Kurup

Kurup tries hard not to glorify its lead - Sudhakara Kurup - based on real-life fugitive Sukumara Kurup but ends up occasionally doing that and more! While the idea of digging into a fugitive's details by sifting through the pages of a crime memoir is a neat storytelling idea, the non-linearity acts as more than just a dampener in the film's slickly paced second half. The protagonist (also the antagonist) is a grey-shaded human. Still, even with lengthy flashbacks that take us through his days in the IAF, later as an entrepreneur in the Middle East, and as a wanted criminal in 1980s Kerala, we just don't understand Kurup at all. The dialogues are appalling except for the Kerala portions, where the focus is on the murder conspiracy and subsequent execution. Much of the applause in this act should go to Shine Tom Chacko, who's terrific.

The entire IAF portion (with Sunny Wayne), the romance with Sharadamma (a beautiful Shobita Dhulipala, who has nothing worthwhile to do; not even a single memorable line of dialogue), and the super-expository and over-the-top climax all wear the film down several notches. The best parts are bang in the middle, no doubt! Though fiction overrides reality for the most part, the makers seem to have taken cinematic liberties that exalt a con-man to near-mythical levels in the same fashion as Mohanlal's Lucifer. The only thing left was for him to join Illuminati and a have a drink with Khureshi Ab'ram. Nonetheless, Sushin Shyam's score is top-notch (but is the film deserving of it?), Banglan's production design recreates the era convincingly, and DOP Nimish Ravi's frames ooze visual flair.

The writers deserve a hard whack on their bottoms for using the non-linear trope only to completely undo even the tiniest bit of ambiguity, especially given that very little public information is available on Kurup. Why didn't they spend time telling us why Kurup was so greedy in the first place, or why his stances kept changing with time, or what the last words to his family were.. each of these could branch out into exciting plots of their own, so let's not even go there! Kurup is "all-style, messy plot, but technically solid." As one of the most anticipated films of the year, we begin to wonder at what point the makers lost that equilibrium in the first place.

Kurup (2021) : Brief Review -

An ugly story told beautifully. Dulquer conquers everything possible in this gripping tale of mastermind criminal. When it comes to gangster films, I always have one star reduced from the final rating already. These stories may entertain you sometimes they don't even to that, I have that specific hatred (deserving, i believe) for such films. I have bashed many known Hollywood classics for the same reason. Kurup didn't work there for me because the story isn't really important enough to be told. What do you gain by telling such stories? What do you learn from it? Nothing. That's why I have that specific hatred in my mind. On the other side, I love watching films that have motives, that teaches you something. Ustad Hotel was one such Dulquer Film, even Kaarwaan and so many others. Well, Kurup really isn't a bad film, it's a great one. It's just that I don't like to watch the stories led by negative people. Hardly few of them, i mean such films, have impressed me. This one is based on the life of wanted criminal Sukumara Kurup, a classic criminal. True Mastermind. Srinath Rajendran's impeccable direction makes his story look interesting. His skilful methods to handle a simple story have made this one special. The only problem I found was the pacing in the first half. It takes too much time to show the generous side of that character when you already know he is not that kind of person. That's where you even predict the climax which was supposed to be a shock, but does not remain a secret. Dulquer Salmaan is phenomenal as Kurup/GK. That style, attitude and his looks everything is perfect. Rest of the cast is good too. Kurup has very simple dialogues, that hurts because gangster films are known for some dhaansu dialogues. Overall, a very good film and surely recommendable for the performances and direction, if not for story.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest_

Kurup is classy. Kurup is tremendously cinematic rather a true story. Kurup is worth the wait. Kurup is fine with me though I avoid regional movies. Not a documentary style of story telling as some of the fans anticipated. The first half would have been reduced by 25 mins. Second portion is fast paced, well directed and acted by all nicely.

Only one glitch. If you ask me how to pronounce Cheriyanad it will be 'Chernaad' and majority of the locals and family call it "Chernaad" and not Cheriyanad as the writer/director stuck with correct written pronunciation which is not natural. Some sequences in Air Force part is exaggerated and ill conceived.

Also the head of the investigative officers did a tremendous job of trying to nab the real culprit. Then in 1984 till 2005 was a well known figure of the family which the director or the research team is missing or they refused to show it in the film.

There is a scope for a sequel and I call it Alaxander!

So many characters missing. Neither detail about Suresh Kurup who is brother of GK nor the whereabouts of GK's family (wife& kids) after the incident is missing!!

DQ did a tremendous job as a producer and main actor so is Shine who was depicted more of a villain than GK of real story.

Also the murder, investigation and subsequent media frenzy on the family took place when we were just 16. That's almost 38 years ago.

Go and watch it if you missed theatre for two long years👍🏻🙏🏻

This movie is a worth watch first of all it's a based on true story of fugitive sukumara kurup the movie shows very well of negative side of him.technical side of this film is excellent especially bgm and vfx works good making and casting overall it's a worth watch.

I'M AWARE OF THIS INCIDENT AS IT'S BASED ON A TRUE STORY, THE HUGE CHALLENGE HERE IS HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO KEEP THE AUDIENCE WHO KNOW THE ENTIRE STORY, ENGAGED.

MUST SAY THE FILM SURPASSED ALL MY EXPECTATIONS AND TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT CRIME THRILLER.

THE STORY WAS MUCH BEYOND ALL THAT I KNEW, PERSONALLY I FOUND THE FIRST HALF TO BE INTERESTING WHILE SOME AUDIENCE FOUND IT A BIT LAGGY BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SECOND HALF THE FILM IS PHENOMENAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN EVERYTHING FROM THE FIRST HALF RELATES AND MAKES SENSE.

A MUST WATCH FILM, AND THIS IS HIGH TIME THAT WE SUPPORT THE INDUSTRY.