ARM review: Tovino Thomas’ film has interesting plot but lacks high moments
ARM Movie Review: Director Jithin Lal’s Ajayante Randam Motionam aka ARM is a fantasy action adventure starring Tovino Thomas in a triple role. The film has an interesting story that addresses caste discrimination.
Ajayante Randam Motionam aka ARM stars Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas in three roles. Directed by Jithin Lal and written by Sujith Nambiar, the film has generated a lot of interest through its posters and trailer. But has ARM lived up to everyone’s expectations? Let’s find out!
The story begins with Kunji Kelu (Tovino Thomas), an exceptional warrior, who is given the opportunity to ask the king for a special gift. He asks for an idol of a deity made from a unique rock from a meteorite that fell on his village Haripuram. The story then shifts to Maniyan (Tovino Thomas), a clever thief who is accused of stealing the idol of the deity.
Maniyan’s actions have a lasting impact on his descendants. His grandson Ajayan (Tovino Thomas) is now suspected of every crime committed in the village. Ajayan faces the challenge of clearing his name and leading a respectable life while battling caste discrimination.
The plot of Ajayante Randam Motionam aka ARM is simple, narrating the history of three generations. The story is carried forward by grand production values, which serve their purpose time and again. The visual effects and production design hold great promise and make us curious. However, the film falters in execution.
Watch the trailer here:
ARM lacks predictability. From the moment we are introduced to the special deity and from the king’s reaction to Key Kelu’s request, we know that the idol is fake. The plot then follows Maniyan and Ajayan’s quest to retrieve the original idol. While there is enough scope to create several impactful moments, the film doesn’t showcase them fully. For instance, when Maniyan steals the idol from the temple and stands on the roof, you should be screaming for him and getting goosebumps. However, the intended effect falls short.
The politics of the film is good. It addresses the caste discrimination prevalent in the village and raises important questions. Ajayan, Maniyan, their descendants and people of a particular caste are not allowed inside the temple. There are many dialogues in the film that question this practice and demand its abolition.
Tovino Thomas has performed brilliantly in three roles and carries the film on his shoulders. All the three characters are different and the variations help the audience connect with all the three characters. Basil Joseph has once again proved that he is one of the best actors. Harish Uthaman, Krithi Shetty, Aju Varghese and many others have played their roles well.
Composer Dhibu Ninan Thomas’ songs are soothing to the ears. In some instances, they evoke emotions directly rather than relying on clever use of silence.
ARM has done a wonderful blend of folklore and action. However, there are some flaws in the screenplay that prevent it from fully conveying the intended message.
