Amala review: A good effort by debutant director Nishad Ebrahim in crafting a psychological thriller

Entertainment Read the article By Arjun Ramachandran 16/06/2023

A comparatively small-budget psychological thriller in Malayalam — Amala has been released in theatres. It casts Anarkali Marikar and Appani Sharath in the lead roles

[{"selector":"#anim-91164ea5-6442-4466-be2c-0b2a4136eace","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d03b465-3ee5-458e-8a3b-23127fa1940f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 45.14748%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcff39b5-3ee6-444c-b9ce-c1e742892118","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e79ebe64-185e-48d1-8b95-a989900d5e5e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 141.03538%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0be4d61-7dac-470b-850b-b6de33865c62 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-35.937499914669296%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-019d3e22-ee47-4bff-9395-e0c8001174e2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-128.03031%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-434ef407-8e46-4329-bf7c-49a8b26e4cd1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e6de69d5-3c69-45c9-b2ee-4f448b8e1943","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Read the article Entertainment

Amala is a decent watch. It tells the story of serial killings and how top police officer Akbar (Tamil actor Srikanth) cracks the murder cases.

[{"selector":"#anim-62c0169e-251a-4997-9523-9fb06bbdffd1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02f0a3b8-be8d-4bd7-af43-f816c48fc658","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.02094%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff66f071-f1d9-4042-bbd3-47fd2b3e9df4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29ba5e04-4625-466f-a0d4-e15724b81411","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 148.45048%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-290ae08f-5a53-4e33-bb6f-b37bdee0c4e2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.54185355403898%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70a45983-84d0-4588-8d09-218aaceb924b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.49735%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-19ba54ab-a292-4469-9fd2-4decc7630da2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd1e1298-df6f-4741-b67f-72ff98533194","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Read the article Entertainment

Amala is not the usual psycho-path movie with the audience having an idea of who the killer is towards the climax. Debutant director Nishad Ebrahim crafts the film nicely.

[{"selector":"#anim-0d77ed15-ee54-4e0c-84d4-81fc0027a3ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e38ac13-27f2-439e-a037-7670aeefc73e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 43.77197%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63f4bf6d-158e-4f50-b0c5-da4924d5049b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b5b2aee-a93c-49bd-84ff-2f4936b979ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 138.19448%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08d31477-ded5-4be4-bfcd-09e6159c2cd6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.50918273816446%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a6773e2e-08e4-4649-9026-52d371c12f61","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-103.9267%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc54f2b1-aee5-4eed-9ad9-36a2337229f8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8147b934-3ff6-42f1-a1ac-02a64950df6b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Read the article Entertainment

Appani Sharath as Basil is the show stealer of Amala. He gets a good role after a long time. Srikanth as a police officer is impressive.

[{"selector":"#anim-6971847b-f29a-4c68-adae-13a0574f3e0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4144a1d-acd0-49d5-a06d-a42cdaafea75","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.02094%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1fad23c1-6d1f-4ac2-8aad-dc5a243a2732","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9eaf4743-db4a-4cda-b4f9-3277157acfe1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 148.45048%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05947ed7-54fe-46f4-b464-4615aa9c7a16 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.521117683854825%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b92f175f-98ae-4e81-b549-10b26d23909a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.21053%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d72c4d5-de3b-4df7-8106-db1d2f6f842f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a186427-1241-4a8a-8593-38fb6642169e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Read the article Entertainment

Anarkali Marikar appears as Sherin, a mute and deaf woman. The actress was earlier seen in Sulaikha Manzil (2023) and B32 Muthal 44 Vare (2023).

[{"selector":"#anim-940ffd6c-ea30-4d3c-a454-1585f5555631","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da291323-7b33-4732-aca3-76bfb8b841d3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.39646%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b17fe994-8be4-4867-8950-c778c2dce9f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1fc3918-782b-4162-8d69-2da1f7aefe00","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.53210%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5dc8615f-a8f0-4df6-ba2c-c5c8f78591cc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.5129823427216%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc4598eb-a665-41f9-bbd4-d63634344265","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-103.9267%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05c53656-2b2c-4819-910a-0b4434ebe1c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acd92bbe-16e3-4478-b4b1-9b8fd84a948f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Read the article Entertainment

However, the storytelling is good but the movie initially lacks the pace needed for a psychological thriller.

[{"selector":"#anim-a510bbd6-8839-47a4-8305-29e32abe11dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c3195805-0460-4c8f-ab37-8e292058454b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 36.89439%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a06878c-58fe-479d-ac7f-46b574f9a994","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d480436-15fe-470a-ad7a-cd8665bb60a1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.98493%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb91ee5b-70e2-4c53-ae10-d9a3f914045a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.57504257460418%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a85f528-77bf-471b-8c7b-140a33b3bc8b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.06825%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ad92c12-5f48-46c1-a4e0-88e3d540a4f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac0260d8-6f5e-4a47-812d-1b7c3aba9b81","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Read the article Entertainment

The frames by Abhilash Shankar are good as they gave a feel to the high range. The soundtrack by Gopi Sundar is also an added advantage for the film.

[{"selector":"#anim-23fd89d0-4356-45eb-b119-0b2c1e2ae9bc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4f39e1f-b2f6-464d-bee9-f18e81a3bd7c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.39646%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4c3011f-25b0-42ac-a2c7-6e686453fa51","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a90459b7-3532-4810-9639-efae29da7156","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.53210%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a91bb992-a063-4e16-b749-38259e7f02ed [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.441126215792636%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37716d01-4202-42bf-afb7-44de73f8b6c4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.64191%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-771d1620-ed7a-44bf-b9e9-aaeec6e3fa70","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcd943e0-5f52-4694-ad1a-0805bc1e72e3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Read the article Entertainment

Amala is a psychological thriller that has fine performances by Appani Sharath and Anarkali Marikar. Though a decent watch, it could have been better.

[{"selector":"#anim-694d93d3-981f-42f2-bff3-e6b11634c1df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6bbc958c-dfcf-4a22-a33a-5d0209d60a46","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.39646%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fa919b5-5da2-411a-bcc9-ab51f7033279","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f39b2621-856d-4660-9e71-90c49227423f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.53210%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30fadb1f-9f9f-4adb-8d68-07d097acf304 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.45911407573167%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bae97910-cba9-4cfa-9d18-2472eba5c882","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-103.7859%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f579b0cc-504e-4124-8477-7f9a8259541b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8bec45d-a290-4dea-b878-049a131332d2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Read the article Entertainment