IDENTITY Malayalam Movie Review - A Nail-biting Screenplay Along with a Fresh Milieu makes it Worthy
Alisha (Trisha Krishnan), a witness to a horrible crime, is sent to kochi by police officer Allan (Vinay Rai) in order to save her from the murderer. They meet Haran (Tovino Thomas), a sketch artist who assists the cops. The three are compelled to question one another's intentions when they eventually learn that Alisha has a cognitive disorder that prevents her from remembering data-faces.
It's reasonable to say that everyone is watching malayalam film to see how the industry, which is constrained by its small, is pushing the boundaries of money to tell stories in novel ways. Even though 2024 had a few blockbusters, they all created patterns in indian cinema, and Identity, the first malayalam film to be released in 2025, may be a sign of things to come.
In terms of production quality, editing, cinematography, and action, this throbbing thriller, starring Tovino Thomas, Vinay Rai, and trisha krishnan, is technically stunning and captivating, setting new benchmarks for the industry. When the filmmakers claimed that malayalam cinema had not yet explored such a film, they weren't playing a prank. They were obviously referring to an intellectual thriller with a twist-a-minute plot and a production design comparable to that of foreign productions of the same genre.
The setting of a movie like Identity is its greatest feature. Seldom does it appear in malayalam movies, and it is most certainly not a topic that is covered in-depth throughout a film. The "look and feel" of the film appears to have been given just as much consideration by the filmmakers as the plot. They also don't appear to have taken any shortcuts to get there. In addition to frightening moments inside a private jet and commercial aircraft, you are treated to action scenes on highways.
Plot complexity is added by Allan's past and how it relates to Haran, as well as by the clever writing that explains Alisha's condition. However, it also throws the story off balance because, after you fit the pieces together, the jigsaw puzzle simply keeps adding parts—sometimes too easily. Its editor, Chamman Chakko, does a great job of making sure the film stays pacy throughout while condensing all of this to less than 160 minutes.
In the first half, Tovino is subdued as Haran, displaying his reserved demeanor, yet the big surprise seems powerful. Additionally, the movie's visual design complements his poise and nuanced performance. Although Allan, played by Vinay Rai, is a good counterpoint to Haran, you wish the dubbing had captured more of his passion. Though he doesn't go beyond that, Allan in some ways represents the aspects of his persona in Etharkkum Thunindhavan. Unfortunately, trisha krishnan feels unutilized in the part of Alisha. Any other actress might have portrayed the underwritten character, and it would have had no impact.
Identity's soundtrack, which was written by Jakes Bejoy, is another area in which it excels. As the film goes on, the tension remains constant. It does occasionally feel unsettling; for example, the music in the commercial flight scene heightens the tension more than the actual events on film.
Overall, malayalam cinema Begins 2025 With a SIXER!
Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐☆