Ee Kannikoodi

The movie is flaunted as a CSI type detective story. But, it is instead more of a noir drama using the investigation as a setup for several flashbacks.

The acting is superb; the story could've have better told.

"Ee Kanni Koodi" released in 1990 is one of the top ten detective films in Malayalam cinema. The film is about the murder of a prostitute in Alappuzha and the subsequent investigation by police officer Raveendran (Saikumar) to find the culprit. It is a crime movie like "Yavanika". It is an absolutely, old, classic narrative. It is a beautiful film that tells the story only through visuals. It is directed by KG George and stars Saikumar, Rajan P Dev, Jagadish, Thilakan, Ashwani and Sukumari. A masterpiece film after K.G. George's curtain. It is available on YouTube I do not know how successful it was at the box office.

Ashwini who was a big star in Telugu plays the main role here. The entire movie rests on her shoulders. She is an innocent girl interested in Arts and belongs to a Christian family .her mother Sukumari tries every trick to get her married. She keeps stalling it and finally reveals that she is in love with a Hindu painter. Her parents refuse to get her married. She elopes quietly with him and gets married . Initially they start a happy life very soon he faces a lot of money problems and starts drinking . She bears all quietly . A family friend comes to her rescue buying his paintings . She starts trusting him. One fine day she comes to know that he is missing . Sad and broken she starts confiding in this friend taking him to be a kind soul. He has his own agenda . He starts using her for his own business benefits. She submits to her fate . She lives in a secluded house with her 4 year old son .

One fine day she is found murdered. A lot of people and their secrets come out tumbling . Veteran Thilakan makes a fleeting appearance as her visitor . He is a rich man and his daughter's wedding gets cancelled due to this . A couple of rich students had visited her before her murder. The police starts an investigation. Finally the child's nanny comes out with startling revelations . The world comes to know about her inner sad story when all the while they have been thinking of her as shameless and characterless.

They trace the husband to an asylum. He is recuperating from his alcohol addiction . He finally reveals the ending .

He had gone to reconcile with her with regret . He comes to know about her story but is still willing to accept her .He is privy to her visitors while hiding in her room . When he sees the bottle of alcohol gifted by Thilakan his addiction gets the better of him and again he starts drinking and losing control. In a fit of anger frustration self defeat rage he strangles and kills Ashwini himself .finally he turns himself in to the police .

The entire story is poignant . It shows several sides of each human . Every one is not fully good or bad .

Ashwini gets a meaty role . In real life she faced a poignant sad ending . Makes a compelling watch.

Its a hidden gem that most people haven't seen. It shows the ugly sides of the life. One of the best murder mystery stories of malayalam cinema. It's worth watching those who love mystery drama.

I am an admirer of KG George. He was a classic director who could go deep into relationships without any cliche or boring moments. This movie is one of that sort , portraying an in dept probe into the life of a prostitude , her various stages in life, her relationships etc in an investigational manner. Not to be missed by film lovers.