Mukundan Unni Associates

Rating - A solid 8.7/10

I have to say that this movie is underrated in a sense that it hasn't created much of a buzz. Mukundan Unni Associates (2022) has been perfectly casted and the acting from every single one of them is just perfect. I like how the maker's have tried something new by introducing a character like Adv. Mukandan Unni. The greedy, super smart and apathetic Mukundan Unni is so well presented by Vineeth Sreenivasan.

Overall - Yes, the movie feels like Mukundan Unni is very lucky and that he gets away with whatever he does. But the the dark comedy, the character depth, the acting and everything combined with a solid script and direction makes up for that. This is a great movie and is easily one of the best of 2022.

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Imagine a movie featuring Sreenivasan's ultra-despicable character "Viswanathan" from "Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988)" as the main protagonist? That is exactly the wacky idea with which editor turned director Abhinav Sundar Nayak has conceived the immensely enjoyable black comedy "Mukundan Unni Associates" that throws caution to the wind and delivers a laugh riot sans any moral sermons or lessons about karma.

Vineeth Sreenivasan stars as a Machiavellian lawyer who stars venturing into ambulance chasing on realizing that conventional methods will not give him the success that he so craves. Standing in his way is veteran ambulance chaser Advocate Venu (a superb Suraj Venjaramoodu) and a host of other roadblocks which he looks to circumvent in typically diabolical ways. The way the director uses fourth-wall breaking and inner monologues to take the narrative forward is nothing short of genius and it is through this that he delivers most of the zany comedy in the film.

The casting is spot on throughout the film, with even minor characters playing their part to perfection, especially Tanvi Ram, George Kora, Sudhi Koppa and a fine Arsha Chandini Baiju, who had earlier caught the eye in the Karikku web series "Average Ambili". The writing from the director himself and co-writer Vimal Gopalakrishnan never let the tension and humor let up, carrying both forward with equal aplomb and even manage deliver some jarring surprises just when we think the film's climax is starting to meander along expected lines.

Just when Basil Joseph was starting to stake a claim for the title of this generation's "Sreenivasan" with his immense performance in "Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey", Vineeth Sreenivasan produces the goods in "Mukundan Unni Associates", turning in a performance his dad would have been proud of. This is the fourth-wall breaking meta dark comedy that we didn't know we deserved and is, needless to say, highly recommended!

Going into the film, after hearing about the movie a lot and from the trailers, it seemed Vineeth was playing a hilarious sociopath and that was the part I was most apprehensive about. Even though I liked his role in Thanneermathan, I wasn't ready to watch a full-blown version of that throughout a movie, which would be unbearable and what I feared. But that wasn't the case here. Vineeth was brilliant and played the character to perfection, very different from anything we've seen him before.

Mukundan Unni is wickedly brilliant in his own way but the major problem along with his lack of empathy is the narcissism that always makes him overestimate himself. As a character, Mukundan Unni is pure evil, but his overestimation of himself makes him appealing. He is ready to put in the hard work but he doesn't see his flaws due to his narcissism and lack of empathy. So, even when his plans are logically right, it doesn't always work but he can form a new one right then and one or the other works out and if there is no luck there, there's actual luck that itself is a domino effect of his own past actions. All these aspects are seen through his own eyes and tight editing and a few cinematic techniques in the narrative keep you engaged throughout the affair. But giving such an evil character such heroic moments may get out of hand or even if it isn't, it's still an outlook from his point of view and that's why I loved how the movie ends. It clearly shows what is right and wrong to the audience and how we should be looking at evil even when it is pleasing to us and yet the voice-over narration by the protagonist tells the exact opposite of it.

Besides clearly positioning itself as a dark comedy through a sociopath, the film actually showcases a lot of legal and ethical issues in our society in detail.

One particular scene that is not directly related to any event in the movie but contains the whole theme of the movie, hell the whole concept of success in the world is when the character Meenakshi talks to Jyothi. To some, it would be just greed talking and they would have to face karma, to some, it would be a moment of motivation even if it is in a wrong sense but that dialogue is the truth about the world. I won't say what that dialogue is but another dialogue by Mukundan Unni, which is part of the trailers and promotions makes the perfect companion dialogue to it, "There are only two kinds of people in the world, those who get exploited and those who are exploiters."

Not including any songs, starting off with 4:3 aspect ratio, later changing to 16:9 and then finally filling the theater screen and then adding a post-credit scene that's perfectly in sync with the character, the director really knows what he's doing and the changing sensibilities among Malayali audience.

Mukundan Unni Associates is a Malayalam film that takes you on a thrilling ride into the dark underbelly of the legal world. The film revolves around Mukundan Unni, a morally ambiguous lawyer who will stop at nothing to achieve success.

The plot revolves around Mukundan Unni's journey from a struggling lawyer to a highly successful one. His methods are questionable, to say the least. He manipulates, lies, and exploits loopholes to win cases, often at the expense of justice. This is where the film's dark comedy shines. It's a satirical take on the legal system, exposing its flaws and the people who exploit them.

Vineeth Sreenivasan delivers a career-best performance as the titular character. His portrayal of Mukundan Unni is both chilling and captivating. The character is complex, flawed, and undeniably fascinating. You'll find yourself both hating and admiring him in equal measure. The supporting cast, including Siddique and Sharaf U Dheen, deliver commendable performances.

The film doesn't shy away from exploring the darker side of human nature. It delves into themes of greed, corruption, and the lengths people will go to for success. The narrative is gripping, with unexpected twists and turns that keep you engaged throughout. Film shows us the consequences of Mukundan Unni's actions, both on himself and others. The climax is particularly impactful, as it reveals the true cost of his success.

The film's cinematography and background score complement the dark and gritty tone perfectly. The visuals are striking, and the music adds to the suspenseful atmosphere.

While the film is undeniably entertaining, it also leaves a bitter taste. It's a harsh critique of a system that often rewards cunning over integrity. The ending, while satisfying in terms of narrative closure, is also a sobering reminder of the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of our society.

While the film is largely successful, it does have a few minor flaws. The pacing could have been better in some parts, and the ending felt a bit rushed. Additionally, some viewers might find the film's dark themes disturbing.

Mukundan Unni Associates is a thought-provoking film that challenges the audience to question their own moral compass. It's a dark comedy that doesn't shy away from the darker side of human nature.

Mukundan unni associates gives a very nightcrawler vibes, but pitches the characters brutality to next level.

A character with no emotional change or arc is something i really enjoy. The movie tries to establish this character who tries to go to any extent for success and Vineeth Sreenivasan plays the character amazingly. The basic theme of the movie is that there are only two types of people in the world, "one who exploits and the one who is exploited". The movie establishes this theme nicely. The extensive use of voiceovers is something new and not used much in Malayalam cinema, but they uses it consistently to work amazing black humor and it also connects the audience much more to the characters psyche.

After a point i never felt rooting for Vineeth Sreenivasan's character as they stretched his brutality a bit too much but did not create enough empathy towards the character to support that.

A nice and different movie.