User reviews

I believe one of the best aspects of a great thriller is its complex design, with multiple moving parts, concurrent storylines, and a nonlinear narrative that eventually comes together into a cohesive and gripping whole.

*Kishkindha Kaandam* exemplifies this brilliantly, standing out as one of the best if the best thriller of this year.

At first, it can feel overwhelming to piece together the seemingly disconnected events. However, as the story unfolds, their relevance becomes increasingly apparent. What makes it even more intriguing is how the audience primarily experiences the narrative through the perspective of the lead female character, Aparna, and at key moments, the father figure, Appu Pillai-while notably excluding the viewpoint of the lead actor, Ajay. The director masterfully crafts the story, skillfully revealing crucial moments only when they are essential to driving the plot forward, and we finally get to see the lead male character, Ajay's point of view in the end.

Went for the movie without reading any reviews. Was blown away by the mastery of the craft shown by the director of the movie. Each actor played their role perfectly . Performance by Vijayaraghavan as a former army officer is commendable. Jagadish's acting was very controlled and subdued. Asif Ali and Aparna did their roles perfectly .

The script of the movie is flawless. The director has skillfully used the script and woven up the bits and pieces to make a wonderful movie.

Wonderful location near a forest. The camera man has used the nuances of the script well. Great usage of lights and shadows .

No film songs in the movie , which according to me was a good move. Back ground scores felt a little loud some times.

Overall a wonderful experience.

Somehow this movie made me remember K. G George .

Kishkindha Kaandam - A tale of three wise monkeys

An emotional thriller showcasing the suppressed feelings and underlying truths to stay covered purposely and unknowingly by the familia what they like to call it fate or destiny and live by it.

Dinjith Ayyathan & Bahul Ramesh - You guys deserves a bow down .This is a new benchmark for thrillers.

This is the best thriller film from Malayalam released in this decade. Bahul Ramesh has conceived the idea and Dinjith has executed the story leaving no loose ends.

Dinjith has made a terrific comeback with a masterpiece movie though his initial release could not reap commercial success. His name will be engraved in golden letters among the list of Malayalam directors who has shocked the audience with exceptional thrillers.

The initial first half of the movie sets background for the formation of the storyline and the movie elevates to next level towards the interval with suprises,endless doubts and answers in the minds of the audience recurrent shocks and goosebumps throughout the later half leaving the viewers clueless shows the brilliance of the script. The climax sequence stands as a true embodiment of emotional breakdown which will be one of the most discussed and favourite sequence of this movie.

Vijay Raghavan,an actor par excellence has lived as Appupillai through his myriad performance. Asif Ali has given a splendid performance in this movie through his layered character portrayal uncovering suppressed emotions,pain and relief and how he conveys emotions on screen through his eyes is simply lit .Aparna Balamurali has made a poised performance of her character alongside Asif and Vijayaraghavan. Notable performances by Jagadish,Nishaan,Nizhaigal Ravi & Ashokan in the movie.

Kudos to Bahul for the brilliant visuals of the pristine nature and Mujeeb's BGM's added more colour,life and appeal to the beauty of the location. The efforts behind the precise cuts by Sooraj for giving the best experienceon screen is worth mentioning. The praise about the movie is endless.

A complete paisa vasool deal and don't wait for OTT release.

100% satisfaction guaranteed. A must watch movie in theatres for an enthralling experience and long haunting memories of the story.

Rating - 5/5.

Outstanding and Brilliant Scripting by #BahulRamesh and Remarkable direction by newbie #dinjithayyathan !

Acting Excellence by Vijaya raghavan and aparna balamurali done a Fine job & Fabulous and Touching Showcase by Asif Ali

Intriguing background score is another highlight ; BGM by mujeeb majeed is perfectly setting the mood to the Audience !

This Genre is one of Favorite , Intense drama blended with Curiosity and Loaded with many Unexpected turns of Events is really worked for me!

I loved it ! I will watch it again ; surely this one is a Worth a watch for its Story ,acting and Making !

A emotional ,Indulging Mystery Awaiting near your Cinemas .Go for it !!!

