Solo

Solo is a film which was highly expected for a variety of reasons. The young heartthrob DQ as well as the highly acclaimed director Bejoy Nambiar can make any cinema lover go crazy. But such a anthology made within the confines of Nambiar's imagination could not succeed as it thought it would. First of all, SOLO is a anthology, not a series of short films cramped into a film ; Although one could argue whether the film has a specific connection to each story or not.

The film is based on the four forms of Lord Shiva, specifically Fire, Water, Earth and Wind. Dulquer plays four different characters that correspond with the theme presented with it (ie. Fire - Rage). Shiva, Shekhar, Trilok and Rudra respectively. Although it dwells into the forms of Shiva, it does not have any sort of connection to the original content other than the feature that it is merely pointing out the theme that is going to play out in the movie.

The movie begins with the segment of Water ie. Shekhar. Although i could not thoroughly enjoy Shekhar's character, i loved the way the segment ended with a very depressing note that differentiates other films from this. Shekar's character was thoroughly experimented on, which i could not say for other characters. I believe that we spent more time with Shekhar than the other three, helping us to cope with the character's behavior very much. With a depressing and a rather unexpected ending Shekhar's performance was satisfying till the end.

Trilok might be the character that blew away the all three. Trilok was open, calm , mysterious and of course ,badass. Trilok is associated with Wind and of course Trilok swept us away. Trilok was a moody and the love interest of Trilok did not receive much screen time and we were left to wonder whether this would turn into another tale of karma. But no. Director Bejoy takes us to a short moody revenge thriller that encapsulates us into the character ; loving him, yet knowing nothing about him. Trilok was the dark horse of SOLO.

Of the four segments, i could say Shiva's was the best. Not only for visual reasons but for the fact that Shiva evoked a sense of mystery and rage around the character that DQ has never presented before. Shiva does not have single dialogue except one which i think the director was specifically panning out to that moment. Shiva is associated with Fire and I expected a lot of fire works in this and i wasn't wrong. Visually and aesthetically impressive segment was brought alive with some magnificent performances too and i could single-handedly say that SOLO might be Dulquer Salman's best performance till date. The segment ended with wild ride that puts revenge and emotional connections forward.

The last segment was Earth and revolved around the character Rudra, a military officer. Rudra was the least welcomed character of the lot. It didn't have any major development and it just hovered around waiting to pop the cap. And when it did, it ended in disappointment. I was all in to witness Rudra but it left me wondering whether the Director specifically wanted it to be humorous or it was creepily misunderstood. Incest is not a common theme for the malayali audience and just be prepared for a unbelievably believable climax. Although i'm all in praise for the final short which summed up everything, Rudra was a character that need a lot of push and screen time to entice us.

SOLO is also a film which would thrill cinema lovers and regular film analysts but it would not pan out to the wider demographic as it could not bring a sensation of life into the whole picture, thus would fail to satisfy normal viewers.

Overall, SOLO is a film that is strictly a one-time watch and which copulates us with their own world with their own rules. Experimentation is high in this one and go with mild expectations and you will be more than satisfied.

Shekhar - 7.4 Trilok - 7.8 Shiva - 8.5 Rudra - 7.0

Overall - 7.5 / 10

Lot of noice but not much substance in the first and last one ,but it's worth watching for the third one , Shiva is one of the best short films in malayalam in the last ten years , no doubt. Pretty sad not much people talk about it . The layers the movie delivers in such a short time and the themes , just WOW. Definitely worth watching multiple times.

The film Solo is a cinematic work comprising four short films: Water, Wind, Fire and Earth, all of which were directed by Bijoy Nambiar.

The first segment, entitled 'Water', chronicles the poignant love story of Shekhar, a man afflicted with a stammer, and Radhika, a woman living with blindness. Despite the physical challenges they face, the couple forms a deep bond, much to the disapproval of their families. However, the couple's joy is short-lived when Radhika discovers that she is pregnant. A preliminary ultrasound reveals that the unborn child is likely to inherit the same genetic disorder that afflicted Radhika. Nevertheless, the couple refuses to abandon their hopes. Their wedding ceremony is solemnised with great ceremony, and subsequently, Radhika gives birth to a baby girl. However, the female protagonist dies, and Shekhar goes alone with the child.

