A satire on society and established social conventions - Maheshinte Prathikaaram

The Malayalam film industry’s poster boy for its new wave of cinema is undoubtedly Fahadh Faasil. The acclaimed actor has amassed a cult following in Kerala, and across India, for riveting performances in recent films such as Kumbalangi Nights, Trance, Joji, and Malik. The 2016 film Maheshinte Prathikaaram is a relatively lesser-known classic and features one of the most well-written protagonists in Indian cinema.

Faasil slips into his role with ease and is aided by an engrossing screenplay by Kumbalangi Nights writer Syam Pushkaran. Faasil essays the role of Mahesh, a photographer from a small town in Idukki Kerala, who is forced to reassess his worldview after a series of life-changing incidents. The soft-spoken Mahesh soon ends up in a path of vengeance as retaliation for being humiliated in the town centre by a man named Jimson. The narrative has placed the town itself as a pivotal character in the overarching story, and the actions of each character have a ripple effect on the entire town, setting off a chain of events that culminates with Mahesh defiantly proclaiming that he would never wear footwear again until he beats Jimson in a brawl.

Directed by Dileesh Pothan, the film is a satire on society and established social conventions. It uses humour to convey its subtext and critiques the various aspects of societal norms that shackle individuals from a journey of self-discovery. The film’s cinematography and sound design have added an extra layer of nuance and quality.

Aparna Balamurali, Soubin Shahir, Alencier Ley Lopez, and Anusree, essay important supporting characters.

Catch this flick streaming on Amazon Prime Video

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• Written by Ryan Gomez