Narivetta review: Tovino Thomas headlines powerful film on systemic oppression
Director Anuraj Manohar takes a straight approach with 'Narivetta'. It starts with Varghese's life as a man who depends on the women in his life and ends with the moment he finds the true purpose of his life. Of late, Malayalam cinema has cracked the code with cop thrillers. But 'Narivetta' takes a different approach. It follows a non-linear format and takes the story back and forth.advertisementThe initial stretches of 'Narivetta' begin on a slow note as we are introduced to Varghese and his tryst with multiple jobs that he is not satisfied with. Then, we see Varghese romancing his girlfriend (Priyamvada Krishnan), who takes care of his needs. It's only after a temporary separation from her that he lands himself the constable job. This is where the film picks up momentum. It is easy to say that 'Narivetta' could feel like two different films pre- and post-interval. The politics of 'Narivetta' is quite strong. It exposes a corrupt police system and makes us squirm in our seats with every selfish move they make. Keshavadas (Cheran), who initially pretends to be a good cop, changes his colours, much to the shock of Varghese. When the new cop begins to understand the politics behind the Adivasis' protest, it changes his perception and makes him realise his true purpose.Tovino Thomas is extraordinary in 'Narivetta', especially during the police vs Adivasis stand-off sequence towards the climax. It is brilliantly shot by cinematographer Vijay. And Jakes Bejoy's music lends tension during the moments when there's injustice meted out to the Adivasis. Suraj Venjaramood as the empathetic Basheer makes one believe there are good cops amid many corrupt ones. Cheran, a popular director in Tamil cinema, plays a grey-shaded character. While he is mostly effective, he has a one-tone expression, which dampens the impact.Through 'Narivetta', the filmmaker exposed police brutality with scenes that shed light on custodial torture and illegal detention. While the film's politics is straightforward, the storyline could have been gripping.3 out of 5 stars for 'Narivetta'.
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