Chattambi movie review: Sreenath Bhasi’s slow-burner toys with brilliant ideas but lacks depth to be gripping

Despite its attention to details, flawed characters and brilliant execution, Chattambli still feels incomplete. The Sreenath Bhasi-starrer strays far too often, making it hard for the audience to relate to any of its characters.

Sreenath Bhasi's look from Chattambi

Chattambi

Story: Karia, who works as a henchman for a loan shark, is found dead. His history of crimes throws up several suspects and motives. The story then traces the last few months of his life, leading up to the day of his death, to know the how and why of what actually transpired.

Review: The first few minutes of the debut directorial of Abhilash S Kumar, who had previously co-scripted 22 Female Kottayam and Da Thadiya, throws a volley of questions. It begins with a woman finding the body of a goon named Karia (Sreenath Bhasi), before cutting to interview montages of villagers, who reveal bit by bit about the protagonist, how he took to crime, the police cases filed against him and what could have led to his death. Each of this information, squeezed in less than 10 minutes, prove to be pivotal as the story unfolds – in an unhurried pace, piecing together the world of Karia and the people who were directly and indirectly responsible for his death.

The film’s title card makes it clear that it’s based on a true story and Don Palathara and Alex Joseph’s screenplay keeps it gritty and realistic, while ensuring there’s enough to keep the audience guessing about the end. It’s not a rushed film at all, and yet the details are what makes this movie a well-executed venture. The main characters of the film – John the loan shark (Chemban Vinod) and his henchmen Baby (Binu Pappu) and Karia – are all dealing with their personal crisis, even though they are as grey as they come. Even the women in the movie, John’s wife played by Grace Antony and his paramour essayed by Mythili, have fiery personalities and are driven by their own ambitions – no matter how morally ambiguous they are.

Also read: Sreenath Bhasi alleged verbal abuse: Chattambi actor on what he learnt from Kunchacko Boban about ‘true class’ 

But here is also where the film falters. It gives its due to too many characters that the protagonist’s story isn’t always the focus. In fact, one could argue that John and his family are given more importance in this film than Karia, who is left as a two-dimensional character; as someone who is quick to temper and is discriminated against by those around him for his actions. The only person to whom he lets his guard down is Muniyandi (Guru Somasundaram) and this too is interestingly looked down upon by the other two in his gang. We get dialogues from people around Karia, who says he is stubborn and won't stop till he accomplishes what he has on his mind; but when you look at the big picture it's just a chain of mindless violence that impacts the lives of many in the film, till it is put to an end by an unlikely but equally determined person.

The third act in the movie doesn’t feature much of Karia’s story and instead brings characters that were there only in the backdrop to the fore. Here is where the craft of the makers, as Abhilash seamlessly blends their stories and motives, and gives it a powerful ending. Dark humour is also used well in places, especially from the point of view of a cop, who apparently nicknames himself Minnal. That said, for all its attention to details and real, flawed characters, the movie does feel incomplete. It strays far too often, making it hard for the audience to relate to any of its characters.

The movie’s cinematography, by Alex Joseph, is also one of its highlights as it puts the viewer right into the hilly ranges where the film is set. The editing is also top notch, interspersing certain pivotal scenes with relevant flashbacks, adding further nuance to the storytelling.

Verdict: Sreenath Bhasi’s Chattambi, which is rated A for the violence and language, is a well-executed film that toys with great ideas. However, its bogged down by its ambition to tell the story from different characters, thereby never quite being as engaging as it could have been.

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Cast and Crew

Sreenath Bhasi

Mythili

Grace Antony

Chemban Vinod Jose

Binu Pappu

Guru Somasundaram

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