The Malayalam film “Bramayugam,” which stars Mammootty, was a huge hit in Kerala and has since garnered widespread praise and admiration from moviegoers.

South Malabar in the eighteenth century provides the backdrop to this story. Arjun Ashokan’s character, Devan, escapes slavery and finds refuge along a river. He finds refuge in an old palace after observing it. While there, he meets Potty (Mammootty), who lives with his cook. Potty extends an invitation to Devan to dine with him and a complimentary drink after learning that he is a vocalist.

Afterwards, Devan finds out that the mansion has secrets and a demon lives there. For all intents and purposes, Devan knows that Potty has imprisoned him here and rendered his escape impossible. Is there any hope for Devan’s eventual freedom, and why does Potty do what she does?

Wow, Mammootty is fantastic. At first glance, he seems innocent, but as the plot thickens, his facial expressions and laughs are enough to make the audience shudder. The film’s strongest point is the performance of Mammootty. Because of his evil nature, he remains shrouded in mystery.

Another outstanding actor in the film is Arjun Ashokan. Despite Mammootty’s dominance, Arjun Ashokan steals the show with his convincing portrayal of hopelessness and terror. Although Siddharth plays down his role at the beginning of the story, he becomes increasingly significant later on.

Strong technical execution is essential for horror thrillers. The remarkable technical brilliance of the black-and-white film “Bramayugam” is on full display.

The project’s strongest points are its sound design, mixing, and the high-quality background music.

The entire play takes place in a rundown palace, and the production design does a great job of creating the requisite air of foreboding.

Additionally, the cinematography is quite inventive. In the first half, the editing is spot on, but after that, it starts to drag.

Analysis
A great Malayalam superstar, Mammootty, recently turned 72 years old. His body of work speaks for itself; he has been in innumerable blockbusters and won a slew of accolades for his roles. It seems like this pushed him to explore new territory, going beyond the typical lead roles. Lately, he’s been in a number of roles and quirky flicks. In one of his recent critically lauded films, he played the role of a gay. Similarly, Mammootty’s portrayal of a villain in “Bramayugam” is jaw-dropping.

Shot entirely in black and white, the period horror thriller “Bramayugam” manages to evoke a chilling mood. Isolated locations with few characters are common of horror films. “Bramayugam” is a historical drama that takes place in a crumbling palace in the 17th century and stars three primary characters and two supporting ones. The film revolves around Mammootty and two other actors, however the tale starts with Arjun Ashokan’s character, Devan.

The story unfolds via Arjun Ashokan’s eyes as he reveals more and more of Mammootty’s villainous schemes. Tension and intrigue grow with each layer pulled back.

The film also touches on subjects like corrupt power, caste inequity, feudal lords, and monarchs. On top of that, a female character symbolises the fantastical elements. Each of these elements has helped to give the film its own distinct flavour.

The spine-tingling close-up images and laughs of Mammotty are unsettling. The narrative style of director Rahul is riveting and original throughout the film’s first act.

However, there are spots when the storyline is ambiguous. There are some nebulous philosophical and class political components to it. In addition, the picture devolves into a standard horror movie in its latter stages, and the finale is underwhelming. The narrator down the pace even further in the middle section. “Bramayugam” is fascinating despite these problems.

All things considered, “Bramayugam” is a fascinating blend of tradition, mystery, and horror. The mesmerising story, superb score, and stunning acting by Mammootty make this black-and-white picture an unforgettable experience. The plodding narration and predictable climax don’t detract from the novel’s unique atmosphere.

Movie Trailer: Bramayugam

ibomma Rating: 3/5
Cast: Mammootty, Arjun Ashokan, Sidharth Bharathan, Amalda Liz and others
Music: Christo Xavier
DOP: Shehnad Jalal
Editor: Shafique Mohamed Ali
Art Director: Jothish Shankar
Producers: Ramachandra Chakravarthy, S. Sashikanth
Written and Directed by: Rahul Sadasivan
Release Date: Feb 23, 2024

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