The narrative quality of the film was found to be of average quality, and the direction was also satisfactory. The performances were found to be the most commendable aspect of the film, and the musical score was notable. The film was given a rating of 6/10.

The second segment, entitled 'Wind'. The film's plot is a revenge story of a young doctor, Trilok Menon, who seeks retribution against the individuals responsible for his wife's death. Trilok marries a beautiful girl, Aisha, and they enjoy a honeymoon in a hill station. A car hits Aisha, and a young businessman, Justin, and his father-in-law are among the car passengers. Despite her survival, they ignore her and do not take her to the hospital, where she dies. Driven by a quest for justice, Trilok embarked on a mission to exact retribution upon the individuals responsible for his wife's demise. Through meticulous investigation, he managed to identify the car passengers. After a protracted period of three years, he successfully eliminated the passengers, thus fulfilling his mission.

The narrative and direction were conventional, yet both exhibited inconsistencies. The performances were commendable, and the film received a rating of 6/10.

The third segment, entitled 'Fire'. The character of Shiva is introduced as a local goon. Shiva's mother, avoided him and his younger brother during their childhood. The brother, like Shiva, aspired to follow in his footsteps and become a goon. Shiva's personal life is also explored, revealing that he was married and had a daughter. However, he did not provide a nurturing environment for them. The narrative then shifts to the murder of Shiva's father, a event that drives Shiva to seek retribution. He travels to Bombay, seeking to avenge his father's death. During this journey, he is accompanied by his brother. Shiva, through a process of investigation, learns the identity of the perpetrator and subsequently takes action. However, the perpetrator turned out to be his mother's new husband, resulting in Shiva's demise at the hands of the latter. The narrative culminates in the subsequent day, when Shiva's brother avenges his death by killing the perpetrator.

The narrative was found to be satisfactory, with effective direction and commendable performances, particularly given the minimal dialogue of the protagonist. The innovative aspect of the narrative was noteworthy. The film received a rating of 7/10.

The film's setting in Earth, where Rudra, a soldier, harbours a love for Akshara, the daughter of a high-ranking army officer. Their families are opposed to their relationship, and when Akshara receives a marriage proposal, Rudra attempts to dissuade her. Akshara departs abruptly and without explanation, travelling to Australia, a decision that Rudra follows and tries to contact her repeatedly. However, she disregards him. Four years later, on the occasion of Akshara's wedding, Rudra and his companions attend the ceremony with the intention of confronting her about her repeated failure to respond to his advances. This leads to a confrontation with her new groom, during which Rudra comes to the realisation that his father's previous relationship with Akshara's mother might have led to her perceiving them as family.

The narrative was engaging, and the direction was excellent, with cinematography and musical scores that were also noteworthy. The performances were also excellent, and the film is valuable for repeated watching, earning a rating of 8/10.

The performances are best appreciated in the context of the entire filmography, with Dulqar Salman delivering a superlative performance in each iteration. The musical scores are also noteworthy, contributing significantly to the overall impact of the films. In conclusion, this cinematic work is deemed suitable for a one time watching.

Dulquer Salmaan once again Proved By this movie that he is a good performer. In this film, DQ played Four Characters called Shekar, Siva, Trilok and Rudra in all four characters he given his best. especially, in Trilok and Siva roles he completely nailed it. Another important Segment of the film is the chemistry between DQ and Dhansika is wonderful. Bejoy Nambiar made an awesome debut with Solo. Overall, this is good film to watch out for this weekend

Positives- 1.)DQ's acting 2.) cinematography and scenes 3.)Story,Screenplay and direction 4.)Rudra climax part was hilarious Negatives- 1.)Concept of air,water,earth,fire doesn't have connect to story 2.)Lack of clarity in certain scenes 3.)Under utilization of actress except for neha sharma

4.) Trilok story could have been better Final verdict- Go for it if you like variety anthology films!! My rating- 4/5 For more reviews go to ridin bal movie reviews and subscribe to get updated about our reviews