Love

We well know the cult of directors in International Cinema, movie enthusiasts place high expectations on the output of the directors rather than the celebrities. In India, this 'cult of directors' is very rare because of the 'larger than life' heroes that the industry has produced. There are certain industries where there have been shifts in this trend, and the Malayalam industry would certainly be the top contender in that list. Among the names of the consistent and creative directors, Khalid Rahman finds his spot with his latest outing 'Love'. With each passing movie, Khalid Rahman is becoming a master of the art. In this movie, his writing is astonishing with the character's that he brings in, and the pinch of confusion that he sprinkles hither and tither. Jimshi Khalid, who previously handled camera's for Khalid's movies, has done a pretty good job. The subtle yet haunting music by Neha-Yakzin is yet another factor to be appreciated. Shine Tom Chacko is the guy who can do any character given to him. With each passing movie, he is proving his versatility, and Rajisha Vijayan too gets her work done well towards the end.

In 'Love', if it weren't for the brilliant writing and performance from the cast, it wouldn't have worked. I would recommend this one because of the quality of content in it. Also, I would love to have director's ditching the 'Interval' for movies within the runtime of 90 minutes.

A minimalist, lockdown effort from Khalid Rahman, Love looks at marital discord through multiple layers and lenses. The film is neatly shot and edited (with a run-time of 85 minutes) and includes a couple of memorable performances from Gokulan and Sudhi Koppa (you might wonder why these names, if you haven't watched it). While it's unfair to divulge details regarding the plot, it makes sense to know that you're in for a psychological thriller sprinkled with occasional dark humour. I liked Khalid Rahman's approach of delving deeper into a person's mind before, during, and after they make unfavourable decisions. More than giving you a better perspective, it subtly fights social conditioning. There's also a winning scene featuring director Johny Antony which entirely works given its context, and an intriguing final stretch (where Rajisha is in top form) that leaves you astounded.

I cracked my mind big which i understood lately after reading a viewer comment on entire plot here. This was a diffcult one for me to catch upon. Very deep thinking by the makers. Fresh faces for me, was on edge all the time.

Wonderfully scripted. It keeps you on the edge and uncomfortable throughout. All the elements that you feel as inconsistent plot holes are washed away by the twist in the pre-climax. The final twist adds to the entertainment value but doesn't contribute much to the plot. You will be forced to play back the whole movie in your mind to cross check plot inconsistencies and you won't find any (at least not any significant ones).

The normalization of domestic violence, alcoholism (and induced altered states of mind), adultery etc. are all quite disturbing and makes this movie unfit for seekers of mild entertainment. It is a heavy movie and doesn't leave you with a "pleasant" feeling. It's only for those who like to obsess over storylines and plots.

The performances are good by most standards but I feel the movie would have been a better one if we had a more capable cast.Overall, it's a great movie for those who enjoy tight well written scripts.

Intriguing cinematic experience Brilliant performances Provacative narative Crispy Cuts Striking frames Haunting scores💓