Malayalam superstar Mohanlal made his directorial debut with Barrows 3D – Guardian of Treasures. After several successful years in the film industry, Mohanlal took the bold step of becoming a producer as well as an actor for his own film. Has Barrows 3D lived up to everyone’s expectations? Is this a worthy debut for Mohanlal? Let’s find out.

Established in Goa in 1663 AD, Barrows (Mohanlal) is a trusted patron of the lieutenants of the da Gama kings who came to India from Portugal. The King of da Gama (Ignacio Mateos) tasks Barros with guarding his treasure after a satanic ritual. Barrows has been trapped in the basement for centuries with a voodoo doll. His sole purpose is to hand over the keys to the cellar to da Gama’s successor in order to be relieved of his duties.

Barrows is now a ghost – a good ghost – who guards the treasure from evil forces. Who is Da Gama’s successor? Will Barrows be freed from the curse and duties? The answers to these questions are revealed in two hours and 30 minutes.

Here is the trailer:

Malayalam star Mohanlal’s attempt at making a fantasy drama is entirely for children. Children will like this film more because the 3D effect will attract them. The fantasy drama seamlessly blends a folk tale with a contemporary creation and the result looks spectacular on screen. The makers have made an effort to shoot the entire film in 3D, and when you see it on the big screen, you’ll understand why. Many of Barrows’ scenes showcase the 3D effect well, reminding us of 90s movies. Barrows’s Tamil dubbing along with Mohanlal’s voice helps in enhancing the mood of the film.

That said, Barrows 3D is also a film with visible flaws. The film is strong on the technical front, but the story is not that entertaining. The story is slow paced and there is nothing that can stretch beyond two and a half hours. The emotional scenes starring Mohanlal and Esha (Isabella) show promise and have a great story. However, these moments are short-lived, which is why there is no emotional connection in the film.

Barrows 3D features stunning cinematography by Santosh Sivan and songs by Lydian Nadaswaram. While the songs act as a speed breaker in the story, the background score is apt.

Mohanlal’s Barrows 3D is an interesting effort, but, it fails to engage the audience with the story.