Arikil Oraal (2013)

Undescribable Perfection

Too much of everything

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The sheer brilliance of this movie lies in the no-frills scenes which is usually the norm in Malayalam cinema. There isn't a single scene in the movie which seems wasted. You get thrown into this weird/mysterious flow right from scene one. The music was paired perfectly. No unnecessary loud jerks and pops. And as someone who takes pride in her superior detective skills (stay with me here now), I must admit I did not see that 'kahaani mein twist' coming. The only issue I had was at the lack of explanation offered at the end. SPOILER SPOILER SPOILERIt was merely a few lines and then boom, the bus leaves. I wish they had showed a few explanatory scenes at the end where people noticed Sidhu talking to himself. When Icha first 'visited' Sidhu in the office and when he tells him to wait in the cafeteria and walks back to the office, you can see the confounded looks of the peon and the receptionist. A few explanatory scenes would have definitely succeeded even more in teasing the audience for not figuring it out sooner. SPOILER ENDSThat said, it's still a brilliant movie, one that deserves far more attention than it received. As far as Malayalam psychological thriller goes, this movie is definitely in the near vicinity of Manichitrathazu, which (let's face it) is the benchmark.

This is one of the many psychological movies which make you think. The title itself is enough to give you those spooky chills. It stays with you long after you finish watching it. The concept of Doppelganger is quite intriguing. Acting is top class and the twists and turns take you on a roller coaster ride. And what can I say about the climax! Nivin Pauly's back-story could have been a little better. And there are some scenes which are not quite believable. But these things do little damage to this gem. The only thing that this movie lacks is good songs although the background score is very captivating and up to the point. I struggle to find negative points here. :-)Watch this movie, you'll not regret it.

The subject of doppelgänger is a thing of ultimate inquisitiveness. The state of being present in two places at the same time is a horrifying idea & to make a film on it takes real courage. The makers already get a thumbs up for that!With a brilliant cast, it talks about three lead characters, of which two form a couple. Nivin Pauly is mysterious & charming in his role, whereas Indrajith is rumply. Remya Nambeeshan continues to awe.The music will keep you hooked, and so will the songs - with a little pinch of thrills, amazement & enigma. The chances of predicting what the climax might be is very low as the writers take enough precautions not to give away any points at that. But unlike the recently released "Memories," the makers have actually hinted it. The first half is used to decorate the characters and set a story for the viewers to follow. Second half is where the mystery begins to unravel.What was turning out to be a fun-filled watch full of suspense goes haywire once the climax is attributed. The cold way of telling the conclusion just negates the whole point. Apart from that, a brilliant movie.BOTTOM LINE: Recommended for its theme and performances. A very good experience.Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YESViolence/Gore/Sex: No