Detective Ujjwalan movie review: A Scooby-Doo-esque tale weighed down by mediocre writing and Dhyan Sreenivasan

Indian Express

23-05-2025

Detective Ujjwalan movie review: To be honest, makers should, at the very least, now realise that cinematic universes and serial killers no longer automatically pique audience interest. The simple reason is their overuse. It has become almost impossible to walk into a big-ticket or whodunit film without fearing that it's either the first installment of yet another franchise or centred around a serial killer. In debutant directors Indraneel Gopeekrishnan and Rahul G's Detective Ujjwalan, both these elements are at play. Not only is it part of the Weekend Cinematic Universe (WCU), which began with Minnal Murali (2021) and is named after the production company Weekend Blockbusters, but it also revolves around a serial killer on the prowl, targeting those walking alone at night in the fictional village of Plaachikkaavu.
A model village that, according to local SI Sachin (Rony David Raj), stands as a 'symbol of goodness and happiness', with a very low crime rate, the only offences that happen in Plaachikkaavu are usually petty thefts by the local thief Anthikkurudan (Nihal Nizam). Hence, when one of the village's just over 200 residents is brutally murdered, the community is left beyond shattered. With no idea how to handle such a serious case, Sachin and his team turn to the local self-styled Sherlock Holmes, Ujjwalan (Dhyan Sreenivasan), the cops' go-to guy for solving minor cases. Armed with half-baked theories, Ujjwalan identifies a suspect and throws him behind bars. However, that crime was only the beginning. More murders follow, sending a chill down the villagers' spines.
Soon, Ujjwalan deduces that a serial killer could be behind all the crimes, given the similarities in the modus operandi. As the case gains attention, the department sends in CI Shambu Mahadev (Siju Wilson), along with his assistants Kunchacko and Boban (Nibraz Noushad and Shahubas), to fast-track the investigation. Despite Shambu being a sharp officer, the killer remains elusive. After a rocky start between the two, Ujjwalan launches a parallel probe of his own. Meanwhile, the murderer, whom Shambu has named 'Boogeyman', continues to roam free, on the lookout for his next victim. Will he be caught?
Although Detective Ujjwalan had the potential to become something like an episode from the beloved Scooby-Doo cartoons, the film is weighed down by its confusion over whether it wants to be a quirky tale or a full-blown whodunit. As it tries to balance both, what we end up with is a movie that only half-heartedly delivers on either front.
One of the key reasons the quirkiness doesn't land well is that it's limited to just a few characters like Ujjwalan, his friend Korea Kurian (Ameen), Anthikkurudan, and Sachin. Had the story been solely about these people, it might have worked better. However, since the movie revolves around the entire Plaachikkaavu, the absence of similarly eccentric traits in other characters restricts the overall whimsical tone. As a result, characters like Ujjwalan and Kurian come across more as isolated goofballs than part of a cohesive quirky world.
Also, visually and tonally, certain moments and shots un/knowingly evoke strong déjà vu of Basil Joseph's Kunjiramayanam (2015), and this affects Detective Ujjwalan badly as it only highlights how the film falls short in both humour and charm. While Kunjiramayanam's Desham village was filled with kooky people, as if that's the character of the land as a whole, keeping viewers hooked to the events unfolding there, Detective Ujjwalan stumbles by failing to establish a similarly engaging setting or community.
On the crime thriller front, the film suffers from a complete lack of originality and high predictability. This is evident even in the handling of the actual culprit; the way he's framed in earlier scenes — particularly when shown among crowds — which gives away quite a bit before the final reveal. Once the movie steps into its core plot, writer-directors Indraneel and Rahul nest at the middling level, never rising above even once.
Even though the film draws from the mythical monster of Kokkachi (also known as Anchakkallakokkan in some parts of Kerala and as the Boogeyman in English, used by elders to scare children into behaving well), Detective Ujjwalan fails to integrate this well into its narrative. The aforementioned confusion becomes glaringly obvious here too. By giving the serial killer(s) a generic and hackneyed backstory, the film completes its descent into mediocrity.
Although their writing falters, Indraneel and Rahul's filmmaking shines in many places, particularly in setting the atmosphere and the tense moments featuring the Boogeyman. The killer's pursuit of certain victims and how the murders are portrayed, without excessive gore, also highlight their skill. Though we see intriguing props (books, movie posters, etc) scattered across Ujjwalan's room and the village, the directors wisely avoid overusing them to establish a specific time period, maintaining the fictional tone they've adopted in an even manner throughout.
Dhyan Sreenivasan in the titular role might be the costliest choice the directors made and, unfortunately, the price they've paid is the complete absence of Ujjwalan in the film. Not once do we truly see Ujjwalan on screen. Instead, we get Dhyan himself — minus his usual promotional interview shenanigans — who never manages to get into the character. While it's evident that Ujjwalan had enough material, at least on paper, to be a unique and intriguing character, Dhyan's portrayal strips it of any such potential. He simply walks through the film as himself, with the only added layer being a Sethurama Iyer–esque vibhuti mark on his forehead.
Siju Wilson, on the other hand, shines as Shambu, delivering a measured portrayal. He is particularly impressive during the climactic fight and, to some extent, compensates for Dhyan's lacklustre performance. Rony David Raj also impresses in the comedic scenes, though he falters in the emotional moments; fortunately, those are few and far between. Kottayam Nazeer and Seema G Nair, playing Ujjwalan's parents, are spectacular in their respective roles. Nihal Nizam as Anthikkurudan is a delight to watch, bringing genuine charm to the screen. Ameen, however, fails to leave a lasting impression, largely due to the way the character has been crafted, relying overtly on his social media persona and (unfunny) dialogues that seem tailored to it.
On the technical front, Chaman Chakko's editing is one of Detective Ujjwalan's saving graces. Playing with the frames, particularly their pace, cuts and even aspect ratio, he gives the movie a uniqueness that many in the cast and crew couldn't. Rzee's music complements these efforts, though not always seamlessly. Prem Akkattu and Sraiyanti deliver commendable work in cinematography, particularly in scenes featuring the killer. Koyaz M's art direction, Nisar Rahmath's costume design and Shaji Pulpally's makeup also deserve praise for elevating the film's visual texture.
Detective Ujjwalan movie cast: Dhyan Sreenivasan, Siju Wilson, Rony David Raj, Kottayam Nazeer, Seema G Nair
Detective Ujjwalan movie director: Indraneel Gopeekrishnan, Rahul G
Detective Ujjwalan movie rating: 2 stars
Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at [e-mail]. ... Read More