My Rating 9.4!!

The way this movie starts right off by placing the gun and Appupillai at the centre and then moves on by slowly revealing things to the audience bit by bit was refreshing. The film never loses its momentum and the way it makes you empathize with the characters and the way it makes you shift your thinking on things are just beautiful. People should see it without knowing too much about it and enjoy the way everything unfolds. For some reason, even with some heavy themes, this was kind of a relaxing watch for me and the ending did make me very emotional. It's possible that it could grow on me even more in the future and it may be worth some rewatches.

Recently started to watch Malayalam movie in Hindi dubbed Version... movies is amazingly written..it's start with slow pace but climax is decent..the retired army men with forgotten memories with Carring son has living in village around forest area.. initially movie started with lost gun and then turn into mystery... main actors has done satisfactory acting..their ego and problems has crafted very well in movie..direction is decent no unnecessary subplot..this is not typical entertainment movie but emotional rollercoaster..all things has been explained well in last 30 minutes.. overall decent engaging thriller..

The slow-paced mystery thriller with elements of drama, Kishkindha Kaandam, successfully keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. The solid script coupled with a talented cast delivers excellent performances, with Vijaya Raghavan standing out in his role as Appu Pillai.

The beautiful locations captured by the cinematography, along with perfect lighting, create a hauntingly atmospheric setting within the forest. The editing and background music work together seamlessly to enhance the mood and maintain the mystery of the film. There are no unnecessary scenes or shots, and the film avoids spoon-feeding the audience information, opting instead for a more subtle approach to unfolding the background story.

The dialogue is kept concise and impactful, with silence and expressions utilized effectively to convey emotions and further develop the characters. While there are a few scenes that may come across as unconvincing and lacked some logic, the overall quality of the film remains high due to its well-thought-out plot and execution.

It is a well-crafted cinematic experience that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats, intrigued by the unfolding mystery and captivated by the performances on screen.

The first complain is the acting . The acting of every one is good and fit perfectly. Those eho disagree is just flat out stupid and dont know a thing about movies The second complain is the dragging of the plot and poor climax and this is flat out misunderstanding the movie. First of all a climax dont need to be at the end lf the movie. A climax can be anywhere like in the first half and the second half could be the aftermath of it. But this movie does not have a big climax or you could say the entire movie is a climax , slowly filling the plot one by one which is very entertaining. I completely lost track of time in the first half. The second half is where the climax fully starts developing into a slowly cooked big climax spread out as piece and overall a master piece.

And every one who says 'ohhh they didn't close the plot with the monkey with you know what ' like seriously cant just use your freaking head for once in your life and they show what has happened. In the scene where Vijaya Ragavan goes to vist Jagathish the final time its cleary shows a poster for the monkey with the you know what. Monkeys live in forests and there is thousands of them in a forest and the chance of finding the same monkey is flat out impossible.

And the people who says the missing child plot is not closed they are too stupid , there are thousands of missing cases that have not been closed. And you think the police will keep searching for a child lost in the forest for more than 2 years any thing could have happened to that child in the view of police from alien abduction to simply just dying of starvation. And the police will have to dig up the entire forest to find the skeleton

I dont understand all the hate for this movie those who hate on this movie dont even know what a movie is they probably hate on Shawshank redemption because there is no romance lol.

Beginning with a serene and tranquil atmosphere, Kishkindha Kaandam slowly builds intrigue, leaving viewers with a cascade of questions.

However, the answers to its mysteries defy guesses, prejudices, or conventional predictions.

Like monkeys leaping from one tree to another without pause, viewers are left as passive spectators, unsure of what will come next with each unfolding scene.

Unlike traditional mystery thrillers that focus on unraveling secrets or solving puzzles, this film delves into the human condition-shedding light on the perpetual worries that define our existence.

Kishkindha Kaandam isn't just a film you watch; it's an emotional labyrinth that stays with you long after it ends.

The concerns of its characters seep into us, making their anxieties feel deeply personal.

The film leaves us with a poignant realization: it's far better to cherish the warmth of caring relationships than to chase after truths that hold no real value.

