Sajin Shrijith
The Week·New Indian Express
Senior Sub-editor, Film critic at THE WEEK magazine
Most Divergent Takes
- Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar (2026)10.0 vs TRM 6.3+3.7
- Unmadham (2026)9.0 vs TRM 5.9+3.1
- DC (2026)10.0 vs TRM 7.0+3.0
- Bethlehem Kudumba Unit (2026)10.0 vs TRM 7.4+2.6
- Kalamkaval (2025)9.0 vs TRM 6.5+2.5
I'm Game
2026 · The Week
Drawing from a familiar supernatural concept, Dulquer Salmaan's 'I'm Game' struggles to balance its creative potential with generic mass entertainer elements, leading to uninspired action sequences and character portrayals
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit
2026 · The Week
Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju deliver their best in a wholesome film. They're directed with impressive finesse by a filmmaker who continues to deliver the goods in a territory he is most comfortable with.
Vaazha 2
2026 · The Week
'Vaazha 2' is funnier than its predecessor, but the narrative feels thinner. However, it remains as essential as the original, capturing genuine emotions about privilege, family dynamics, and personal growth that resonate deeply with its audience.
Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar
2026 · The Week
PDK is a film that embodies layers both seen and unseen with the backing of strong emotions, presenting situations far more complicated than 'Drishyam' and standing out as a benchmark-setting experience with impeccable performances, direction, cinematography, and score.
Unmadham
2026 · The Week
'Unmadham' successfully combines crime investigation, personal drama, and supernatural elements, leaving the audience to interpret its ambiguous nature until the very end.
Khalifa: The Ruler
2026 · The Week
'Khalifa' attempts a grand mass-action film with Shaji Kailas/Joshiy-style ambition, but it ultimately lacks the compelling fire of those legendary Malayalam blockbusters. A mostly dull gangster drama heavily reliant on a rousing last-minute superstar cameo to revive it.
Kalamkaval
2025 · The Week
Mammootty's incredible chameleonic abilities are once again put to great use in a thriller that takes many interesting detours along the way.
Alappuzha Gymkhana
2025 · The Week
'Alappuzha Gymkhana' creates a perfect hangout experience that evokes the vibe of Richard Linklater films, paying as much attention to the way boxing matches are staged and shot as to the central characters and their dynamic.
Thug Life
2025 · The Week
Kamal Haasan's emotionally unfulfilling film suffers from a serious case of identity confusion. In some places, this Mani Ratnam directorial aspires to be 'Nayakan 2.0'; in others, it's split between becoming a 'John Wick', 'Batman Begins' or an 'Indian 1.5'.
Thudarum
2025 · The Week
Even during the film's darkest moments, the filmmaker behind 'Operation Java' and 'Saudi Vellakka' doesn't forget to inject us with much-welcome doses of catharsis.
Pushpa 2 - The Rule
2024 · The Week
The Allu Arjun-Fahadh Faasil film runs out of ideas and fuel in the final hour, where it takes an exasperating nose dive.
Mirzapur: The Movie
2026 · The Week · Sep 2026
'Mirzapur: The Movie' serves as an engaging, albeit lengthy, cinematic side-quest that enriches the established universe and hints at future developments in the series timeline
DC
2026 · The Week · Aug 2026
“DC” is a perfect demonstration of the principle that a dark, gritty, violent film doesn’t necessarily have to look wholly unpleasant; you don’t need to make it bereft of colours, contrast and lighting.
Jana Nayagan
2026 · The Week · Jul 2026
The Vijay-starrer attempts to blend multiple social messages and political commentary with entertainment, but ultimately falls short due to its excessive length and lack of focus.
Dhurandhar: The Revenge
2026 · The Week · Mar 2026
The few narrative shortcomings aside, "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" offers more in terms of character development and features one of Ranveer Singh's finest performances
Sarvam Maya
2025 · The Week · Dec 2025
The film marks the triumphant return of Nivin Pauly to his beloved charming persona in a feel-good fantasy directed by Akhil Sathyan, who presents a heartwarming 'ghost-as-angel' story, perfect for the holiday season.
Madharaasi
2025 · The Week · Sep 2025
Sivakarthikeyan plays a trauma-riddled yet empowered hero in a film with some neatly done high-octane action sequences, self-aware narrative, and surprising merits that overshadow its minor flaws.
Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira
2025 · The Week · Aug 2025
Many events occur in 'Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira', but little of them makes sense. If the intention was to echo the idiosyncratic vibe of a Korean rom-com or emulate Wes Anderson or Woody Allen, the attempt falls short.
Thalavara
2025 · The Week · Aug 2025
'Thalavara' is a warm hug of a film anchored by Arjun Ashokan's genuinely moving performance. Akhil Anilkumar directs the film with enough subtlety and restraint, a quality that also applies to his actors, all of whom do their bits to make the overall experience endearing and relatable.
Ronth
2025 · The Week · Jun 2025
Ronth marks Shahi Kabir's fifth police thriller and is once again coloured by his real-life experiences as a policeman who has seen all kinds of disquieting events. Shahi Kabir's golden run continues in a spiritual successor to 'Nayattu', with the best from Roshan Mathew and Dileesh Pothan.
Retro
2025 · The Week · May 2025
The film begins to falter in the post-interval portions where the political subtext comes off looking contrived.
L2: Empuraan
2025 · The Week · Mar 2025
The second chapter of 'Lucifer' is too pre-occupied with eyeball-catching visualisation than storytelling prowess, and suffers a little as a result.
Rekhachithram
2025 · The Week · Jan 2025
'Rekhachithram' aims for the cinephile in all of us, and, in doing so, gets you to admire the inventiveness with which director Jofin T Chacko weaves together all the pieces of the puzzle.
Abraham Ozler
2024 · New Indian Express · Jan 2024
Intriguing details camouflage an unaffecting thriller