Ronth

One of the most highly praised Mollywood films of the year so far is finally out on streaming. I learned that Shahi Kabir, the director of this film, was police officer in the past. Checks out, his writing in the previous films have had a very different take on the Kerala Police Force. If you've watched Nayattu and liked it, you're gonna like this film, but in a different way; also, there's a surprise waiting for you in this film.

Most cop dramas out of any of the film industries are over the top action films, but this...slow-burn... is grounded in reality (for the most part) and portrays the 'other side of the life' of the police officers that most films fail to show. The film depicts the events of an overnight patrol and almost every single thing the two cops do during this time, almost drags you along on this tiring journey. You really feel it's dragging along but that's deliberately done to make you feel how they feel on a daily basis. If you choose to not look at it that way, you're gonna feel like the parts of the patrol seem very repetitive and will start questioning why certain things happen the way they did in the film.

Dileesh Pothan and Roshan Matthew were fantastic in their roles, playing cops who've been a part of the force for 22 years (and about to retire soon) and 6 months respectively. You think you can predict where this film is going to go but writing slowly peels away the layers and makes you go "Yeah, I was not ready for that. Life isn't fair." Great acting and writing backed by awesome cinematography (the lush green locales makes you wonder if the shots have been over saturated but you realize it's Kerala and that's probably how the place is) and good sound design.

I initially didn't see the hype, thought this was overrated but the more I think about the film, the more I'm convinced that this was a banger but it'll sadly not be rated as high by the casual watchers. Regardless, if you like slow-burn thrillers, you should definitely watch this.

Strong emotional Story But really Disappointed with Climax.

Expected not an happy ending but climax could have made balanced.

Strong emotional Story But really Disappointed with Climax.

Expected not an happy ending but climax could have made balanced.

Strong emotional Story But really Disappointed with Climax.

Expected not an happy ending but climax could have made balanced.

Ronth is another solid film from the Malayalam industry. The word Ronth means "patrol," and the movie follows two police officers-one a seasoned veteran, the other a rookie-as they patrol the city over the course of a single night.

We often hear that the police patrol the streets at night to ensure our safety, but we rarely think about what they actually go through during those hours. This film gives us a realistic, grounded look at what a night on patrol can involve. I had no idea so much could happen in just one night. It really made me appreciate how important their presence is for keeping the peace.

The movie is directed by Shahi Kabir, who won a National Award for his screenplay for Nayattu. I learned that he actually served as a police officer before becoming a writer and director. That background clearly reflects in his work-his stories about police life feel honest, grounded, and human. Unlike the typical commercial portrayals where police officers are shown as larger-than-life heroes, Shahi shows them with their vulnerabilities, as real people. His attention to the little details stands out, and maybe that's because he's lived that life himself. I also liked his previous film Officer on Duty, which is streaming on Netflix.

It's quite rare and refreshing to see a former police officer turn into a storyteller and bring such authenticity to the screen.

Ronth not only shows what actually happens during a police patrol, but also explores the personal struggles these officers face in their own lives. Despite everything they're going through, they still show up and do their duty.

Dileesh, who plays the senior officer, completely inhabits the role. He doesn't act the character-he lives it. Roshan Mathew, who plays the rookie, is a familiar face from earlier films and does a great job too.

The music is good, the editing is sharp, and the cinematography is excellent. Like most Malayalam films, it's shot entirely on real locations, which adds to the realism.

With movies like Ronth, there's not really a "story" in the conventional sense-it's more about experiencing the lives of these two officers. So it's best watched without expecting big twists or turns. That said, I didn't really like the ending. It's shocking, yes, but it didn't quite sit well with me.

Still, Ronth is yet another gem from the Malayalam film industry.

The name Shahi Kabir is enough to pull you into this interestingly minimal night patrol cop drama. The leads (Dileesh Pothan and Roshan Mathew) are well-written, and both their performances are superbly effective. We, as audiences, get to witness possibly one of the most compelling, challenging nights they go through as Officers on Patrol Duty (pun intended). The North Kerala landscape also adds so much to the proceedings, successfully sending chills down our spine when needed. The cases they deal with are also emotionally hard-hitting and carry life-altering consequences, making each incident either add more baggage or connect to a larger thread of events.

The setup is minimal when you think of it, but the writing and direction are splendid. The dialogues swing between humourously relatable and deeply moving; it's safe to say that both sides of the coin are effective. And when you know it's part of the Shahi Kabir Copverse™ (loved the Nayattu connection), you'd be anticipating that feeling of heaviness in the chest as the film concludes. I'm amazed how the writer-director can tell these realistically grounded stories as a cop himself.

Manesh Madhavan's scintillating cinematography (almost 3/4ths of the film unfolds at night), Anil Johnson's affecting music, and Praveen Mangalath's editing all help the film to a great extent. Certain parts of it could've easily been tagged as "psychological horror," and I would agree. I was instantly reminded of Training Day when I watched the trailer, but Ronth is a greater emotional beast, and it carries a core that's easy to connect to.

The movie had potential, though the beginning scene merge was unnecessary and how they ended it was also unnecessary. Could have used the events to tell a commercial style story, something along the lines of Action Hero Biju in the tone of Officer on Duty. A missed opportunity. Because, the on-screen give and take was good. I don't why they chose tragedy, reminded me of films in the early 90's when tragedy was essential across media, let it be novels, serials or films. I don't know if anyone would watch films for engaging in that emotion anymore, especially it would cloud the experience of watching a movie if a hint of the story was given at the beginning. Even if tragedy was the aim, should have just started the film normally without any unnecessary editing gimmick. Otherwise, should have chosen to completely immerse into the slice of life genre.