‘Chattambi’ film evaluation: A well-crafted movie that wanted to discover its protagonist additional

The destiny that will befall the protagonist of Chattambi is understood to us proper from the opening shot of Kariah’s (Sreenath Bhasi) bloodied physique. It raises intriguing questions in regards to the chain of occasions which may have led to his violent dying. The voices from individuals across the locality inform us that he had it coming for fairly a while, whereas a couple of others sound relieved that he’s lastly gone. A nun, who appears to have been near his household, tells us that the bigger society by no means understood him correctly.

This units up the chance that he may need had some redeeming qualities in any case, and the background story of how Kariah started to have that violent streak additionally provides to those expectations. Chattambi then rewinds again to occasions from a couple of months again, and progressively comes nearer to the day of his dying. But, even on his final day, the one factor that’s lacking is that redeeming high quality, as he actually seems to be a very tough and unlikeable character.

Abhilash S. Kumar’s directorial debut Chattambi, scripted by Alex Joseph and based mostly on a narrative by Don Palathara, is about this man and the society round him. They comprise those that use his villainy for his or her ends and those who detest him, typically being victims of his cruelty. Kariah is likely one of the two henchmen working for the native moneylender John Muttattil (Chemban Vinod). Though John protects him from the police each time he will get into bother, there’s a boiling rage inside him on the method he’s being appeared down upon by his boss. It is just a matter of time earlier than all of it bursts out within the open.

The setting within the excessive ranges lends itself to the sombre temper of the movie, with the managed tempo of the narrative including to it. Regardless of beginning the proceedings with the protagonist’s homicide, the movie by no means lays all of the playing cards on the desk. Going by the variety of individuals he has rubbed the fallacious method, one doesn’t simply get to guess who may need completed the act, though the movie shouldn’t be actually about this thriller in any respect. It’s relatively focussed on some deep character research. John’s spouse Cicily (Grace Antony) is essentially the most intriguing of all of them, together with her silent rage at her husband’s methods.

On many an event, with some clever staging of the scenes, the director achieves the supposed impact with out displaying us all of the disagreeable particulars. In a single such sequence, Kariah, the ruthless restoration agent, is proven strolling right into a defaulter’s home, whereas his weak-minded companion Child (Binu Pappu) stays exterior. For the complete time, the digicam stays with Child, as we hearken to the screams of women and men from inside the home. The scene ends with Kariah strolling out and handing over a gold chain to Child, who silently locations it contained in the jeep, in a mechanical movement, as if he has grown used to all of it.

Nonetheless, the movie leaves one with a sense that the protagonist’s character may have been developed additional, as a few of the causes for his uncontrollable rage are left unexplained. So is the want for revenge towards his boss. Chattambi is a well-crafted work that unhurriedly reveals a violent man’s final days.

Chattambi is presently working in theatres