PremiumIni Utharam movie review: An intriguing setup undone by a lengthy, haphazard explanation
The second half of Aparna Balamurali’s movie is undone by an explanation that is both lengthy and convoluted. It wastes all the momentum that was going for the movie, with its cliched and sometimes irrational scenes
Last Updated: 08.39 PM, Dec 23, 2022
Story: Dr Janaki walks up to a police station and states that she has killed a man. Her only condition is that she would reveal the details only to circle inspector Karunan. Soon, the media arrive and force the cops to take action by first visiting the site of the alleged homicide. As they dig for the grave, they also unearth evidence that incriminates the investigating officer. Is he involved? If so, how? If not, how did his belongings find its way to the crime scene? What is Dr Janaki trying to achieve?
Review: Debutant director Sudheesh Ramachandran’s Ini Utharam starts off by revealing three different cops and their varied attitudes. While the highest-ranking official SP Ilavarasan (Harish Uthaman) seems to be a man of principles but doesn’t mind bending the rules, the experienced circle inspector Karunan (Kalabhavan Shajohn) can be perceived as a corrupt cop and the younger police officer Prashanth (G Chandunath) is an idealistic kind. The first half of the movie shows an interesting dynamic between all three and that works as a subplot to the core story, which is about the cops reaching a crime scene and unearthing evidence that incriminates one of them.
Ini Utharam largely succeeds in the first half on the strength of the set-up, story wise as well as how the movie has to evolve. So many questions arise once the police officers take one of them into custody after being pressured by the media and villagers. What keeps the audience hooked is whether Karunan, despite being introduced as an arrogant and dishonorable cop, has been framed this time, and if so, why? The answers, however, are also where the movie falls flat.
The second half is undone by an explanation that is both lengthy as well as convoluted. It wastes all the momentum that was going for the movie, with its cliched and sometimes irrational scenes.
Performance-wise, it’s Kalabhavan Shajohn and Harish Uthaman who stand out in this movie. Both get to sink their teeth into the roles as compared to their previous films. One feels Aparna is massively underutilised in Ini Utharam. As it delves deep into the flashback sequences, the characters that the movie’s screenplay built up in the first half – especially that of Prashanth, Ilavarasan and Janaki – too are reduced in stature. If only the second half could have stayed away from convenient sequences involving fallen cameras and insecure politicians, and was edited tighter like the initial hour, Ini Utharam would have made for a gripping watch.
Ini Utharam is available to stream on ZEE5.
Verdict: The first half of this thriller is intriguing due to its refreshing set-up of how a woman incriminates an investigating officer. However, all the hard work is undone in the latter half, which is lengthy and sluggish.