What Is the Story About?
Sarah Ouseph is a retired nurse living in a quaint village in Kerala with her son Bibin. She is constantly tormented by visions of newborn babies around her house, keeps shouting at the top of her voice and scribbling several names and numbers on a wall. Many years after her death, an actress Ancy is found dead. What connects Ancy to Bibin?
Performances?
Rahman, who created waves with a fabulous performance in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan, is ageing like fine wine and there can’t be a better example than 1000 Babies to suggest it. Surrendering completely to the demands of the script, the actor carries the show on his broad shoulders, coming up with a slick, stylish portrayal of a sincere cop.
Neena Gupta’s presence, although for a special appearance, is utilised smartly for the show. Sanju Sivram proves to be a show-stealer, enlivening a messy, complex character (Bibin) with the assurance of a veteran. The supporting cast – comprising Adil Ibrahim, Ashwin Kumar, Joy Mathew, Dain Davis, Shaju Shreedar – adds value to the show with their mature, controlled performances.
Analysis
1000 Babies is a twisted crime thriller with a mind-bogglingly creepy backstory. The tale revolves around a nurse with a dark past, who conceals the truth behind her son Bibin’s birth and is responsible for altering the destines of many other babies over decades. Hours before her death, she confesses to her crimes, only for the revelations to be put behind the back burner for several years.
When CI Aji Kurian is entrusted with a new case about possible foul play in the death of film actress Ancy Sanjeev, the investigation leads him to Bibin again. Over time, his name continues to crop up in several other accidental deaths – of a corporate employee Renuka and a manipulative politician Devan. How does Aji connect the dots?
Written by Arouz Irfan and directed by Najeem Koya, 1000 Babies is all about the efforts of a sincere police officer in tracing the whereabouts of a serial killer with a twisted, unpredictable modus operandi. As he progresses with the case and learns of his past, he decodes his psyche, motives and tries to outsmart him with the next crime.
The writing is as classy as it gets. Without trying to sensationalise the proceedings, the creators plant the terrific twists and also embellish the plot with rich, chilling details. Najeem Koya isn’t merely concerned about translating the script onto the screen, but displays great taste in building the eerie atmosphere for the story in a wide variety of locations, adding several interesting quirks to various characters visually.
Though the show unfolds through Aji’s eyes, the presence of every character (helped by the pitch-perfect casting) is utilised tactfully, enough to make the story the only priority. The complexities around the case are revealed in bits and pieces, gradually. For a major part, 1000 Babies is a howdunit thriller (than a whodunit) that respects a viewer’s intelligence and doesn’t over-simplify its ideas.
Besides the taut screenplay and precise performances, it’s the technical finesse that serves like a cherry on the cake, bringing more character to the backdrop. Geographically too, there’s urgency in the proceedings. The show is consistently on the move, shifting from one town to the other in Kerala, ultimately culminating in a neighbouring state.
Through the show, the creators suggest how every child is wired differently, destined to behave and react to situations a certain way owing to many biological factors, regardless of upbringing. While the scientific dimension of the traits of the characters is not explored much, it debates the many reasons why a supposedly common man transforms into a sociopath.
It’s ideal that a story like 1000 Babies was told in the long-format form over film. The five-hour duration gives the time for a viewer to appreciate the intricacies of the case at many levels, the backstories and the messy characters. Understandably, there are only two kinds of people in the show – good and bad there’s no scope for the greys.
Make time for 1000 Babies – it’s a perfect endorsement for the stellar writing and filmmaking standards in the Malayalam industry.
Music and Other Departments?
Composer Sankar Sharma perfectly understands the needs of the genre – he delivers the goods without overt experimentation. On the technical front, any discussion on 1000 Babies would be incomplete without the mention of the experienced cinematographer Harendra Singh. He brings nuance to the show with his little visual details and makes you think beyond the obvious. In addition to the razor-sharp script, it’s to the credit of editor John Kutty that various subplots and scores of characters are integrated seamlessly into the narrative.
Highlights?
Superb writing
Classy execution, technically brilliant
Top-notch performances
Drawbacks?
Some subplots extend beyond necessity
A few convenient coincidences
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
A must for thriller enthusiasts
1000 Babies Series Review by Binged Bureau
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