Padakkalam

Padakkalam" is a Malayalam fantasy thriller that cleverly blends superhero fandom with black magic and college life. The film centers around a group of college students who find themselves entangled in bizarre situations after encountering a seemingly ordinary professor with sinister intentions. While the plot may seem outlandish at times, debut director Manu Swaraj uses these situations to create a comedic and engaging experience, particularly for viewers who appreciate superhero lore and supernatural elements.

Plot and Characters: The story revolves around a group of college students, with a particular focus on Jithin (Sandeep Pradeep), who is dealing with a breakup and the eccentric professor Ranjith (Sharafudheen). The narrative incorporates elements reminiscent of "Romancham," but instead of ghosts, it explores the world of black magic. The central conflict arises when the professor's actions lead the students into a series of increasingly bizarre and dangerous situations, forcing them to confront not just the supernatural, but also their own fears and vulnerabilities.

The film features a strong ensemble cast, with Sandeep Pradeep delivering a particularly noteworthy performance as Jithin. Sharafudheen and Suraj Venjaramoodu also play pivotal roles, their characters central to the plot's progression and the film's overall tone. The supporting cast, including Saaf Boi and Arun Pradeep, contribute effectively to the film's comedic and dramatic moments.

Strengths: Unique Blend of Genres: "Padakkalam" stands out for its successful fusion of superhero themes, supernatural elements, and college-life comedy, creating a distinctive cinematic experience.

Engaging Storyline: Despite the bizarre plot points, the film maintains a strong narrative thread, keeping viewers invested in the characters' journey and the unfolding mystery.

Strong Performances: The cast, particularly Sandeep Pradeep, delivers convincing portrayals of their respective characters, contributing to the film's overall impact.

Effective Use of Humor: The film successfully utilizes humor to offset the more intense and supernatural elements, making it an enjoyable watch for a wider audience.

Potential Weaknesses: Bizarre Situations: While the bizarre situations are part of the film's charm, they may not appeal to all viewers, particularly those who prefer more grounded narratives.

Pacing: The film's pacing may feel rushed at times, particularly in the initial stages, as it tries to establish the characters and the supernatural elements.

Highly recommend to those who want a good laugh and a memorable experience in the theatre. HIGHLY recommend it...its just WOW..like a huge applaud to the cast and the scriptwriter and everyone elseee..Really had a good laugh and its a good movie to watch with your friends and family..The acting is just top notch...I really didn't notice 2 hours passing by and that speaks for itself cuz a good movies doesn't make us realise that time is passing by...so just go watch it y'all..I have nothing else to say and I'm only writing this much cuz they said the minimum char is like 300 something so just go watch it...BYEEEE.

Jithin is confronted by his girlfriend Jeevika about their relationship and how she doesn't find him to be exciting enough which has got her doubt their future together. Professor Shaji is a shy guy who hopes to be the new HOD but isn't really confident enough to fight for it while the popular Professor Renjith is also eyeing for the same post. Things take a quick turn when Jithin watches Renjith with an ancient artifact, giving him control over Shaji and how he uses to get him lose his chance of being an HOD. Jithin is soon caught by Renjith of knowing his truth. How does Jithin along with his friends and Shaji try to stop Renjith? What mess they all get into in the process and how do they resolve it, forms rest of the story.

Manu Swaraj and Nithin C Babu have written a fun story that stays exciting for most part of the film. The first half takes it's time to settle down while the focus is mostly on Jithin and friends. It is once the major twist happen involving the 3 main characters, film starts getting intriguing and the performances laced with humor carries the film forward. I would have loved a segment showcasing Shaji's plight rather than sharing it as an information as Shaji and Jithin have more in common which was the whole point. The writing gets convenient as the story progresses but it still delivers the fun especially with Renjith and Jithin's clash in the second half.

This movie Theme is very rare in mollywood Industry. This makes a big changes in mollywood. In this movie senior actors and junior actors played very well. This type if movies is very essential for Mollywood industry In this movie 2nd half makes a different vibe in movie. This movie contains comedy, actions and fantasy. In 2nd half sandeep acting is Amazing. Im giving 8/10 for this movie.

Rating - 3.75/5

An out and out laughter treat that pulls you into a mind loop with exciting and engaging story served in a humour template.

The plot of the story is about how 4 boys try to tackle the evil intentions of their Professor through a mysterious dice board on the backdrop of an engineering college.

Manu Swaraj has exceptionally placed the story on screen with an incredible screenplay leaving no loose ends. He has effortlessly managed to incorporate mystery and spoof elements without affecting the pace and mood of the story. The brilliance of the script in hooking the audience is blatantly visible by the way he manipulates the minds of the audience. Hats off to you for giving an unforgettable movie experience with immense laughter moments,funny dialogues and interesting developments in the story.

Subtle performance by Suraj and he has carried the mood of an emotionally broken family man precisely. SharafUDheen gave a marvellous delivery through his attitude and his infectious smile. Zandeep has made a stellar performance and he proves that he is here to stay with his unparalleled delivery in the latter half. Arun Ajikumar,Saafboi and Arun Pradeep also made impressive performances as the boys gang and they kept the quirkiness and mood alive through their funny performances and dialogue delivery. Pooja Mohanraj also gave a brilliant performance in the movie through her witty and instant reactions.

Kudos to Anu Moothedan for effortlessly capturing the quirkiness and mystery perfectly trimmed by Nidhin Raj Arol maintaining the pace and vibrance of the story. The scores and BGM's by Rajesh went well synchronized with the story and Renganaath Raave's contribution to sound design is worth mentioning. This is another golden feather to the Friday Film banner exploring and encouraging unique stories.

A perfectly steam cooked and aromatic fun to watch entertainer on the weekends.