Kerala Crime Files review: Aju Varghese’s police procedural marks an engaging Malayalam entry into web series arena

Kerala Crime Files is fully aware of its purpose - to engage audiences that are familiar with the format and to introduce it to those who aren’t

Navas Vallikkunnu, Aju Varghese, Sanju Sanichen, Lal and Zhinz Shan in a still from Kerala Crime Files

Kerala Crime Files

Story: After a sex worker is found murdered in a lodge in Ernakulam, sub inspector Manoj and team begin chasing the suspect, armed with just two clues – a fake address and a sketchy facial description. Though the cops don’t face any media or political pressure to crack the case, they take it as a challenge to catch the elusive culprit to prove they are worth their salt.

Review: The makers of Kerala Crime Files would have been aware that all eyes would be on them with the project being the first mainstream Malayalam web series. Crime as a genre is popular in the OTT space and could be perceived as a safe choice for the foray into the arena, but it’s the story that they have chosen that makes this a stand-out entry.

Also read: Kerala Crime Files actor Aju Varghese on web series debut: Format has never bothered me, my job is to act 

In most police procedurals, the easiest way to hook the audience would be to make the victim’s profile interesting, enough to care for what happened to the person. Here, the victim is a sex worker, who belongs to a section of the society that faces a general aversion from the public and often gets no sympathy for anything they face. However, it’s this element that gives gravitas to the investigation carried out by the cops led by Circle Inspector Kurien (Lal) and Sub Inspector Manoj (Aju Varghese). The makers ensure that even if you do not sympathise with the person, you would feel for the process that treats everyone as equal.

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Director Ahammed Khabeer, who had previously helmed feel-good movies such as June and Madhuram, is fully aware of the purpose of Kerala Crime Files – to engage audiences that are already familiar with the format and to introduce the long-form storytelling to those who aren’t.

Writer Ashiq Aimar and Ahammed have chosen a simple case but haven’t sacrificed on the layered storytelling that the format allows. Each episode breaks down the process that the cops have to go through while also unraveling the layers of personalities of everyone involved. For instance, one of the cops essayed by Navas Vallikkunnu is also grappling with his wife’s pregnancy while the investigation proceeds, impacting his time with his spouse. Similarly, another officer is newly married and a senior cop doesn’t get to spend enough time with his daughter. The ‘soft in temperament, stern in action’ motto of the police force also comes through its characters. They aren’t devoid of any flaws either, with scenes such as a cop tearing off a wedding photo or threatening a woman to file a complaint to his colleague’s benefit, showing the abuse of power.

Also read: Kerala Crime Files’ Rahul Riji Nair: We knew we would have the first-mover advantage, but it wasn’t a strategic move 

Ashiq has weaved these minute details to the investigation, without sacrificing the pace too much. There’s also an earnest effort in the writing to show the human side of generally-used derogatory remarks. For instance, one clue about the suspect is that he’s cross-eyed, but the series also has a character, who owns it as part of his identity.

What makes Kerala Crime Files a great introduction for viewers is how the makers have kept the investigation straight-forward, without too many twists and turns, and yet successfully managed to explore its characters’ complexities – all the while keeping it rooted to reality. The quality of its making is on par with some of the best Indian web series and its packaging, with six episodes of less than 30 minutes, makes it extremely binge-worthy. That said, there are stretches where one wished the series moved a bit faster and strayed away from the predictable territory, especially when the cops kept encountering the same fake address.

Aju Varghese, Lal and Navas are probably the only popular faces in the series, which is replete with note-worthy performances from relative newcomers such as Devaki Rajendran, Zhinz Shan, Rooth P John and Sanju Sanichen. Aju as sub inspector Manoj showcases a measured performance that lends credibility to his character and also makes the audience feel for him at various junctures in the trying six-day probe. The actor creates an air of dignity around his character, without much effort and has clearly reinvented himself in this role. Lal’s presence as the experienced senior cop, who spouts expletives when frustrated, shows the human side of police officers, who are in a rush to solve the mounting cases.

Also read: Kerala Crime Files 2023: Release date, trailer, plot, episodes, cast, budget, OTT platform and more 

Jithin Stanislaus’ cinematography and Satheesh Nelleya’s artwork elevate the overall look and feel of the series, while Hesham Abdul Wahab’s score adds to the pace of the series that is crisply edited by Mahesh Bhuvananandh, save for two episodes that takes their own sweet time to progress.

Verdict: Kerala Crime Files maintains the quality that people have come to expect from original Malayalam OTT content. Its crisp duration combined with simple-yet-layered storytelling make it an effortless watch.

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