While many films have explored the complexities of human relationships, few have captured the emotional depth and tenderness of the father-son bond between Appupillai and Ajayachandran.

Their portrayal leaves a lasting impression, etching itself into the most heartwarming corners of our memories.

The performances are nothing short of remarkable. Vijaya Raghavan and Asif Ali bring their characters to life with brilliance.

Aparna Balamurali, Jagadish, Ashokan, Kakka Ravi, and the return of Nishan to the screen also add to the joy.

With a tightly woven script, meticulous character development, a narrative that holds its mysteries until the very end, unique visuals unlike any other forest-set film, and a jaw-dropping climax, Kishkindha Kaandam is a cinematic triumph.

The forest, the house, the monkeys, the radio, the toys, the gun, and the elephant are not just elements but integral characters in the story.

Bahul Ramesh's dual role as cinematographer and writer shines through, showcasing his artistic freedom and vision.

Meanwhile, Dinjith Ayyathan cements his place as a director to watch, with this impressive second outing elevating his craft to new heights.

Slow paced movie with less interactive climax. Storyline didn't keep me engaged but plot is little new but it doesn't make such impact. Even bgm is regular nothing new to witness. If i want to rate based on triller, it would may end near 6 stars. Malayalam industry already set some benchmark for best thriller movies, where Kishkindha Kaandam doesn't stand close enough to it. As a regular thriller audience u can watch it once if you have enough time. If i want to appreciate something, then it will be screenplay which will make u understand the movie in much better way.

Respect for all the cast and whole team for such attempt.

Don't let the glowing reviews from critics, social media hype, or flashy promotional campaigns mislead you. Beneath all the noise lies a film that fails to live up to its promises. Despite being marketed as a cinematic masterpiece, the movie drags on endlessly, weighed down by a wafer-thin story that struggles to hold your attention.

The narrative lacks depth, creativity, and coherence, leaving audiences yearning for more substance. What's worse, the pacing is excruciatingly slow, making it feel more like a test of patience than an enjoyable experience.

It's proof that even the loudest buzz can't compensate for a lack of meaningful storytelling.

In short, don't let yourself be misled by the glittering facade-it's a disappointing ride with little to offer beyond empty promises.

~ ' Kishkkinda Kaandam ' directed by Dinjith Ayyathan is a mystery thriller which revolves around a simple plot which as the film goes on unveils a lot of secrets. I don't want to share anything about the plot because it's best going into the theatres without knowing anything about what you are going to witness. The film stars Asif Ali , Vijayaraghavan and Aparna Balamurali. The film is set in a very beautiful forest area in Kerala and that added a lot to the mystery of the film. The film is packed with outstanding performances from the cast especially the leads Asif Ali , Vijayaraghavan and Aparna Balamurali. Asif Ali and Vijayaraghavan was just simply mesmerizing to watch. The film from a technical standpoint also stands out with such beautiful cinematography, great score , edge of the seat screenplay , attention to details etc. The film demands audience's attention and the audience will definitely be rewarded for it , hence the film was very thrilling and made me involved or part of the story that is unfolding. Overall , I loved the film , I loved the performances and it's a great thriller for anyone who loves watching thriller films.

*** Kishkindha Kaandam Malayalam Movie Review ***

Directed by Dinjith Ayyathan starring Asif Ali Aparna Balamurali Vijayaraghavan in the lead role.

One Line Review : As a person who unveils the mystery when going deep into the forest, the movie takes us through the same mood.

The story which initially goes on a slow pace but thereby gives the mood of suspense, it doesn't loosen its viewing interest thanks to the stellar performance of Vijayaraghavan. As his character Appu Pillai, a retired army officer whose initial presentation was a kind of mystery but as the story moves it is through him the mystery gets unlocked.

Another stellar performance was Asif Ali. The suppressed pain which the character carries, the emotional bond towards his father, Asif Ali just captured the love of the audience. When dialogues not eyes required to reach the emotions, that areas, Asif scored very well.

Able to remember Jayasuriya 2020 movie " Anveshnam ( Investigation) & all time crime thriller DRISHYAM while watching the climax.

