Chola

What made me watch Chola was Sanal's terrific previous venture Ozhivudivasathe Kali (yet to see S Durga). Barring the solid performances of Joju George (as the molester) and Nimisha Sajayan (as the abused) and the stunning cinematography by Ajith Aacharya, I couldn't really take to Chola the same way I did with Ozhivudivasathe Kali. The transition from eerie drama to magical realism wasn't seamless and a random interjection of Stockholm Syndrome only made it worse. I like the way Sanal tackles the theme of oppression (this is the third in what one could call SOCU - Sanal's Oppression Cinematic Universe) but Chola takes things one step too far. This is one of the few films (in recent times) that makes effective use of its natural locales (Venu's Carbon is another). The ambiguity in (almost the entirety of) the second half and the climax left a bad taste in my mouth.

With An Off-Day Game in my mind, I watched this flmovie and although the plot seems very familiar and Contempo, but as the movie rolls things get even darker and raw with a nightmarish climax layered in a wild rather barbarous manner. Joju effortlessly portrays a less spoken but dangerous barbarian, who heedlessly unmasks his predatory plunder and goes berserk at its pinnacle, Nimisha scores as the naive townee who then confronts her impending fate and turns absurdly preposterous due to the shock of what she went through and is deranged and helpless, Akhil is annoyingly original as a unsophasticated weirdo love interest skillfully behaves in each frame as it gains. The plot regardless a roadie, cans the high ranges of eastern kerala with the heavy set rains in each frame keeps the intensity of what is to come, each frames are commendable, especially the usage of source lights, 360 degree pan shots to elevate gravity of some pivot moments, ariel and long cut shots were placed at the right juncture. Laudable screenplay, cinematography, minimalist but elevating scores, spontaneous acting rather behavioral or unscripted acting, casting, setting, its rustic and raw treatment, altogether makes this unsung flick mollywood's disaster movie monument.

Zero rating.

I watched Chola expecting it to be a good movie given Joju George's brilliant Joseph. Nimisha Sajayan was very effective in Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum but most certainly not in Chola. What a terrible movie Chola turned out to be.

The opening scene of the boy waiting impatiently for his girlfriend held promise but was exceedingly slow as was the rest of the movie, lingering pointlessly on frame by frame by never ending frame. The plot went sluggishly from slow to weird and eventually bizarre.

If the girl and the boy went mad, then believe me we the viewers also will go mad just by watching this film.

This is one instance where I should have read (and trusted) the reviews first! Now Im wondering whether I should bother to watch Sashidharans S Durga at all.

NOT RECOMMENDED

Available on Amazon Prime with English subtitles

I thought Aparan & Joji & some more as well, are the darkest movies I have ever seen in Malayalam movie industry till date.

I was just blown off after seeing this movie.

Just 3 main characters, hats off to the director.

It depicts how human behaviour evolves/succumbs/adapts according to the situation.

The 2nd half was inhuman!!!!

I don't have the courage to watch it again.

Excellent screenplay.

An eerie depiction of the story of an innocent girl who sets about to enjoy the day with her boyfriend. Though predictable, it strikes hard on you. Cinematography and music are the key elements that glues your mind on the movie. They add greatly to the rawness. Not a movie for everyone. Strong theme.