Movie Name : A.R.M
Release Date : September 12, 2024
Cast : Tovino Thomas, Krithi Shetty, Aishwarya Rajesh, Surabhi Lakshmi, Basil Joseph, Harish Uttaman, Madhupal, Rohini, Parvathi, Kabir Duhan Singh, Aju Varghese etc.
Director : Jithin Laal
Music Director : Dhibu Ninan Thomas
Andhrawatch.com Rating : 2.5/5
Story:
This story unfolds across three time periods. Several years ago, during the era of kings, a comet falls from the sky into a village called Haripura. Using materials from the comet, the king of that region creates an idol of the goddess Sribhuti Deepam. The idol is believed to possess great powers. When the king faces a threat, the warrior of Haripura, Kunjikelu (Tovino Thomas), saves him. As a reward, Kunjikelu asks for the lamp and the king grants it to him. The idol is then enshrined in a temple in Chiyothi Kavu. However, Kunjikelu dies unexpectedly.
Years later, in the same village of Chiyothi Kavu, Ajay (also played by Tovino Thomas) works as an electrician. He is in love with Lakshmi (Krithi Shetty), the daughter of the village head, Nambiar. However, because Ajay is the grandson of a notorious thief named Manian (also played by Tovino Thomas), the villagers look down on him and suspect him of every theft that happens in the village. At one point, Sudev (Harish Uthaman), a descendant of the royal family, arrives and steals the idol from the temple, claiming that the one in the temple is a duplicate. He accuses Ajay’s grandfather of stealing the original idol and gives Ajay an ultimatum: find the original idol by the day of the temple festival, or else he will brand Ajay as the real thief and hold him responsible.
Ajay sets out to find the original idol that his grandfather supposedly hid. How did the duplicate idol end up in the temple? How did Manian manage to steal the original idol from the royal palace? Why did he steal it? How did the notorious thief Manian die? What is the story behind Manian? How did the warrior Kunjikelu die? What happens to Ajay’s love story? Will Ajay be able to find the original idol? To find out, one must watch it unfold on the screen!
Review:
Tovino Thomas consistently makes captivating role choices, and with ARM being his 50th film, he embraces a period action-adventure drama with a gripping narrative. His depiction of three unique characters, especially the cunning thief Maniyan, is commendable. Thomas brings nuance to each character, delivering a standout performance as Ajay, where he effortlessly engages and entertains the audience.
Surabhi Laxmi makes a memorable impression as Maniyan’s wife, even with her limited screen presence. Rohini Molleti and Basil Joseph also add value to the film, with Joseph infusing a touch of humor into his role. The supporting cast delivers solid performances, contributing effectively to the film’s overall success.
The film’s execution is a significant weakness. Although the story has potential, it feels somewhat predictable and lacks depth. A more refined screenplay could have greatly enhanced the film’s overall appeal.
Krithi Shetty’s character feels underutilized, with her scenes seeming more like padding than meaningful contributions to the story.
The director overlooked opportunities to introduce more captivating elements, such as exploring Muniyan’s ambitions for the treasure, which could have added an intriguing layer.
The Telugu dubbing is decent, but the translation of the signboards could have been handled with greater care. The lack of precision makes it feel like a standard dubbed film.
Jithin Lal’s choice of story for his debut is praiseworthy, but the execution falls short due to writing issues. Although Jomon T John delivers some visually striking moments and Dhinu Ninan Thomas’s score enhances various scenes, Shameer Muhammed’s editing could benefit from tightening up certain sections in both halves to improve the film’s pacing. The production values are satisfactory.
In summary, ARM (Ajayante Randam Moshanam) is a period action-adventure drama where Tovino Thomas delivers commendable performances across three different roles. Nevertheless, the film’s predictability and uninspired screenplay limit its overall impact. While it has potential, issues with writing and pacing could affect how much viewers enjoy it.