Coming to the technical aspect, Dinjith's direction, backed by Bahul Ramesh's eye catching cinematography & mysterious music of Mujeeb Majeed makes Kishkindha Kaandam a worth watch movie.

STORY,SCREENPLAY,DIRECTION,BACKGROUND MUSIC IS WORLD CLASS. CAN EVEN COMPETE FOR THE OSCARS. THE FILM IS A DRUG FOR PEAK FILM ADDICTS. I JUST WONDER HOW CAN THE SCRIPT BE SUCH FLAWLESS! FELT LIKE I WAS READING SOME BOOKS LIKE SHERLOCK HOLMES OR DRACULA! SCRIPT IS TOP NOTCH THAN DRISYAM!!ALSO VIJARAGHAVAN SIR WAS BRILLIANT! ASIF ALI,APARNA BALAMURALI,JAGADISH ALL ACTED WELL. THE FOREST AND IT'S BACKGROUND GIVES THE SPACE FOR A PERFECT MYSTERY THRILLER. INTERNATIONAL LEVEL BACKGROUND MUSIC!!BEST THRILLER EVER IN MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY!!!! MARK MY WORDS-THIS FILM WILL BEAT THE RECORDS OF DRISHYAM 1. FAMILY AUDIENCES WILL CONNECT WITH THE MOVIE WELL.

The movie takes a problem faced by the older generation today and spins a a very interesting story around same. The suspense and overall acting is good.

Dont watch expecting a Drishyam level of intrigue and suspense, this is a different kind of thriller.

A lady marries a man who has lost his wife and kid and moves to his house. A beautiful forest with monkeys surrounds the house. The guy's father seems very hostile and behaves in an odd way towards everyone. When the police find he is missing his gun, things start to unravel, and the newlywed bride starts to notice that all is not as it looks.

The plot then goes through twists and turns.

The overall acting is quite good. Nizhalgal Ravi does a very short but interesting cameo.

The title is kind of misleading as the story has nothing to do with Kishkinda or Ramayana. Its a nice watch if you don't go expecting a super thrilling mystery like Drishyam.

First review I heard about this movie was it's similar to Drishyam, a movie I loved and which took me by surprise.

So obviously we've all heard overstatements about movies. 'its the next Dark Knight '. 'Bro 100% watch list brooo'

This movie will take you on several tangents but the one you end up on you won't expect.

You'll think you know where it's headed even during the final half hour of this very crisp movie. Usually that's when the twists present themselves.

But..

The last half hour and especially 20 minutes is just twist after twist and...you know.

No spoilers. Experience this masterpiece.

A little convoluted but interesting storyline. Movie gives out a strong message - Put on the act until the very end if something good meant to happen while let people around keep guessing. Storyline revolves around the missing child n a missing licensed gun of a old man progressing with memory loss n around family of his son. The viewer keeps wondering guessing the plot of the storyline until a long way. Execution is clean, decent with no unwanted masala. Someone into commercial entertainments may find this boring. But definitely a very unique storyline with a good revealing climax, worth a one time watch. Originally a Malayalam movie dubbed in all South Indian languages including Hindi. Available in Disney HotStar, my ratings 7/10!

A Great story Building With Immense thrilling moments. Usually Most thrillers We Could gues out the story perfectly but not in this movie

A great work of art The director deserves a great appreciation on taking a movie like this in malayalam Story,Music, Cinematography Are also to be mentioned Best of Its Kind

And Actors Vijayaraghavan and Asif ali had done their roles at their peak levels Literally giving their best also Aparna balamurali, Jadish and Ashokan has done their roles pretty good too.

The Story Unfolding Is What makes this movie so special A Good First Half With a Tremendous Second half

Music just makes The Second Half better

Missing This on the theatre will be a great loss.

