Oru Kuprasidha Payyan
Cast: Tovino Thomas, Saranya Ponvannan, Nimisha Sajayan, Anu Sithara, Nedumudi Venu
Director: Madhupal
Imagine that you live in a village where you have no kith and kin. A murder happens there. Unfortunately, you know the victim and you are labelled as the murderer without any reason. You are helpless and there is none to support you. Though insecure and lonely at heart, you believe that there is someone above for those who are alone. That is what Ajayan (Tovino Thomas) confronts in Oru Kuprisadha Payyan.
Tovino has nailed it as an insecure yet determined orphan. Be it the way he looks, walks, speaks or even sweats, the actor has portrayed emotions of Ajayan in a convincing way.
Equally good is Nimisha Sajayan, who appears as Hannah Elizabeth, Ajayan’s lawyer. In fact, she takes centre stage in the second half. She is a nervous junior. Opposite to her in the court room is a famous, arrogant and senior lawyer played by Nedumudi Venu. She is afraid of confronting him so much so that she even forgets questions. Though she falters in the beginning, she picks up gradually. And, Nimisha has beautifully portrayed that course of development.
Anu Sithara who comes as Jalaja, Ajayan’s love interest, and Saranya Ponvannan who is Chembakammal, too, deliver decent performances. Another actor who deserves mention is Suresh Kumar who appears as a witty and humane judge. No character floats on the plot of this movie. Realistic in nature, they strike a chord with the audience. If well-written screenplay is the backbone of Oru Kuprasidha Payyan, meticulous direction keeps the audience hooked throughout. Because the story is quite predictable. It is a daunting task to hold the viewer’s attention in such a situation.
Director Madhupal and writer Jeevan Job Thomas have managed to succeed in that through their mode of narration. They have cleverly left certain gaps in the first half for the audience to hang on, and they get filled in the latter part. The idea to place a worried junior opposite a powerful senior works well. That is a war; at any moment the latter can conquer the former, which creates the tension. The movie also discusses current issues. Another interesting element is the beautiful frames, especially of Vaikom, by Noushad Shereef. They enhance the viewing experience along with some good songs that lift the mood. However, the background score is not very compelling. It could have been soft at some emotional sequences.
