Review : Bramayugam – Appeals to niche audience

Malayalam Megastar Mamootty’s Bramayugam has now released in Telugu. The film, written and directed by Rahul Sadasivan, features Arjun Ashokan and Siddharth Bharathan in pivotal roles. Let’s see how the film is.

Story:

Set in the 17th Century, Malabar, Thevan (Arjun Ashokan), a court singer, and his friend Koran (Manikandan R. Archery) escape from the slave trade. They try to cross a river, but Koran gets killed by a female spirit, Yakshi (Amalda Liz). To save his life, Thevan enters a mansion which is owned by Kudumon Potti (Mammootty). Sidharth Bharatan is Kodumon Potti’s cook. Kodumon Potti tells Thevan that the latter can stay in the mansion. Slowly, Thevan starts sensing that something is wrong with that mansion and Kodumon Potti. What is it? Did Thevan escape from that mansion? What is so mysterious about Kodumon Potti? This is what Bramayugam is about.

Plus Points:

Bramayugam is a unique attempt, and kudos to Mammootty for trying something of this sort and constantly pushing the boundaries. The film revolves around three characters and mostly happens in one mansion. So, the performances and technical aspects must be great for such a movie. Bramayugam gets it right in these aspects.

Mammootty gave an award-worthy performance as Kudomon Potti. His close-up shots, nuanced portrayal, and thumping dialogue delivery enhance the impact to a great extent. Rather than relying on jumpscares and cliches, Bramayugam creates an eerie feeling through a dilapidated mansion, Mammootty’s mysterious characterization, and the black-and-white format.

Arjun Ashokan and Siddharth Bharatan are incredible in their respective roles. We feel for Arjun Ashokan’s character and take his side. The actor’s facial expressions and body language are terrific. There is an important sequence in which two key characters get trapped. The way that sequence was conceived and shot is mind-boggling. Although Bramayugam may seem like a spooky film, Rahul Sadasivan cleverly touches upon a few social issues by infusing the horror theme neatly, depicting his conviction in the craft.

Minus Points:

Bramayugam surely is not everyone’s cup of tea, as it won’t be like a regular horror film. The movie is slow-paced for the most part, and a few sections of the audience might feel bored as the majority of the conversations and scenes are lengthy.

The entire first half is all about the establishment of Mammootty’s characterization and building the mystery element. The director’s approach to narrating every minute aspect in a detailed manner can get on your nerves, and you need to be more patient to enjoy the drama and proceedings.

The climax feels a bit routine for this kind of different movie and it could have been handled in a better manner. Compared to the second half, the first half is more intriguing despite its slow pacing.

Technical Aspects:

Technically, Malayalam movies are turning out to be great, and Bramayugam is no different. Especially the production design team did a stupendous job. We can see vegetation in and around the mansion, and even that adds to the intrigue. Christo Xavier’s haunting background score, Shehnad Jalal’s stunning cinematography, and compelling sound design by Jayadev work in favor of the movie big time.

The editing is in accordance with the director’s vision. Rahul Sadasivan is clear in his approach and delivers exactly what he intended. He made terrific use of the technicians and extracted the best out of Mammootty and other actors. The production values are fine.

Verdict:

On the whole, Bramayugam is a different attempt, but it might cater only to a segment of the audience, given its nature. Mammootty breathes life into his role, and his towering presence is aided by splendid technical values. Arjun Ashokan and Siddharth Bharathan are good in their respective roles. The movie is slow-paced for the most part, and this might not sit well with many. The drama unfolds at a leisurely pace and can cause irritation at times. Impact-wise, the first half is better than the latter half. Those who love watching unique films might end up liking Bramayugam, but the film will be underwhelming for the rest.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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