Kumbalangi Nights

Right from the song Cherathukal in the beginning kumbalangi nights captures the beauty of the nights in Kumbalangi. The story revolves around 4 brothers who are totally different from each other and how they get connected to each other when they find themselves in a problem. A brilliant attempt from the team of Dileesh Pothan. Will always stay as one of the best realistic movies made in India. Each and every member of the cast and crew deserves a big appreciation.

Kumbalangi Nights is, without a doubt, a simple yet magical tale that the ever-dependable Syam Pushkaran has penned and Madhu C Narayanan has directed. Why I mention these two names before everyone else's is because I wish to emphasize how the former's effortlessly brilliant writing and the latter's craft are integral to the success of this film. There is a sense of conviction in each of the scenes that Pushkaran has written and they've been rendered scintillatingly fresh by Narayanan. Supported greatly by the marvellous cinematography by Shyju Khalid and the hauntingly relaxing musical score by Sushin Shyam, Kumbalangi Nights ensures that it was meant to be 2019's first gem. I cannot even find the right superlatives to describe the performances put in by members of the cast; be it the four brothers - Bobby (Shane Nigam), Saji (Soubin Shahir), Boney (Sreenath Bhasi), and Franky (Mathew Thomas), or the womenfolk who enter the men's lives - Babymol (Anna Ben), Nylah (Jasmine Metivier), and Sathy (Sheela Rajkumar); of course, what rounds off the cast is the cleverly underwritten antagonist Shammy (Fahadh Faasil).

It is an islet universe than Syam and Madhu take us to, in Kumbalangi Nights, and a beautiful one indeed. The layers attributed to each character in this universe that they've built is what makes the film so utterly grounded, situationally funny, and shockingly disturbing at the same time. The dialogues of the movie clearly portray how skilful a writer Syam Pushkaran is; he knows his characters and their surroundings inside out. Right from Franky's trophies, Bobby's Bluetooth speakers, Saji's smoke-free kitchen, and Boney's moonwalk, the protagonists have been given the sort of texture that is difficult to replicate. They are flawed individuals who haven't got a clue about adulting and still get into brawls over the silliest of matters, yet have an unspoken sense of affection for each other which is hard to ignore and wish to make things better for themselves. Shammy, on the other hand, is a mystery throughout. He carries the kind of smirk that comes across as innocent and affable at times and the absolute creepiest at others.

An uncanny masterstroke setting the story in ravishing rural Kochi where one household tries to get its familial foundation back together and the other ultimately crumbling into little fragments, I cannot imagine Kumbalangi Nights taking place anywhere else. Right from the use of fishing nets as a picnic bed for the lovers to the astonishingly charming moonlit nights, Kumbalangi is indeed its own character in the movie. The romantic angles in the movie have their share of cute 'aww' moments even when they stay completely in touch with everything that happens in the film. Anna Ben's character Babymol is, in a way, pivotal to pushing the storyline forward. She is the connecting link between the two families (one that's visibly worn out and trying hard to stitch itself back together and one that's doing pretty fine in the conventional sense of it, but is inching towards imminent doom) and together with her sister Simi (Grace Antony, who gets to shine in a scene right before the climax), and buddy Sumisha (Riya Saira), fortunately, gift the viewers sensible, memorable female characters. In another film, the character of Sathy wouldn't have even been an afterthought. But in Kumbalangi Nights, her character is as essential to the plot just as the rest of them are.

There's no shortage of praise for the men either - Shane adds a youthful dazzle to 'freak machan' Bobby; Soubin, in one of his career-best performances, proves he's one of the finest character actors of our times when he portrays the good-for-nothing but overly emotional Saji; Sreenath Bhasi is admirable as the mute Boney; Mathew Thomas, as Franky, conveys the transition from sadness to happiness in the Napolean household pretty well. Fahadh Faasil, as we all know, is in a league of his own, and as Shammy, the man delivers nothing short of a stunner. Believe me when I say that the climax has a fantastic surprise in store as well. I guess I can keep raving about Kumbalangi Nights till I see Syam Pushkaran come up with something even more brilliant; until then, this is the benchmark that Malayalam cinema needs to look up to. This is exactly how you tell an engaging story even when the plot is ridiculously simple. The people of Kumbalangi really do enjoy little things - like their fishy curry, their music, their little romantic moments, and of course, the virtue of humanity and the power of healing. These little (yet not-so-little) things make Kumbalangi Nights one of the best films in recent memory. Three cheers and two thumbs up!

Beauty of Kumbalangi mesmerisingly cinematographed by Shyju Khalid would easily evoke yearning for the beautiful homeland in any non-resident keralite. Kumbalangi nights specifically is captured exceptionally beautifully.

Soubin's character of Saji has been brilliantly conceived and Soubin has played Saji to perfection. Soubin has plenty of challenging scenes, all challenges won with flying colors.

Characterization of Shammy has been just as outstanding - hats off to Shyam Pushkaran for such unique and fresh conceptions. Fahadh has played Shammy to perfection as well. Expectation from Fahadh has indeed taken a very big leap and perfect portrayals do not seem to merit particular mention any more. He is the Messi of acting!

The song "Cherathukal' is so soulful and captivating. However,it felt wasted in the movie as it was not blended in well. Music actually was pretty good. Background music felt even better. "Silent Cat" and "Cherathukal" were awesome songs - some of the other songs did not match Bijibal's finesse in Thondimuthalum/Maheshinte Prathikaram. The script keeps navigating the viewer into banks of rich realism. While this journey was enjoyable, towards the end, was wondering if the movie would end on one of those banks. Instead, the movie delivers serious punch towards the end before signing off almost nonchalantly.

Subtitles of the movie were below par. Did not match the vibe/spirit of the conversations.

Everyone has acted well. Kumbalangi nights is beautiful - as a movie and as seen through Shyju Khalid's eyes. Direction is excellent. Must-watch!

This is a movie that every single man will connect to and embrace. Fahadh Faasil and Friends shatters all pre-established strictures of movie-making and imbues something hereto unprecedented, thus elevating the grounds of Malayalam film industry above the limits of criticism. The film delivers entertainment and instruction on an equal footing, never failing to keep us involved with the fortunes and predicaments of its characters. The film's final sequences are epiphanic. It effectively manages to tell us-from within its single setting and few characters-that perhaps holding onto humanity is the best hope for a society which is on the verge of disintegration from heinous prejudices.

Reducing Kumbalangi Nights to a drama film with some comic elements would be gross injustice.This is high art and one more proud moment for Malayalam cinema, which is on a new high with the advent of a bunch of highly talented young movie makers and technicians who honestly loves the art of visual story telling.If ordinary is something invisible, the writer director duo of KN are Gods because they have created something never seen before from things and incidents we see,hear and dismiss or forget every day.The stories protagonists are our friends or friends of our friends.There are brother s who fight and lovers who can't unite.There is a bad guy with whom every one in the theater would fall in love.Photographed by someone who loves his job, KN is a visual treat.. name's shyju Khalid.Sushin Shyam gives a score that adds to the visual splendour. Actors simply lived their part..every one of them.Shyam Pushkaran keeps on writing and tirelessly mesmerizes. Madhu.c.Narayanan has arrived