One thing that I like to do while watching a period film like this is to detect any anachronistic elements that the makers might have committed. It's not about finding faults per se, but to see how committed the research team was in recreating the period, which has a direct impact on the quality of the film. After watching it on the big screen, I can attest that Rosshan Andrrews's historical drama, Kayamkulam Kochunni, based on the eponymous real-life person, is a true and well-written homage to both the person as well as the original comic. The talented Nivin Pauly, although slightly out of place here, plays the character with so much effort that sometimes he did drift into a 'strained' territory (especially during stunt sequences). Both Kayamkulam Kochunni and his film are entertaining, thanks to Andrrews formulaic approach to storytelling where one thing leads to another, pure cinematic style. Mohanlal's cameo is probably the most exciting one in the history of Malayalam cinema, but I would blame the makers for glorifying it to an extent that I detected the film deviating from its main agenda. It is suspenseful, has enough doses of romance and adventure for the audience at large, and has been made with the right use of its mega-budget. If only the climax was realistic and they did away with the only sore element in the film - the item song featuring Nora Fatehi - then Kayamkulam Kochunni the film would have been a perfect entertainer of modern times. The themes of caste discrimination and the non-parity between the rich and the poor that reflects the current times upset me, but the film comes around with a ray of hope that there's people who go against the grain for the greater good. And that's what matters. It's a good watch and one that goes for essential viewing. TN.
