Kishkindha Kaandam Review: Asif Ali, Vijayaraghavan Take Suspense Thriller To Another Level
Kishkindha Kaandam, directed by Dinjith Ayyathan and starring Asif Ali, Vijayaraghavan, Aparna Balamurali, Ashokan, and Jagadish, is likely to be the movie everyone talks about this Onam season. There are several reasons for this prediction. The first and foremost is, like in many other recent notable Malayalam movies, the story. The second reason is the outstanding performances of three lead actors: Asif Ali, Vijayaraghavan, and Aparna Balamurali. Another reason is how the director, with only two films to his name, handles a suspense thriller that occasionally peaks with intense drama.
Let’s talk about the story of Kishkindha Kaandam. At its heart is how a person copes with snippets of their memory as they gradually start losing it. The way the writer sets the tone of the protagonist’s life, as he struggles with recalling past events, personal experiences, or familiar information, is exemplary. Writer Bahul Ramesh is a huge revelation in this regard.
The scenes and scenarios created to depict the struggles of someone grappling with memory loss—recalling names, places, or faces, feeling disoriented, or sometimes even forgetting their identity or personal history—are set at a standard never seen before. The story delves deeper into how memory loss significantly impacts daily life, relationships, and the ability to function independently. In this way, memory becomes the central theme of Kishkindha Kaandam.
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Then, there’s the acting. Asif Ali, Vijayaraghavan, and Aparna Balamurali will not disappoint. Although the movie deals with a serious issue, their performances keep you hooked as the story unfolds with major twists. As Appupillai, seasoned actor Vijayaraghavan proves again why he remains a powerhouse of talent. He maintains perfection in every scene and never wavers in his role from beginning to end.
Asif Ali starts as a happy character entering wedlock, but by the time the movie approaches the end credits, his transformation into a deeply emotional performance is a treat. He continues to improve with each role. Though she carries less of the burden in moving the story forward, Aparna is on par with her past best performances in the screen time she receives.
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The filmmakers had a huge advantage with the script, which allowed them to incorporate beautiful visuals of the Idukki landscape. On the big screen, the cinematography is electric, likely due to the cinematographer and the writer had one eye and heart!
Timeline verdict: Kishkindha Kaandam is a visual experience with superb writing and direction. The freshness of the story is a major plus that will help the film endure.
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