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Purusha Pretham Review – Terrifically Enacted Unique Genre-Bending Outing

By Binged Bureau - Mar 25, 2023 @ 10:03 pm
3 / 5
BOTTOM LINE: Terrifically Enacted Unique Genre-Bending Outing
Rating
3 / 5
Skin N Swear
Partial Nudity
Comedy, Crime, Drama

What Is the Story About?

A neo-noir satire that also takes the form of a police procedural, Purusha Pretham follows Inspector Sebastian as he has to take up the case of an unidentified male dead body within his station premises. He gets trapped in an inescapable loop that takes both his personal and professional life on a toll the moment the dead body gets misplaced from the graveyard. Will Sebastian fix the problem? Or how does he fix it forms the crux of the film.

Performances?

Alexander Prasanth‘s performance is the backbone of Purusha Pretham. His act as Sebastian has the knack of a veteran and surprise factor of a breakout performer. So effortlessly seamless and such a joy onscreen. His chemistry and combination scenes especially with Jagadish, Darshana Rajendran and Devaki Rajendran is rollicking fun.

Analysis

Written by Ajith Haridas, Purusha Pretham is Krishand‘s third feature film, and his most anticipated outing after the much critically celebrated Aavasavyuham.  Pretty much outliving the expectations, Purusha Pretham is a genre-bending revelation that successfully enjoys all the genres it attempts to handle, not missing a punch.

Purusha Pretham starts with establishing Sebastian, a cop who is famous for his brave encounters with petty criminals and entangled crime-stories. This is when the audience also gets to know Sebastian mostly loves to boast and none of his words should be taken to account just like that.

This is when a dead-body pops up in the lake within his station premises. Unclaimed for days, Sebastian and his colleagues decide to bury it to grant it’s dignity. What starts off as a dark comedy takes the route of a police procedural as soon as a woman approaches him suspecting the body to be her husband’s. 

Purusha Pretham also shape-shifts into a neo-noir thriller and a social commentary on the Indian Police System in no time. Sebastian gets entangled in an endless loop that puts his professional and personal life at risk when he realises the body is missing. How Sebastian helps himself out of this crooked case and how does he settle scores once and for all forms the rest of the story.

A neo-noir satire that also takes the form of a police procedural, Purusha Pretham charts unclaimed territories in Malayalam Cinema, may be Indian Cinema itself with interesting twists and turns and equally entertaining unrelated sub-plots. Incredibly staged and beautifully shot, one could see shadows of Aavasavyuham in the camera character of Purusha Pretham (not that we’re complaining). The social commentary Purusha Pretham tries to engage in is also very interesting.

Although Purusha Pretham is not as universal as Krishand’s previous directorial, its cinematic grammar is way more refined, brave and experimental this time. It also helps that the film is gifted with a terrific sound-track that defies norms and cliches. The characters are also in flesh and blood, even the ‘male ghost’ in question, aided by a supremely talented cast.

One of the very few quips with Purusha Pretham is the way it’s pace dips a little midway. But again that is not a quip entirely because the sub-plots and narratives serves the purpose of generating  inquisitiveness and defying genre-norms. Darshana Rajendran is underused, for the talent she possesses.

In short, Purusha Pretham is exactly what you’re looking for if genre-bending and situational dark comedy films are your type. It’s not a cup of tea for all, but definitely an important milestone in contemporary Malayalam cinema. Do watch it if you identify with the kind of audience that would dig the film. It’s definitely worth your time.

Other Artists?

Purusha Pretham doesn’t really lack in any of it’s departments, if we are being honest. And the front-runners would be it’s cast for the roll of honour. Every single one of them is natural. Jagadish is specifically excellent. The veteran actor has gone all guns blazing with his comic deliverables. The film has so many moments that reminds us of how strong Malayalam Cinema’s supporting actors till the late 2000s were and are still irreplaceable. Devaki Rajendran is so charming, while Darshana Rajendran is a revelation.

Music and Other Departments?

An exceptionally ball-knocking soundtrack forms one of the two fulcrums of Purusha Pretham. Ajmal Hasbulla’s music and Prasanth P Menon’s scores, elevates the film to places. Krishand’s cinematography and staging forms the second.

Highlights?

Screenplay

Genre-bending concept

Staging

Soundtrack

Camera work

Performances

Drawbacks?

A slight mid-way drag

Did I Enjoy It?

Yes. Certainly

Will You Recommend It?

Yes, definitely. But, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea

Purusha Pretham Movie Review by Binged Bureau 

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