Priyadarshan had been mired in a slew of bad movies in recent times and he redeems himself with his latest outing 'Oppam'. This thriller is a well crafted movie and is an enjoyable ride which puts together human emotions with some philosophical musings. A thriller can have different guises as in movies as varied as 'Ivide' and 'Drishyam'. 'Oppam' is again of a different breed.
Some of the things that strikes as the plot unravels are the sheer magic of the camera, the acting of Mohanlal as the blind man, the balancing of intrigue, the occasional philosophical strains and the portrayal of blindness. The movie also strives to engage with the viewer by making them part of the narrative. These markings of class make ‘Oppam’ a very interesting watch.
Some may find predictability in how the plot unravels. But rather than a gripping tale told with full theatricality, the intention of Priyadarshan seems different. There are the intrigues lining the narrative as in the journeys of the justice played by Nedumudi Venu, the mass killings, the house maid and other such instances. The characterization of a blind Jayaraman played by Mohanlal is beautiful. There is no romanticization or degradation in how blindness if portrayed. Jayaraman is a self made man who is well versed in Kalari, music and knows his surroundings keenly. The way he smells out situations and people are interesting.
Meanwhile, the intrigue surrounding Justice Krishnamoorthy (Nedumudi) and the young Nandini (Baby Meenakshi) at the boarding school offer a freshness. Along with them, there are a host of characters lining the narrative and many of them lend interesting dimensions to the tale. We have Mammookoya who provides the rare laugh in it, with the scene with the police officer played by Chemban Vinod. There seems to be a dig at Priyadarshan’s estranged ex-wife Lissy too, with that Kalari dialogue.
Without revealing the key elements of the plot, a gist of ‘Oppam’ is all about how a blind man becomes embroiled in an unusual crime through Krishnamoorthy. Jayaraman is a handyman to Krishnamoorthy and the Justice in turn trusts him more than he does his relatives or friends. A frequent trip to a boarding school, meeting a child named Nandini, and 50 lakh rupees along with a killing spree all spice up the thriller mode.
Performance wise, Mohanlal stands out and once again we are reminded of his brilliant acting of yore. All the other characters too spring to life in Priyadarshan’s hands including Baby Meenakshi and Nedumudi. Samudirakani is also brilliant in performing his act. So are all the other minor characters. Technically, it is the camera angles that stand out. The frames are splendid and the close ups are intense. The crime sequences and the climax too have been shot with precision. The editing is also crisp and the thriller mode is highlighted. Music and BGM are add to the mood of the narrative. In short, ‘Oppam’ brings together the talent of Priyadarshan and Mohanlal beautifully after a long time. It is a very engaging watch and is a sure winner this Onam.
