Movie : Arjunan Saakshi
Director : Ranjith Sankar
Music : Biji Bal
Cast : Prithviraj, Ann Augustine
Director Ranjith Sankar, who surprised everyone with the well made movie Passenger is back with Arjunan Saakshi. The film starring Prithviraj and Ann Augustine talks about the need to be responsible and vigilant citizens in this country.
Roy Mathew (Prithviraj) is an architect, who has lived outside Kerala for most of his life, but has come back to his home-town to join a real estate firm. Meanwhile, a journalist Anjali Menon (Ann Augustine) gets into trouble when she publishes a letter from an unknown person called Arjunan, who has some crucial clues concerning the murder of the former district collector Firoze Mooppan (Mukesh). Soon after, Roy starts hogging the limelight as he is mistaken for ‘Arjunan’. The young man is totally shaken up by the sudden happenings as he has no real idea about the dramatic turnaround of events and he is soon targeted by some goons.
Well, we won’t play spoilsport and reveal much about the story as the highlight of the film is some of the surprising twists in the first half. In fact the initial scenes are genuinely thrilling and there are some really nice moments that hit you straightaway with its sincerity. However, the second half has less twists and turns compared to the first.
Ranjith, who has written the script besides directing it, has infused honesty into the story and has some genuine message to convey. The way in which Roy gets into the psyche of Arjunan is indeed interesting. But things get a bit preachy and predictable, especially towards the end and the script has some loose ends which raises question marks on the minds of the viewers. One of the highlights of the film is the spectacular visuals by Ajayan Vincent. Biji Bal’s music is good as well.
The anxieties of any ‘ordinary’ citizen who can do nothing much other than rue about corruption and nepotism in our country, is perhaps reflected through Prithviraj’s character. The hero looks fine and delivers a nice performance. Ann Augustine, who shot into fame with her title role in Elsamma Enna Aankutty, is fine. The rest of the cast have also done their roles well.
No two ways about it, Arjunan Saakshi is certainly in a different league, when compared to the usual crop of films that we see in Malayalam nowadays. Still, one gets the feeling that the film is more inclined to the social issues which are being focused rather than on a gripping, cinematic experience. It makes you think about the state of affairs around you, which may be an achievement in itself.
Verdict: Watchable
