Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar

Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar feels overlong even if there is never a dull moment. The film comes alive in the breathtaking cover-up portions, with Parvathy's Aleena remaining the architect of a curious character who is calculating and diabolical with the way she eliminates obstacles in their way.

The film, which falls in the thriller-procedural drama category, is a cinema that must be watched literally holding your breath. The two hour 41 minute film does not allow the viewer's attention to slip away from the film even for a moment. However, with an excellent screenplay and the performances of the actors, the film is an entirely new experience.

'Pradhama Drishtya Kuttakkar' explores police officers becoming suspects in their own investigation, driven by a tense night and naturalistic performances, offering compelling pacing.

Shahad, who debuted with the forgettable coming-of-age drama Prakashan Parakkatte (2022), ups his game here by several notches, aided by a taut screenplay he co-wrote with P.S.Subramaniam and Vijesh Thottingal and top-notch work from cinematographer Roby Varghese Raj and music composer Mujeed Majeed. Just when a number of police procedurals in Malayalam seemed to be following the same narrative beats, Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar injects the genre with some novelty.

...leaves you with the uncomfortable realisation that, for nearly three hours, you were hoping the police personnel who broke the law would also manage to escape its consequences.