Mammootty reviews 2018 movie: 'It looks like a Hollywood movie'

Malayalam superstar Mammootty showered praise on the latest movie by director Jude Anthany Joseph, titled 2018. The film, starring Tovino Thomas in the lead, is based on one of the worst floods in Indian history. Mammootty lauded the film's production quality, which he claimed was comparable to Hollywood movies.

Reflecting on the devastating floods that struck Kerala in 2018, Mammootty said that the movie amazed him as an audience member. "We can never forget the year 2018. That year taught us to a lot of things. An unexpected natural calamity hit us, caused us a lot of pain and left us terrified and panicked," Mammootty noted.

Also Read: Candid Review | 2018: This Kerala story is an epic blockbuster that deserves a wider audience 

He expressed his confidence that the film would also captivate viewers, emphasising that the realistic shots were a standout feature. "This movie amazed me as an audience. I'm fully confident that this movie will also amuse you. You may think that people are exaggerating by saying it looks like a Hollywood movie, but when you watch the movie you will realise why people are saying that. Every shot is done very realistically. I asked Antho (Anto Joseph) whether it was a wise decision to make this movie given that people have lived through this calamity. But, he said there are more stories beyond what we know," Mammootty added. 

Although 2018 was initially released in a low-key manner, it has been gaining momentum at the box office worldwide due to positive word-of-mouth. Early trends indicate that it will emerge as one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of 2023. The movie has also received positive reviews from critics. 

"It's a spectacular popcorn blockbuster that still manages to incorporate good sensibilities. If you're a fan of disaster movies, 2018 delivers on all fronts and provides an engaging cinematic experience," wrote OTTplay's film critic Manoj Kumar R. 

"2018 possesses all the potential to be a pan-India success, and it's a shame if it fails to reach audiences beyond Kerala," he added. 

Besides, Tovino, the movie also stars Kunchacko Boban, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Aparna Balamurali, Kalaiyarasan, Narain, Lal, Indrans, Aju Varghese.