actors that have created magic onscreen.
Conclusion
As a trivia, John Abraham has purchased rights for the Hindi remake of this movie. And that shall be an uphill task already. Ayyappanum Koshiyam is fun, entertaining and 172 minutes of cinematic brilliance. Malayalam industry has yet again proved that it is a front runner in India although quite underrated! Available on Amazon Prime and Highly Highly Recommended!