Mura

Since I've been finding good Malayalam movies recently, I started looking for another Telugu-dubbed Malayalam film. That's when I came across Mura. What attracted me to it was Suraj Venjaramoodu. I know him from his previous films like Jana Gana Mana and Mukundan Unni Associates, and I really like his subtle acting. He doesn't hesitate to take on any kind of role-whether it's the protagonist, a side character, or even an antagonist-as long as the character has depth and scope for acting. So if he was in Mura, I knew it had to be something special.

And it didn't disappoint. The story feels fresh and revolves around four young friends who get drawn into a local gang. When they get an opportunity to break into a vault loaded with black money, their lives take an unexpected turn. Now, you might be wondering where Suraj fits into all of this, since the story focuses on these four young men. Well, he plays the role of their gang leader. You should watch the film to see how their bond with him forms and what happens after they take on the risky mission of robbing the vault.

This is only the second Malayalam film in recent times I've seen that directly caters to Kerala's youth (the first being Pani). Mura delivers a message about young people who are drawn to violent crime, often out of thrill or fashion, and the consequences they face when they go too far. I think the filmmakers made a smart choice by having a well-known actor like Suraj lead a cast of relatively unknown young actors, ensuring that the movie got enough attention while still feeling fresh.

The director, Muhammad Musthafa, is a well-known Malayalam actor with plenty of acting credits, and Mura marks his second directorial venture. I really liked his direction style-he hooked us right from the intro scene and tied it back nicely in the climax. The four young actors delivered solid performances, with Hridhu Haroon standing out in particular. The movie starts off casually, showing how these young men get caught up in small gang fights, slowly gaining the trust of Suraj's character. Eventually, he gives them the job of retrieving black money from an abandoned factory. As expected, Suraj delivers a great performance with his signature subtle expressions. There's also a strong sister character who is just as powerful as Suraj's role, and she too did a fantastic job.

The second half of the movie transforms into a bloodbath of action-packed drama, leading to a shocking climax. I haven't seen such intense violence in a smaller Malayalam film before, but it felt justified. Of course, there are a few cinematic liberties taken-like when Suraj's sister's son brutally beats up the four young men to the point that they can barely walk, yet just a few hours later, they're back on their feet, attacking with full force. The same happens in the climax. Perhaps, since they're young, they have the resilience to withstand pain and fight back quickly.

The background score and cinematography are well done. As usual, the film is shot in real locations, something I love about Malayalam movies-they rely on natural settings rather than elaborate sets, making the visuals feel authentic.

If you're looking for a fresh and gripping action drama with Suraj's signature subtle performance, Mura is definitely worth watching.