Dear Friend

Friendships are explored in relation to real-life challenges that people face. Many people who live in cities can relate to this feeling. The cinematography is fantastic. The acting was so natural. A film that should be kept separate from all other recent releases. This is a serious drama picture.

"Dear friend" is a distinctively different take on the usual plot progressions and frameworks that we are accustomed to, in the typical Malayalam movies. It is a technically brilliant movie which takes you through a story, that stays very true to its soul. Yes, it is not everyone's cup of tea, but it might appeal to the ones that appreciate the art in its true sense.

A well written drama about friendship with some strange events in the plot point which added a mystery feel to the movie. Fabulous performance by all the actors. Strongly recommend.

Dear Friend's ending will make it divisive, but its rooted, simplistic core should find appreciation among most viewers. The depiction of urban Malayali friendships in a cosmopolitan city like Bangalore is pretty nicely done. That's why the first half scores a lot more than the second. You think of birthday pranks, parties, scoring, and so much more, which the film effectually portrays. But the investigative turn in the second half is found heavily lacking. Not only does it feel aimless as it progresses, but the twists don't startle or leave as much of an impact. The ending is also a bit of a damp squib, and what Basil Joseph's character remarks at the very end sums it up.

The performances are uniformly wonderful, with both Darshana and Tovino standing out. Surprisingly, this is the second consecutive Suhas-Sharfu script collab (after Puzhu) that I found less satisfying because it could have been so much more but it settles for a very safe, somewhat ambiguous route. Vineeth Kumar's ability in capturing the chemistry between his actors proves that he can tackle emotional drama quite well. Give him more meaty scripts, please!

'Dear Friend' is a story of 6 individuals and their friendship. Each of them have their own unique personalities and the actors did a great job in portraying it.

The movie flows in its own pace and doesn't force anything, even comedy. All the moments feel natural and even the climax was saved of any plotholes in a bid to create a shock twist. Although I agree that it may not be everyone's cup of tea.

From a performance point of view, Basil Joseph really shines bright. While being the comedic relief at times, he is equally adept at pulling off more serious moments.

I will definitely recommend it to anyone who loves movies that leaves an impression on you once you leave the theatre.