The duo Priyadarshan-Mohanlal are back with something so enthralling and out of their usual genre. Oppam is a thriller movie that can make you sit on the edge of your seat, literally. This festive time is so rewarding, double dhamaka of Mohanlal, first Jantha Garage and now Oppam.
Let’s get on with the story, this is a thriller, revolving around a murder case. What does this story require then? A murdered body, a criminal and evidence. How does Mohanlal fit into this thriller? He is the one towards whom all the circumstancial evidence points at. How can that happen? Well, he is playing the role of Jayaraman, who works as a lift operator in a flat where the murder takes place. Mind you, he is blind, but when his one sense goes down, his other senses are highly active. His senses of sound, smell and touch enhances due to his regular practice of Kalari, the ancient martial art form of Kerala. The murder lands him as prime suspect and this incident forms the crux of Oppam.
Most of the stories, the hero is either the murderer or plays the role of police, but here, our hero is blind and trying to get out of this inevitable situation.
The first thirty minutes into the movie makes it very predictable with all the indispensable ingredients that work in a murder mystery, but then…it takes a U-turn. No one really expects that; followed by thrills and brainy catch-ups. Priyadarshan is back with his magic with this script. The feel that settles in, at this moment is enthralling as well as satisfactory.
I am not going to give away any spoilers, and this suspense makes the movie even more gripping. But please read on…
The screenplay is slightly less engaging as it gets busy with designing out the story and characters, but second half onwards it is racy. Pinch of comedy is brought into the movie to lighten the tensed air by Mamukkoya, as a security guard who has a weird habit of calling people with wrong names.it reminds of Priyan’s old classic, that definitely help in bursting out with laughter.
It’s really good to see Mohanlal in a role that is tailored-made, provokes the performer within him. Oppam celebrates the natural performer he is, especially during his face-off with Samuthirakani, playing the antagonist. With utter menance and shrewdness in his eyes, Samuthirakani just eases into his role perfectly.
The others supporting actors like Nedumudi Venu, Anusree, Chemban Vinod, and Renji Panicker deliver notable performance. Baby Meenakshi did the role of Nandini without exaggerating her character, her innocent and natural acting is at best display.
Most of the songs are sung by M. G. Sreekumar, but it doesn’t lull into the mind like the previous tunes that were brought by this singer and Priyadarshan. There are scenic beauty that make the core of Priyadarshan movies, paint-like views, but this time the camera department fail to light it up. The action sequences are choreographed well and Mohanlal draws them out perfectly and smoothly.
This movie, Oppam, is the one that can break Priyadarshan’s streak of bombing on box office.
Priyadarshan and Mohanlal, are here again, with another chapter that is really an average thriller, but a must-watch for Mohanlal’s exceptional performance.
