Churuli

Stories about real raw instincts of men are director LJP's favorite topic it seems. We have seen that in Ee. Ma. Yow and Jallikettu.

This movie is no different, it shows how the socialized sophisticated men has the inner raw instincts same as any other so called criminals when situation is in favor. Presentation is quite deep and powerful

Even though, I did not understand the aliens, some of Vinayfort's situations and details shown in climax, one can easily it as a mystery thriller and connect with the main thread

LJP has brought another whole new movie experience in Malayalam and probably in Indian cinema. I am looking forward for the days he is placed alongside internationally renowned film makers.

One thing's for sure - Lijo Jose Pellissery isn't the kind of filmmaker interested in spoon-feeding the audience. His films are doused in metaphors and allegories, and Churuli is no different. Would you call it a thinking viewer's film? Nope. Because there is a deliberate attempt for the proceedings to stop making sense beyond a point. It all harks back to the mythical plot that the film opens with - the story of a monk who's misled into an unending spiral by a fey creature. LJP mounts the film in a fantastic forested landscape - Madhu Neelakantan's frames are a total feast for the eyes, punctuated occasionally by Sreerag Saji's minimalist score. Renganaath Ravee's sound design also deserves special mention.

The film's absurdity begins the moment a jeep crosses a derelict bridge carrying the two (undercover cop) protagonists played by Vinay Forrt and Chemban Vinod. The initially friendly residents of Churuli, all of a sudden, turn hostile and begin hurling abuses at each other. Heck, if this film was given to the Censors, they would have had a tough time beeping out words from almost every dialogue. I had a jolly time reading (and observing) the PG-13 English subtitles of every cuss word mentioned in the film. Jokes aside, the foul-mouthed nature of Churuli's residents stands out as yet another metaphor for lawlessness. Anything goes, from an old lady suddenly coming at you with an axe to celestial bodies flying across the sky at night to randomly shooting someone's ear off only for him to joke about it - it's chaotic the way only LJP movies can get!

Yet, when you think the quirkiness can't advance any further, the climax of Churuli is even more bonkers. It treads that thin line between science fiction and over-the-top fantasy, not giving itself entirely into either. If you feel dazed and confused about what you have just watched, you may not be the only one. But come to think of it, LJP already gave you the short synopsis in the first place. It's you, the viewer, who was simply taken for a ride. I liked Churuli for the most part - it has the director's stamp in almost every department. Given the nature of the film, I wouldn't vouch for anyone else to feel what I felt watching it. At the very least, it's not calculative; it's not predictable (at all).

I'll try to keep my review as short and spoiler free, and I suggest those who really really would like to read a review before watching the movie to only read this. The film is best experienced first hand, without any pre-notions.



I am really happy to be one of the very few people to watch the world premiere at the 25th IFFK at Thiruvananthapuram, and in one word the film could be explained as mind-blowing. This is not the ordinary Malayalam cinema, this is a whole new world of ideas. Since the movie has not yet been released to the public, let me just summarize it in this: Lijo does something really confusing that leaves us stuck. Apparently I feel that that was his aim too. He wants the viewers to be trapped in the spiral or Churuli he created. Each time you think about the movie, you find something new, and it again traps you in the whirlpool. And that concept is just wow, he did that perfectly. And I say this loud and clear, only malayalam industry could attempt such brave experiments. One of the best movie industries in the world.

Keep a special attention to the story said at the beginning (which is present in the trailer too), personally I felt that that was a fourth-wall breaking story. Yes, the audience are as much part of the film as the cast . As Lijo himself said: "This is not a Cinema, this is a Churuli(Spiral/Whirlpool)".

As I didn't understand so many things, one dialogue from 'Tenet' was always coming to my mind - "Don't try to understand it, feel it." I'm sure there'll be many like me who will think what actually happened in the climax or in the entire movie.

The basic plot of this film is nothing but the short story which was presented beautifully at the beginning. 'Churuli' means spiral or labyrinth, Lijo successfully justified the title of the movie.

Technical dept and sound designing are always great in a LJP film. The conclusion of the movie is confusing, I didn't find any hidden meaning if there was any. Now, after finishing the movie, except the ending which reminded me of 'Hot Fuzz', I didn't find the necessity of any of the characters or the moments. I think I've to revisit it again & again to understand it fully. So, I can't say if the movie is good or bad, I'll just say if you like these confusing executions you'll like it too.

Available on Sony LIV.

© MandalBros.

N. B. I feel the movie BORING in the midway. Now, you can say I'm not ready for this kind of High Level Cinema, maybe YES. 🤷‍♂️

This was one of the movie that I was rooting for. I actually liked the movie but I wasn't satisfied. It is a well made movie with interesting characters and a mystery element throughout the movie. After watching the movie there are a lot of questions that I felt was unanswered. Questions like who are they and why is it happening and how does this thing happen and all sort of questions like that. Unlike other movies of LJP like Jallikattu where it had no closure, I was satisfied because I was able to find a philosophical or metaphorical answer to all the events happened in the movie. But here I didn't find any answers. Maybe I' wrong. But I really wanted to know more about the characters.

It is worth watching for the amazing cinematography, acting and direction and all the technical aspects. This was one of a kind movie to be honest.