Nna Thaan Case Kodu

Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval's third directorial venture is a poignantly written and superbly executed political satire under the guise of a courtroom drama. His trademark situational humor and sharp dialogues are among the film's notable positives. It also helps that Kunchacko Boban continues his string of excellent performances, playing a character we couldn't imagine him do in his early days. Backing up the lead performance are fantastic feats from the entire supporting cast that includes several newcomers amid a few familiar faces like the effervescent Rajesh Madhavan.

Courtroom dramas have always been a tricky proposition for Malayalam and recently, the genre has delivered inconsistent returns. Although I personally liked Nivin Pauly's audacious genre-bender "Mahaveeryar (2022)" that turned the courtroom into a fantasy vehicle, the film was an abject failure at the box office, suffering a similar fate as that of more generic legal dramas like "Vaashi (2022)" and the shambolic "Naradan (2022)". "Nna, Thaan Case Kodu" had reached a zenith in pre-release publicity after Kunchacko Boban's ridiculously goofy dance steps to the cult retro song "Devadoothar Padi" went viral, and thankfully the Ratheesh Balakrishna Poduval directorial bucks the trend, delivering a sparkling, witty film that finely balances its laughs with hard-hitting social commentary.

Kunchacko stars as "Rameshan" a former burglar who has seemingly reformed his ways but still ends up in the crosshairs of an apathetic legal system as he is arrested for a crime he didn't commit. Determined to prove that he has left his life of crime behind him to his new lady love, Rameshan decides to taken on the legal system, arguing his own case and digging out the most unexpected witnesses and legal loopholes to find his pay out of his peculiar predicament.

Director Ratheesh Balakrishna Poduval has used an innovative street casting method to arrive at his secondary string of actors, finding talent from the laymen living in and around his shoot locations. And the payoff is a rich, motley crew of realistic, salt-of-the-earth performers with the wisecracking magistrate and a scheming opposition lawyer the standouts. This casting method has also given an air of rustic, rooted authenticity to proceedings which becomes crucial to drive home the film's socially relevant messages - be it systemic corruption, rising fuel prices or how inaccessible the legal system is for the common man.

Kunchacko Boban continues on his splendid run of picking offbeat scripts with unconventional characters and delivers a third straight must-watch film after "Bheemante Vazhi (2021)" and "Pada (2022)". With his upcoming release "Ariyippu (2022)", a collaboration with the ever-dependable Mahesh Narayanan, already creating waves after getting selected for the prestigious Locarno Film Festival, the best seems to be yet to come for Malayalam's chocolate-boy turned serious character actor! Nna Ningal Poy Padam Kaanu. Highly recommended!!

Stunning movie. Must watch with your whole family.

I am going to watch it again. Amazing plot. And what more to say Kunjacko's acting has brought goosebumps to the ruling party.

Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval's third directorial venture is a poignantly written and superbly executed political satire under the guise of a courtroom drama. His trademark situational humor and sharp dialogues are among the film's notable positives. It also helps that Kunchacko Boban continues his string of excellent performances, playing a character we couldn't imagine him do in his early days. Backing up the lead performance are fantastic feats from the entire supporting cast that includes several newcomers amid a few familiar faces like the effervescent Rajesh Madhavan (who also handpicked these performers as a casting director).

It's difficult not to mention talents like P. P. Kunhikrishnan (the adorable magistrate) alongside Advocates Shukkur and Krishnan who end up as an unforgettable duo. Gayathrie, who plays the female lead, shines in pretty much every scene she's in. Dawn Vincent's musical score lends gravitas to several punchy courtroom scenes. It's rare to see the audience clap so much for counter-dialogues but I was able to witness that today after a long time. There are also smart jabs taken at (literally) everyone in power, making us realize the irony in our understanding of a functional democracy. The gradual hike in petrol prices shown on the film's time-stamps is also quite an inventive move.

Unlike, say Jana Gana Mana, which was loud and slightly over-the-top in its storytelling, Nna Thaan Case Kodu remains grounded all through, and the humor is certainly refreshing.

The entire movie was highly engaging.... All the characters were absolutely stunning.... The typical malabari language and the innocence behavior of the people in that special locality.. Director brilliance amazing.