Close to life, yet a superhero story, Minnal Murali engages and entertains

Mona

With power comes responsibility; would you rather choose your gift to avenge the wrongs or aim at larger good… Is the theme of Basil Joseph-directed film Minnal Murali. Trending among the top on Netflix, this Malayalam film, also available in Hindi, is sure making a mark. For not only does it have a superhero, challenged by a super-villain, but is also a rooted story from an Indian hamlet.

Film: Minnal Murali

Director: Basil Joseph

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Cast: Tovino Thomas,

Guru Somasundaram, Femina George, Shelly Kishore,

Vasisht Umesh

Rating: ****

It’s rather refreshing to walk into a village where children go to the library to know more about lightning and its effects and not just Google it. It’s largely the story of Jaison (Tovino Thomas), who has a tailor shop to his name. He wants to be successful in America, so that he can marry his sweetheart Bincy (Sneha Babu), but a stroke of lightning changes the course of his life. The same lightning strikes a tea-stall worker Shibu (Guru Somasundaram) as well. Having lost his mother and been rejected by the entire community, his is the struggle that represents caste and class system.

As the two protagonists realise their respective powers, the themes of lost love, cops and corruption to good versus evil, spring up. As Shibu tries to win over his love while taking the wrong road, Jaison is trying to correct the wrongs while trying to find the man who is bringing Minnal Murali a bad name. Through this entire prism is seen a story with a heart, set in the 90s; life and its struggles, the beauty of a village in Kerala, a close-knit society, simple joys like a village feast to a treacherous road to one’s dreams.

The film, at 2 hours 39 minutes, is a tad long, but there are some great VFX effects with rocks floating through the air! Tovino Thomas as Jaison is impressive; his bodily transformation is commendable as well as act. But it’s Guru Somasundaram as Shibu whom you really feel for. Shelly Kishore as Usha is understated and real. Femina George as ‘Bruce Lee’ aka Biji brings moments of laughter. Vasisht Umesh as Josemon, as his Mama’s (Jaison) sidekick, is lovable. Then there is Sudheesh in a cameo to add some star power. Due credit to Arun Anirudhan and Justin Mathew who wrote a brilliant screenplay, giving each character depth. Basil Joseph builds quite a believable world.

Watch the film Minnal Murali for its brave attempt to turn an ordinary man into a superhero and for turning a fictional Kerala hamlet, Kurukkanmoola, into the seat of superpower.