Officer On Duty

 

I watched Officer On Duty on Netflix after seeing all the excellent feedback online. Yet again, the Malayalam film industry delivers one of the finest thrillers. This is the fourth Malayalam movie I’ve watched this year that I really liked—all of them thrillers, action-packed, and story-driven. It’s amazing to see so many good films coming out in such a short time from the same industry. It really shows the strength of Malayalam cinema—especially the writing and direction.

The story revolves around police officer Hari, who starts off investigating a case of counterfeit jewelry. What begins as a seemingly small crime slowly unravels into something much bigger, affecting him both professionally and personally. The way this investigation ties into his personal life, and how it connects to drug rackets, is something best experienced while watching.

From the very beginning, the movie grabs your attention. It starts with curiosity, introduces Hari and the case, and then gradually builds up with twists and emotional layers. The screenplay connects all the dots beautifully by the climax. If someone narrates the plot in a straight line, it might sound like a simple story. But the way it’s told—nonlinear, revealing bits and pieces as it goes—makes it so much more gripping. That’s what sets Malayalam films apart. They don’t follow the usual Hero-Heroine-Villain formula. Instead, they focus on telling a good story in an engaging way. I really hope they keep making films like this. And I’m happy that this one also did well commercially.

The casting is spot-on. Kunchacko Boban, who plays Hari, is fantastic. Known mostly for his romantic roles, he completely transforms here with a calm yet intense performance. He carries the seriousness throughout the film so well—you wouldn’t think this genre is new for him. Priyamani, who plays his wife, also fits her role nicely. There’s also a group of friends in the film, and their connection to the story is something you should watch unfold. They all acted brilliantly and added a lot of tension and depth.

Like the hit film Pani, this movie also touches on the issue of drug use among today’s youth—how they’re getting pulled into crime for the sake of fun and thrill after getting high. It’s a disturbing trend, and the movie handles it without being preachy.

The background score by Jakes Bejoy is excellent—some beats even feel Hollywood-style. Roby Varghese Raj’s cinematography is brilliant. I watched some behind-the-scenes footage of the chase scenes, and you can clearly see the effort that went into filming those sequences on real locations. The color palette in many scenes also helps set the mood perfectly. The action choreography is also well done—neither too flashy nor too dull.

It’s hard to believe this is director Jithu Ashraf’s debut film. He handles everything with confidence—from the storytelling to maintaining the tone and character consistency. It never feels like a first-time effort.

Overall, this is yet another superb film from the Malayalam industry. If you enjoy thrillers, suspense, and well-written stories, you should definitely give this one a try.

My rating: 8/10.

Ponman

Ponman is yet another gem from the Malayalam film industry. I'm always fascinated by how their writers and directors can take a simple premise and turn it into an engaging film for over two hours. This one follows the story of a jewelry salesman who advances gold to brides’ families on the condition that they repay him with the returned wedding gifts.

I went into this movie without even watching the trailer, so I had no idea where the story would go. The only reason I decided to watch it was Basil Joseph. Having seen several of his films before, I trust his choices. He’s not just an excellent actor but also a talented director, known for films like Minnal Murali. I often compare him to Telugu star Nani—neither has the conventional "hero" physique or charm, but both have great taste in movies and are effortlessly natural actors. With that confidence in Basil, I watched Ponman without any expectations, and it truly surprised me.

At first, when Basil Joseph’s character, PP Ajesh, gives gold to Steffi’s family for her wedding to Mariyono, I assumed he was a con man—maybe handing out fake gold and scamming brides. But the story took an entirely different turn. Steffi's family ends up unable to pay the full amount, and when Ajesh asks for some of his gold back, Steffi refuses and leaves for her husband’s home without informing him. What follows is a gripping journey of whether Ajesh manages to reclaim his gold from Steffi and Mariyono.

What makes this movie stand out is its screenplay. With such a simple yet unique premise, the challenge was to keep the audience engaged throughout. If this were a Telugu mass entertainer, it would have been resolved in a single fight scene, with the hero easily reclaiming the gold. But this is a Malayalam film. Writers G.R. Indugopan and Justin Mathew, along with director Jothish Shankar, take their time to show how an ordinary, seemingly weak man remains persistent and determined against all odds. It’s a true testament to resilience and the never-give-up attitude—something that today’s generation desperately needs to see. There's even a scene in the film that directly addresses this, with PP Ajesh delivering lines that serve as a lesson to young people struggling with life’s difficulties.

Jothish Shankar’s direction is excellent. The screenplay by G.R. Indugopan and Justin Mathew is impressive—it’s no small feat to engage audiences with such a straightforward conflict. Basil Joseph delivers a fantastic performance, portraying a helpless yet determined man who understands Steffi’s struggles but is also bound by his duty to return the gold to his employer. Lilomol Jose is good as Steffi, while Sajin Gopu is outstanding as Mariyono—his performance as the antagonist might open doors for him in other industries. The rest of the cast does a great job, and Sanu’s cinematography beautifully captures Kollam. The locations in Kerala continue to amaze me.

Once again, the Malayalam film industry delivers a solid, story-driven film. If you enjoy thrillers with a family drama backdrop, this one is worth watching.

Rating: 8/10.