The usage of DNA samples and other investigative elements in 'Garudan' keeps the audience hooked till the interval.
A poster of the film 'Garudan'. (X)
Garudan (Malayalam)
Suresh Gopi is back to business with his new movie Garudan, helmed by debutant Arun Varma. Compared to his previous films, Paappan (2022) and Kaaval (2021), Garudan is a much better venture.
Suresh Gopi has always been good in investigative films, and this one also comes under the same genre.
Garudan has an intriguing plot written by Midhun Manuel Thomas, who directed some interesting projects, including the psycho-thriller Anjaam Pathiraa — a super hit in 2019.
Garudan keeps the audience engaged and has the elements needed for an investigative thriller.
A poster of the film ‘Garudan’. (X)
A college student gets raped, and Harish Madhav (Suresh Gopi), the Deputy Commissioner of Police, takes up the investigation of the case.
After seven months, Harish’s team grabs the rapist and ensures that he gets a lifer.
However, after seven years, the case gets reopened by Nishant (Biju Menon), which makes Harish’s life hell. Coincidentally, this happens on the same day as he retires.
What are the intentions of Nishant in reopening the case? Can Harish come out of the trauma faced by the after-effects of reopening the case? — form the crux of the movie.
Garudan has an ensemble cast; Siddique appears as Iype (Special Prosecutor), and he is a close friend of Harish Madhav.
The situation faced by Harish Madhav, an honest and competent officer, and the ways he adopts to find the real culprit after his retirement keep the audience engaged.
Nishant is a college professor before he is sent to jail. His transformation into an advocate is quite cinematic and lacks reality. But it is a key factor in the story.
The highlight of the movie is Harish’s life gets devastated, while Nishant gets to lead a good life after he comes out of jail.
This is a smart way of writing by Midhun Manuel Thomas, who has now mastered penning intriguing scripts.
The dialogue in the movie “Once a cop, always a cop” is also well-placed.
‘Garudan’ is directed by debutant Arun Varma. (X)
Garudan can be classified as a legal thriller as it has many courtroom scenes. The script demands courtroom scenes since the story revolves around a rape case.
The investigation part in the first half is well-written. The usage of DNA samples and other investigative elements keeps the audience hooked till the interval.
The first twist comes towards the first half.
The second half is all about the efforts to rectify the faults done in the investigation.
Garudan lauds the Kerala police much like Mammootty’s latest flick Kannur Squad (2023).
The loopholes of a case and how the fate of a case turns are shown wisely.
The script refers to the present-day political nexus with prisoners. Even the prisoner’s name — Nari Suni (Nishant Sagar) — is inspired by a real-life gangster in Kerala.
The movie also seems to have been inspired by Suresh Gopi’s previous investigation films like Crime File (1999) and FIR (1999) in the making pattern.
Suresh Gopi plays the lead role in ‘Garudan’. (X)
The performances by Suresh Gopi and Biju Menon are the takeaways of Garudan.
Suresh Gopi is good both as a police officer and a devastated man.
Biju Menon is good too, as Nishanth — professor and advocate.
Jagadeesh is excellent in the movie. It is good to see the senior actors getting good roles.
Divya Pillai as Shanthi, wife of Nishant, delivers an impressive performance as a grieving wife.
Abhirami, wife of Nishant, could have been given more screen space.
Siddique as Iype is decent.
The background music by Jakes Bejoy elevates the film.
The movie has a crisp edit by Sreejith Sarang.
The cinematography by Ajith David Kachapilly is decent.
Garudan is a legal thriller with an exciting script by Midhun Manuel Thomas.
Arun Varma’s directorial debut has an intriguing plot which hooks the audience to the screens till the end.
(Views expressed here are personal.)
May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024
May 17, 2024
