Kumari

I'm confused on so many levels about this movie. On the one hand, the visuals and the music together make a great atmosphere throughout the movie making the horror fantasy feel of it almost perfect. On the other hand, the dialogues are horrendous with a stage drama-like style to them and the direction of the actors seems to make it worse. It's only when the actors deliver something beyond the dialogue, some things they are already comfortable with outside of this movie, that the acting works very well. Shine Tom's recent unhinged interviews now feel like an extension of this character. Either you will love it or you will hate it. I loved his performance in this movie so much that no one else deserves a mention about their performances after his one in this movie.

There is an attempt to use folklore and bring it to a western sensibility without losing our perception of such folklore. That aspect is clearly inspired by Tumbbad but it doesn't really translate beyond the basic idea and some creature designs used. Due to this attempt, there are a lot of things in the movie that doesn't make a whole lot of sense but the movie doesn't really want us to think that deeply either.

Overall, I think Kumari is a decent attempt despite its shortcomings as a horror fantasy. It could've been easily a better experience just by trimming around 30 minutes out of the movie.

By making Ranam and Kumari, placing both films on extreme ends of the spectrum in the visual landscape and making both of them aesthetically stunning yet lacking something in the writing department, Nirmal Sahadev proves his aesthetic sensibilities and the need for a better screenwriter for his stories.

Let me come straight to the point, Surabhi Lakshmi was terrific. The casting was perfect, the colour grading & all is perfect as well. But it's the screenplay which falls flat after that 1st half & the animations could have been better. The character of Shine Tom Chacko can be a little irritating at times but he did shine in his role. Aishwarya lekshmi did her part well especially during the 2nd half. The timelines in the movie is quite confusing as the songs & certain aspects do not match with the time period. The songs were unnecessary & few of the BGM seems a mismatch to the time period. Aesthetically the movie is quite appealing but the story seems thin. The opening sequence is literally the same as tumbbad. Give it a watch for a Saturday night movie.

A decent attempt to make Tummbad in a traditional Kerala household setting, which unfortunately ended up becoming a cheap replica of the original, with a few redeeming qualities.

The visuals were enchanting but anyone who has seen Tummbad can make the connection within the opening act (my 5 yr old daughter could spot it by then.)

Shine Tom and Aishwarya were majestic but the Demigods were reminiscent of the 80's Hollywood creature-flick atrocities, which kind of made the final few shots unpalatable.

The movie has taken inspiration from a variety of sources but managed to incorporate them beautifully, the character development and atmosphere building were impeccable.

If it hadn't been for the lackluster climax, this would've been a spiritual successor to the genre defining cult classics like "Manichitrathazhu" and "Anandabhadram", alas, it wasn't to be.

If you haven't seen Tummbad, brace yourself for a memorable watch that will stay with you for a long time, both for it's aesthetics and pitiable climax sequences.

Overall, a decent attempt at recreating the on-screen magic of Tummbad.

Sorta went into this blind but Kumari turned out to be a great watch for me.

Let's talk plot.

Eons ago, a goddess that came to earth and found herself so fascinated by the world, she chose to remain on earth.

She subsequently falls in love with a human and gives birth to two children, Chathan and Gari Devan. The children were disfigured, looked nothing like humans or gods but had great powers. When their fighting began destroying earth, the goddess subdued them by limiting Chathan's presence to the mountainous forest, Gari Devan's to the underground and returned to her otherworldly home. Humans come to realize their powers and begin worshiping the demi-gods.

Kumari is a young woman who leaves home by way of arranged marriage. Her husband is the lonely, disappointing second born son of the village lord and 12th generation descendent of an evil lord who killed a forest child that Chathan was fond of. Chathan seeks revenge for the child's death by cursing the entire village. To rescue the village and more importantly, maintain his power, the evil lord calls upon Gari Devan to lift the curse. The price this salvation called for was the sacrificing of the lord's firstborn child and to maintain it every 12th generation would have to make the same sacrifice.

When the elder son fails to produce offspring and Kumari falls pregnant, the husband gets the future lordship and the power goes to his head. Kumari learns of the plans to sacrifice her baby and has to find a way to save her child.

So, yeah, I thought this was a good film. The pace was good, it held interest and the practical effects were well done. The second act of the film was lacking something. Maybe it was simply the dialogue but the story was a little muddled at times. Otherwise, no complaints here. I say give it a look if fantasy bordering on fairytales is your thing, check it out.

Barring a few scenes, the movie is refreshing and with a lot new and chilling ideas. Aishwarya Lakshmi as Kumari is really terrific. She excels in many scenes.

Apart from her, Shine Tom Chacko, Swasika Vijay and Surabhi Lakshmi make their presence felt.

The background score by Jakes Bejoy is pulsating and a couple of songs are really good.

Nirmal Sahadev's story is a heady mixture of fantasy and horror. As the director, he did a clean job of presenting an eminently watchable movie, if you can excuse him for a few boring scenes.

The locations are very good and carefully chosen by the movie team. Overall, a paisa vasool movie.