Kamala Malayalam HD Released

Safar, a shrewd and cunning middle-man in automobile and real estate deals, meets Kamala online. Amidst the biggest deal in his career, Kamala drops in. A perfect day till then, starts spiralling into unforeseen events from there on.

Review : "A woman's biggest strength is that she is a woman," says Safar at a crucial juncture of the cinema. That a woman is often underestimated and that this is her strength is what the character implies. Written and directed by Ranjit Sankar, Kamala is the story of the titular character of much mystique, said in point of view of her encounter with Safar. In a way it holds up a mirror to general misogyny without creating a hullabaloo about it. Why, it may even pass the Bechdel test!

Safar, a high-end middle man dealing in automobile and real estate, is en route his biggest real estate deal and Kamala drops in for an impulsive rendezvous. But as the day proceeds it becomes clear that Kamala is more than she lets on and Safar is in for more than what he bargained for.

Kamala, played deftly by Ruhani Sharma, is the backbone of this narrative. In spite of the lip sync issues that are natural for a non-Malayalam speaking actor, she manages to play her role quite well. But that's the thing. Why did this role need a non-Malayalam speaker isn’t clear. However, Aju Varghese, playing Safar, fits right in. Slowly yet steadily Aju is rebranding himself as an actor outside his comedian persona. Although, it almost feels weird seeing Aju not crack even a single joke, he manages to carry it off quite well, fitting right into this character tailor-made for him. The music by Anand Madhusoodhanan aides the mystery and suspense. Good cinematography and sharp editing, both work in its favour too.

Also, about Kamala, is it a political statement, or a sociological observation or something else? Well, Kamala scratches the surface to be all of that, but doesn't get into the heart of it. The story almost keeps you at the edge with the mystery around the protagonist. But that it seems to move a little slow is what gnaws at your patience, especially because, strategically, audience is placed at a disadvantage of being bereft of adequate clues. Also, spoon feeding the audience with the climax feels a little too unnecessary. Explaining it once is perfect, twice is pardonable, but thrice is an overkill!

Kamala has an edgy story, carried on by a balanced performance by Aju Varghese and Ruhani Sharma. So, catch it this weekend before too many people spoil the suspense for you.