Valathu Vasathe Kallan

Story: CI Antony Xavier has a run-in with activist Irene over a sexual harassment case that he has investigated. When things go wrong with her, Irene's father Samuel steps in to put Antony in his place

Review: While the story and screenplay of Valathu Vashathe Kallan is by Dinu Thomas Eelan, the treatment has Jeethu Joseph written all over it. The Biju Menon-Joju George starrer has benefitted from the director’s skills in lacing the thriller with gripping emotions and twists.

The film starts with a CI Antony Xavier (Biju Menon) in a therapy session, discussing his difficult relationship with his college-going son. Tracing where the troubles have stemmed from, Antony thinks about his own underhand methods and unpleasant temperament - something that is well-known in the department - and his handling of his latest case of sexual harassment. When a girl and her mother, persuaded by activist Irene Samuel, come to register the case, at first, he tries to persuade her against it and then he turns her story around and suggests that with her loose character, she had it coming.

This puts him on a crossroads with Irene Samuel and when things go wrong with her, her loving father and brilliant hacker Samuel (Joju) steps in, to teach Antony a lesson.

The first half is excellent, luring us in with a good story, emotions and unexpected twists, and at the halfway point you have absolutely no clue of how the story might proceed. And when you think back, you will be struck by some cleverly placed dialogues that add up at the end of the film. While the second half has a novel narrative and, on the whole, the film is a pacey, that edge-of-seat element of a thriller is missing. It may or may not be a complaint.

The film benefits from the writer and director being in sync. Dinu has created interesting characterisations and situations, that Jeethu has elevated it with the right moods, whether light or broody.

Biju Menon is in familiar territory as a cop with negative shades and he is fine, but Joju with his looming presence has a magnetic presence on screen. And he is complimented perfectly by Lena, who plays his wife. The acting by the rest of the cast is also solid.