'Rudhiram' has a format similar to other psychological thrillers— a psychologically ill person, a prey, his cruel acts, and a backstory on how he tackled difficult situations.
A poster of the film 'Rudhiram'. (Supplied)
An axe forgets, but the tree remembers — is the tagline for the new Malayalam movie Rudhiram starring Raj B Shetty and Aparna Balamurali.
The film touted to be a psychological thriller does justice to the genre, despite it having a routine storyline. However, director Jisho Lon Antony tried to present the film in a different format.
Mathew, played by Raj B Shetty is a doctor working in a hospital at a hilly district on the Kerala, Tamil Nadu border. Over time, Mathew had gained a reputation in the locality as an efficient doctor. He even provides counselling for people with mental health issues.
However, there is a past haunting the doctor, from when he lived in Mangaluru with his mother. Mathew is a grey character, the audience is first shown the good persona of the doctor, and then his real face.
Meanwhile, Aparna Balamurali, the daughter of a leading surgeon is kidnapped by Mathew. The filmmaker takes this time to show the audience the backstory of Mathew’s actions. Debutant director Jisho Lon Antony’s film includes gory scenes, which might not be palatable to all.
The female lead is a strong woman, who gives it back to Mathew, her dialogues with him say it all.
Raj B Shetty plays male lead in ‘Rudhiram’. (X)
As mentioned previously, Rudhiram has a format similar to other psychological thrillers— a psychologically ill person, a prey, his cruel acts, and a backstory on how he tackled difficult situations.
The movie also tells how people of the backward class are sexually and economically exploited by the people who have power. While it is not a new theme, it is still relevant.
Rudhiram contains disturbing scenes, including sexual exploitation and graphic depictions of torture. Modern realistic films often feature such elements, which is a departure from older films that were intended for family viewing.
The movie is particularly engaging in the second half, where there are more action scenes featuring Swathi and Mathew. The first half provides insight into Mathew’s various characteristics and his cruelty. However, the story could have been approached from a different angle, avoiding the use of clichéd elements.
Aparna Balamurali in ‘Rudhiram’. (X)
The movie is well-shot, and the cinematography by Sajad Kaakku deserves appreciation. He has beautifully captured the scenery of Mattumalai. The climax scenes in the forest and near the riverbanks are also executed effectively.
The music by 4 Musics enhances the intensity of the scenes, while the editing by Bhavan Sreekumar is also commendable. The action sequences, particularly the climax and the one involving the police officer, are well-crafted.
Raj B. Shetty’s portrayal of Mathew in Rudhiram is outstanding. His transformation from good to bad, and vice versa, is convincing. His mannerisms as a man who is hurt and seeking revenge are effectively depicted.
Aparna Balamurali holds equal importance to the male lead in the movie. Her struggle to escape from brutality is impressive, and she nails the climax scenes. Her efforts are clearly evident, making this one of her best performances, which also required significant physical exertion.
Other actors in the film deliver decent performances, with most of them being relatively new.
Rudhiram is a revenge-based psychological survival thriller with a familiar plot. Strong performances by Raj B Shetty and Aparna Balamurali make it watchable.
(Views expressed here are personal.)
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