I have waited for it's OTT release since last 2 months and watched it today with lots of expectations because it got so many acknowledgments from the audiences. But don't know why I'm a lover of this genre but didn't liked this movie especially it's storyline and the grand revelation at the climax. It wasn't satisfactory at all. Some people comparing it with Drishyam! I mean seriously? It's not even 10% of Drishyam! Except Acting performances of leading 3 Actors nothing was there in this entire movie. Of course Cinematography was brilliant, Camera work was good and those BGMs were excellent but that's not enough to became a masterpiece. Plot is definitely an issue here. Except the last 30min nothing was there in this entire movie. Extremely slow paced and dragged down a little one page story. Disappointing for me, I'm really disappointed with it. 4 Out of 10 Stars from my side and yeah, it's safe to go with family...

The Malayalam film industry continues to push the boundaries of storytelling, and Kishkindha Kaandam is a shining example of its brilliance. Directed with an artistic vision and powered by a gripping narrative, this film is a cinematic gem that captivates its audience while challenging them to think deeply about its layered storytelling. The script is tightly written, with no unnecessary deviations or filler scenes. Every moment feels purposeful, adding layers of depth to the story. The performances in Kishkindha Kaandam are nothing short of stellar. Each actor delivers their role with authenticity and depth, breathing life into their characters. The lead actor's portrayal of inner turmoil and resilience is particularly remarkable, drawing the audience into their emotional journey. Supporting cast members also shine, adding nuance to the film's complex relationships and conflicts.

It is Onam season and that means Malayalam movies. Yesterday I watched Kishkanda Kaandam which tells the story of a retired military officer who loses his gun and his son's quest to find his missing son. Set in rural Kerala in a lush forest, the cinematography and sound design pull us into this intense mystery suspense thriller. Writer Bahul Ramesh wastes no time in dropping us right in the middle of the action and commands our attention from the first frame. This is one of those movies that respects the audience and doesn't spoon feed any detail. We become part of the drama and are revealed interesting tidbits of information at the same time the characters get to know them. Audience becomes a character in the story.

Although the movie starts with a simple premise of finding a missing gun, it quickly starts to unravel a lot of family secrets and therein lies the suspense part. Because the setup was so good, when we are revealed the final twist during the climax, there was nothing but shock and grief. The director Dinjith Ayyathan does a terrific job juxtaposing scenes to convey the essence of the story rather than resort to exposition. Hats off to his style for not spoon feeding information to the audience. Cinematography by Bahul Ramesh captures the beauty of a lush rain forest and at the same time delivers an eerie feel that is always in sync with the movie. Editing by Sooraj E. S. is top notch with the right amount of scene length that reveals just the right amount of information for us to take part in the investigation. Brilliant stuff right here.

Music by Mujeeb Majeed is stellar and captures the wonder and sorrow at the same time. As they say background music needs to be in the background. And stay it does. We don't even notice it sometimes. That's how organic it feels. Ajay Raghavan as retired army officer Appu Pilla, Asif Ali as his son Ajaychandran and Aparna Balamurali as Ajay's wife Aparna deliver their career best performances in this thriller.

This is a movie that must be enjoyed on the big screen. I am confident this will make it to my top 10 list this year. Highly recommend.

-@CinephileIndia2023.

One of the best gripping movie in the recent times which will make you think, think, think and even more.

Brilliantly mind bended by Bahul Ramesh and canvassed by Dinjith Ayyathan gives you the thrill in this slow paced mystery thriller. The story revolves around Army Officer and his family in the remote Wayanadu area.

Story, screenplay and dialogues were absolutely done by Bahul Ramesh and his cinematography made more impact to the whole movie. The narration was so gripping and etched with the audience. Dinjith did a wonderful job here.

Talking about the performances; Asif Ali and Vijayaraghavan deserves a standing ovation. Vijayaraghavan delivered his finest performance in his lifetime, no wonder he gets an award for his portrayal of Appu Pillai. Asif Ali is a real underrated gem in Malayalam Industry. His recent movies are the perfect example.

Aparna Balamurali, Jagadeesh, Ashokan was impressive. Nishan delivered a good one too.

Mujeeb Majeed is another backbone of the movie with his haunting and eerie background score which will make you glued to the movie's ambience and theme.

There were some continuity problems in between could have been avoided. In between, the story was predictable for me but the climax twist was too good.

All in whole One movie that not to be missed.

9 on 10.