Swathanthryam Ardharathriyil is definitely worth a watch. It might lack the finesse of Angamali Diaries. The film is too over the top. The catchy background score is overused. Some of the twists are a bit hard to believe. The acting is unremarkable in places. Issues with sound recording made some dialogs indecipherable. There are a few loose ends - like how did Anthony Varghese's character become such an expert on jail breaks and lay out of the jail compound?
But the continued entry of new characters and the changing line up of prisoners in the jail cell is entertaining. The interactions (sometimes deadly) between the prisoners is often quite amusing. A line up of mean looking actors has been assembled and they make this film one of the most belligerent in recent times.
The scene in the car wash reminded me of The Seven-Ups (1973).
Nearly 60% of the Angamali Diaries cast makes an appearance. Vinayakan and Chemban Vinod Jose standout among the supporting cast.
Also, I do not think many people grasped the provocative subject matter. The title is borrowed from a famous non-fiction book about India's partition. In the movie, the protagonist longs to escape not just from jail, but also from India which has turned into a communal hellhole.
It is a relentlessly entertaining prison escape film. Tinnu Pappachan is a director whose next film I will definitely watch.
(7/10)
