Kannur Squad director Roby Varghese Raj: ‘Reviews shouldn’t rip apart a film’

Kannur Squad, the Mammootty-starrer investigative thriller film, is running to packed theatres in the state. The movie is receiving overwhelming response from the audience, and is expected to have an excellent weekend collection too, especially with the upcoming holiday on October 2. After the film’s release, director Roby Varghese Raj, said that he was pleased to hear positive responses. When asked about the current ‘review culture’, Roby said that he is against ripping apart a movie in the name of reviews.

“Some films are getting slammed by critics. But at the same time, these reviewers are also giving valuable inputs. The Malayalam film industry has a lot of limitations, unlike the Telugu and Tamil industries. Directors are putting in a lot of effort to make a film. So, I request critics to consider these aspects when reviewing a film,” Roby told Uddhav Talkies.

Roby, who worked as a cinematographer for films like Puthiya Niyamam and Mammootty’s The Great Father, expressed his belief that people are not solely dependent on reviews. According to him, word-of-mouth publicity also has a role to play and that a negative review cannot destroy a film. “I think it all depends on people’s reaction to the film. If it doesn’t work for the masses, the movie fails,” Roby said.

Also Read: Kannur Squad movie review: Mammootty’s police procedural is an engaging, expertly-crafted crime drama 

Commenting on Kannur Squad’s filming process, the director said that it was quite challenging since the movie involved travelling to multiple locations. Additionally, the director credited Mammootty for providing valuable insights that helped improve the script. The director also expressed his gratitude towards the superstar, as the movie’s budget was significant and having a reliable actor like him made it possible to make it.

Also Read: Kannur Squad OTT release rights bagged by this platform for a record sum? Here’s when the film is expected to stream 

Kannur Squad is a real wing formed by the Kerala Police Department to investigate crimes. The movie centres on the challenges faced by a team of cops from Kannur district in Kerala while investigating a crime in Kasaragod district. The cast also includes Azeez Nedumangad, Shabareesh Varma, Sunny Wayne and Rony David Raj in key roles. Roby’s br other Rony has co-written the script with Muhammed Shafi.

Also Read: 4 reasons to watch Mammootty’s Kannur Squad in theatres