2020, Malayalam, Netflix , 7.7/10 IMDB, Directed by Musthafa
A simple movie with an outstanding story telling and some scintillating performances.
The opening shot with the rain pouring down from above with the opening credits rolling behind, the cameras are set in a such beautiful angles, that you feel as if you are in the heaven abode and watching it rain on mother earth. The next shot takes you inside the forgotten post box and the very next one inside the mind of a simple girl with no big dreams.
The director Musthafa has some amazing story telling skills. Within the first few minutes of the movie, you start to believe in the script even though it’s the usual feel-good story, that’s set in a small town.
The story is told with such simplicity, that it makes you over look certain facts in the given time and age of technology. You also are lured in to the story because of the beautiful narration and end up putting aside things that usually would have bothered you.
The lead pair Anna Ben and Roshan Mathew are cute together and you are reminded of the cute Ajit and Devayani from the yesteryear movie Kadal Kottai (yes it is nearly 24 years old).
The real twist in the midway of the movie, when Sreenath Bhasi’s, Roy character is introduced. Sreenath always leaves a lasting impression like the one in his recent flick Trance. He leaves one such impression, here at Kappela as well.
The screenplay gets smarter with the overlapping of flashbacks to the present, with no warning and you don’t realise that it’s the past until it merges beautifully with the present. You are not jolted with any flashback spirals or any stupid voice overs or even some date specific font in the corner of the screen. This happens in two instances and both were absolute treat to watch.
You are wondering what happened to the director that he left the movie hanging is such a crucial juncture and wonder why we are seeing the new character’s arc in such detail rather than the continuation of the story. You are even frustrated for a while. But the curiosity of what happened to the lead pair, makes you sit through.
I think I shouldn’t give you any more clues as it would spoil your movie experience.
It’s a worthy movie for one, its story and the other, for it’s making.
Once the three characters meet in the bus station, you are in for some nail-biting sequences till the end of the movie.
Loved the director for giving a beautiful clouser to the movie. And what’s with the fantasy of the girl, wanting to visit the beach after all that happened, you wonder. But the scene in the seashore, with her feet in the waves, the toes gripping the sand as the wave recedes, her emotions and tears rolling out – you realise what the director wanted to convey through the character and what the petite actress is capable of emoting.
Simple yet powerful, just like the lead Anna ben.
Must watch.