Valiyaperunnal Review - A Blazing Cinematic ShowDown

Suhansid Srikanth

The film entirely set in the harbour banks of Mattanchery start with a loot by an anonymous gang of goons. Keeping it there, the film unwinds around of set of characters who do petty jobs in smuggling to make big money. One among them is Akkar, a dancer whose life revolves around his girl, mother and friends. It is in interval we get how the two stories collide together and sets up for the crux of the film.

I love films that talks about the destruction of a man through the eye of a large town. And Valiyaperunnal delicately capture this essence of how a carefree youth gets into the trappings of desire and violence and struggles to come out of it. The wobbling warmth of the tragedy that's constantly oozing in the city is narrated to us through several small and big events.

There is a political angle where people demand the government to repay for the loss of 11 deaths that happened during a boat accident. There is a subplot involving intercaste marriage that triggers the sides. There is a set of people running to make a deal over gold bars. There is romance. Akkar's love interest wants him to stand for her. There is a layer of guilt that succumbs Akkar.

The climax is terrifically staged. The entire film builds to that blood bath with a raging conviction. Shane Nigam, as always is show stealing, but here he adsorbs you in the skin of the role. The pain and glory of the city comes alive through his portrayal of Akkar. The final act where he stands drastically different from where he started is Shane killing it all the way!

Written by Dimal Dennis and Thasreeq Abdul Salaam, the film's nonlinearity is sharply moduled by Vivek Harshan's editing. Rex Vijayan's score and tracks breathe a riveting sense of flavour to the film! Every technicality that shines apart is also entertainingly put out. There are flaws to look at.. like, how the film distracts itself every now and then with trivial subplots. But, when it ends, it is one hell of a show down for sure!

Bottomline : Dimal Dennis's directorial debut 'Valiyaperunnal' is a blood blazing cinematic saga that quietly unwinds genre after genre till it finally ends up in its dramatic crux!

Rating : 4 / 5