Ariyippu HD Released

 

Showing various shades of human nature, Mahesh Narayanan's 'Ariyippu' is a story set in Noida, a destination for people with a dream to migrate. The lack of emotional connection the characters feel towards their surroundings is portrayed well throughout the film's wintry setting in a comparatively unfamiliar location where no building or structure is personable or identifiable. Cinematographer Sanu John Varughese successfully showcases an image of a city where people go on with their mundane lives in hopes of a better future.

The main characters, Hareesh (Kunchacko Boban) and Reshmi (Divya Prabha) who only see their job at a gloves factory in Noida as a means to an end, struggle hard in a pandemic stricken period to somehow make it out of the place they are stuck in with no source of joy. Their lives turn chaotic when a skill video of Reshmi shot by Hareesh gets manipulated and is shared through official groups.

The story actually begins only when they start dealing with the repercussions of the video. Hareesh goes from a hardworking man who is kind to his wife and her friend to an obsessive abuser. Reshmi who seemed meek and undecided grows on viewers immediately when she takes charge of the situation, not letting Hareesh dictate her life. The situations test both of them and Hareesh is found lacking. Kunchacko Boban is exceptionally good in portraying a character who doesn't have many redeeming qualities. Similarly, Divya Prabha aces her role with the air of someone who actually lived through the situations in the movie. The movie authentically portrays how biases reveal itself in crisis.

The assortment of supporting characters is real, practical and contribute to the story in their own ways. The scenes inside the factory lets viewers see a side of the pandemic very rarely explored and at the same time equates the sterile environment inside to that of the life of the people who work there. As is common in several pandemic movies, there are many indoor shots with dull lighting within limited space.

However, there is much to read between the lines which may not be clearly interpreted by everyone. The film could have been a little less lengthy if the unnecessary lag towards the end was managed well. Initially, one struggles to understand both the main characters and they grow on you, very slowly - at least Reshmi does.