- Date of Release: 23 January 2025
- Genre: Comedy, Thriller
- Language: Malayalam
- Watch On: Theatres Only
Dominic and the Ladies' Purse
Introduction
In the Malayalam film Dominic And The Ladies’ Purse, Dominic has the potential to be one of the more iconic characters coming from the Malayalam Film Industry – he is goofy yet sharp, he is a loner yet thrives in his solitude, he is an ex-cop yet a genius of a detective (or so we would come to know over the course of the film). It doesn’t take long enough for the viewers to warm up to him and his antics, even as you see him hiring his ‘Watson’ in the opening sequence based on a ‘zero introduction’ and almost immediately pulling him in for an investigative case. It must be noted that the character of Dominic isn’t as noble as some of the other cop or ex-cop characters of Mammootty – he isn’t as righteous as Jacob in Yavanika (1982), neither as understated as Sethurama Iyer in the CBI franchise, yet the overlapping traits of sharpness are inculcated in his character while taking into account a 20% deduction error, only to signal that he is human afterall, a trait that makes him stand out from the zillion characters based on the iconic ‘Sherlock Holmes’. And what Dominic does is not only participate in a largely engaging investigative drama but also coaxes you to overlook a few of the writing flaws.
Story & Screenplay
The tonal premise of Dominic And The Ladies Purse is similar to that of Sookshmadarshini starring an ex-cop turned amateur detective who solves cases for a living – except that the cases that land on his lap are as frivolous as spying on their spouses, something that Dominic (Mammootty) regards as a disservice to his potential. So, it hardly comes as a surprise that he is immediately dismissive of the case of the ladies’ purse that comes his way via his landlord who is willing to forego his rent and other expenses. This in turn also comes as a justification for Dominic willing to go an extra mile to take bribes while being non-committal towards the salary of Vignesh (Gokul Suresh), his ‘Watson’. As per Dominic, his mentorship and Vignesh’s Scooter transport are enough to get him the mantle of his assistant. But seldom does Dominic know that his latest frivolous case would open a can of worms while the investigation begins to gain momentum.
One little flaw that was with respect to the writing was its characterization. Apart from Dominic, the other characters that are skimmed through the investigation aren’t exactly fleshed out to the point of being emotionally invested in them. This is understandable given the mystery surrounding the investigation that automatically branched into a goosechase with everyone being a suspect. Tonally, the drama does remain a little inconsistent given that Dominic at times breaks into a fist-fight in a sequence that felt borrowed from the DNA of Mammootty’s previous outing Turbo (2024). Luckily, the writing offers several engaging moments even as the investigation opens new horizons along the way, while you are coaxed into a guessing game!
There are minor moments of lag that momentarily breaks the simmering momentum of the drama but the writing hangs on to your interest by quickly getting back on track. This, while a searing layer of mystery clouts the drama even as it shifts focus from a bustling town to a foggy hill station. The tonal inconsistencies are prevalent in this phase too that briefly flirts with a romantic angle coupled with another brawl featuring the character of Dominic but these fleeting moments do not disconnect you from the drama. The lack of characterization though doesn’t allow the drama to soar new heights in the second hour, even as you are briefly acquainted with characters that minutely give away spoilers through their body language. Fortunately (you see a definite pattern of pros and cons throughout the drama), the twists and turns are enough to keep you invested while also keeping the investigation alive.
The drama really comes to life in that spectacular final act with a revelation that I just did not see coming. Yes, an intrinsic shortcoming lies in the timelines that does convolute the drama to an extent but, make no mistake, that finale twist is a good one (although not really novel on celluloid) that literally made me go, ‘WHATTTTT’. There are atleast two films that have implemented a similar twist – one a direct to OTT Tamil film and another, a big-budget Hindi film from last year (that raked a heftly moolah but was so lame otherwise), but still, the shocker of a reveal did hold my attention. If anything, I would have wished for a parallel ‘disconnected’ narrative for an even better impact, but it sure does elevate the narrative here. So overall, the screenplay might be flawed but it still accounts for a rather engaging watch coupled with the phenomenal act of Mammootty (more on him later).
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are entertaining while allowing Dominic to unleash his playful side. The BGM is racy and often allows the drama to shift gears while moving past a few of the lags. The cinematography comprises of frames that allows you to be a bystander in the investigative drama while eves-dropping into the conversations that transpire. This was crucial given that the plot was character-driven, and that the entire investigation did unfold through the lens of Dominic. In fact, the frames played a very crucial role in staying connected to the drama even when it had momentarily lags with one example being the seamless transition with the frames oscillating between a coloured one to a monochrome (to indicate a POV of sorts). The editing could have been a touch better here. It wasn’t bad in any way and it still worked fine for most parts of the runtime, but it needed to account for a momentary lag in the drama which could have ensured a crisper watch. Director Gautham Vasudev Menon does manage to do a good job although a minor criticism wpuld be reserved for his tonal inconsistencies. Still, he managed to ace the characterization of Dominic while maintaining a good grip on the narrative to ensure that the investigative drama remained engaging, through and through.
Performances
The performances are pretty good by the members of the cast although not all characters are well fleshed out, or have a character arc. I shall be withholding the character names (of a few characters) to avoid spoilers. The veterans like Vineeth and Vijay Babu are pretty good in underwritten characters, otherwise. Harshitha Pisharody, Laya Simpson and Wafa Khatheeja are first rate and both manage to leave a lasting impression. Meenakshi Unnikrishnan as Pooja has her moments to shine despite a limited screentime. Viji Venkatesh as Madhuri is heartwarming while being sincere and earnest with her character. Sushmitha Bhatt as Nandhita has a radiating presence onscreen and she definitely scores with her body language and expressions. Gokul Suresh as Vignesh is decent and he manages to do a fairly effective job here. But the show undoubtedly belongs to Mammootty who delivers yet another knockout performance as Dominic. It won’t be wrong to say that when the drama falters with the writing, it is Mammootty who rises to the occasion and manages to hold onto your attention with his antics that are fun and engaging through and through. There is a rhythm to his character and he barely drops a beat, while delivering a measured performance that is filled with fun and class. It was yet another towering performance by an actor who refuses to age (he is 72? 😮), while ensuring yet another solid outing! And, this might be the origin story of a character (read : Dominic) that would only grow from this point.
Conclusion
Despite its flaws, Dominic And The Ladies’ Purse is an engaging investigative drama boasting of good performances that makes for an absorbing watch. It may not be the best from the Malayalam Film Industry in recent times (considering their sky high standards), but it is still worth your time. Available in a theatre near you.
