Dinjith Ayyathan's Kishkindha Kandam, starring Asif Ali and Aparna Balamurali in the lead roles
Kishkindha Kandam movie review : For anyone who might have questioned Asif Ali’s acting skills this film is proof of his hidden potential. On the other hand Aparna Balamurali continues to bring a down-to-earth quality to her role.
In Drishyam (2013) Georgekutty (Mohanlal) tells his wife Rani (Meena), “That will remain a secret forever. That secret will be buried with me. But what if keeping a secret isn’t a matter of choice but a necessity because one’s involvement in a crucial event has been erased from memory due to amnesia?
Attempting to delve into these lost memories only leads to a confusing labyrinth of fragmented recollections with no clear resolution. Retrieving these memories requires the individual to find the right key amid a chaotic array.
This concept is central to director Dinjith Ayyathan’s second film Kishkindha Kandam. However the film’s strength lies in the fact that this element is not the sole focus. Instead of being confined to the thriller genre, Kishkindha Kandam evolves into a captivating mystery drama.
This shift allows the film to navigate beyond the constraints of a typical thriller, offering a rich multi-layered experience that resonates deeply.
As the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) took effect in the lead-up to the elections licensed firearm owners were required to surrender their guns. Former Army officer Appu Pillai (Vijayaraghavan), however procrastinates until the last moment and then informs his younger son Ajaychandran (Asif Ali) that his pistol is missing. Pillai known for his strict routines and discipline maintains a distant relationship with Ajayan, who mirrors this emotional detachment.
For Ajayan’s newlywed second wife, Aparna (Aparna Balamurali), this strained dynamic and Pillai’s rigid demeanor are perplexing, especially since he refuses to let anyone into his room. Despite this Aparna and Ajayan share a warm, communicative bond. Aparna’s presence brings a much-needed sense of renewal to Ajayan’s life which has been marked by tragedy, including the disappearance of his son three years ago and the death of his first wife from cancer a year later.
The missing pistol soon becomes a pressing issue in their locality, which is situated near a reserve forest previously known for Naxalite activity when bullet marks are discovered on a government signboard. As Pillai’s behavior becomes increasingly suspicious, Aparna starts to monitor him more closely and realizes that he suffers from significant memory loss which he has cleverly hidden by meticulously documenting everything around him.
This revelation leads Aparna to question whether there is more to Pillai’s memory loss than meets the eye. She confides her concerns to Ajayan who begins to investigate the mystery of the missing gun. Meanwhile Aparna sets out on her own quest to uncover the truth about Appu Pillai, seeking to determine if there is anything he has deliberately forgotten under the pretense of memory loss.
Kishkindha Kandam doesn’t fit neatly into the category of a slow burner nor can it be described as a fast-paced thriller. Instead, Dinjith and Bahul Ramesh, who are responsible for the story, screenplay, dialogues, and cinematography establish a deliberate tone and rhythm from the outset, only ramping up the pace when absolutely necessary.
They steer clear of overwhelming the audience with a constant stream of twists a tactic often employed to deliver temporary thrills. Instead, they allow the film to gradually embed itself into the viewer’s consciousness. What starts as a straightforward family drama slowly reveals itself to be a more intricate mystery as the characters work to unravel the complexities surrounding Appu Pillai, only to confront even deeper layers of intrigue.
Bahul’s approach helps viewers grasp the essence of the characters without making them into complete puzzles. He reveals just enough at each point to keep the audience engaged, without resorting to excessive red herrings aside from a few strategic moments like the well-crafted interval scene.
This careful approach maintains the mystery and builds tension steadily throughout the film. While Kishkindha Kandam might evoke comparisons to Christopher Nolan’s Memento (2000) or Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island (2010) due to its theme of motivated forgetting it stands out as a unique exploration of this concept, distinct from those films in both execution and impact.
Watch Kishkindha Kandam trailer here :
Dinjith’s meticulous attention to detail in every scene highlights his growth as a director and his complete mastery over the film. His skill in eliciting the best performances from both the cast and crew is evident throughout Kishkindha Kandam, transforming it into a distinctive cinematic experience.
The careful thought behind his direction is evident in his deliberate decisions about when to use a background score versus relying on ambient sound or silence tailored to each scene’s needs. Mujeeb Majeed’s music beautifully complements this approach significantly enhancing the film’s emotional depth.
Another major strength of Kishkindha Kandam is its exceptional casting. Each actor feels perfectly suited for their role, thanks to their outstanding performances. Vijayaraghavan in particular delivers an impeccable portrayal of Pillai.
He captures the complex layers of the character and the emotional strain caused by memory loss with remarkable skill. His nuanced shifts in body language whether reflecting Pillai’s moments of memory lapse or his panicked reactions demonstrate his exceptional acting prowess.
For those who may have questioned Asif Ali’s acting abilities, Kishkindha Kandam stands as a powerful testament to his latent talent. He starts with a calm and composed demeanor that gradually shifts into an unsettling calmness as the film unfolds ultimately revealing a character burdened by deep-seated secrets.
The nuanced portrayal he brings to Ajayan especially when compared to his previous rural roles highlights his versatility and profound grasp of his character.
In contrast Aparna Balamurali delivers a precisely measured performance as the seeker of secrets who despite having no personal stakes remains grounded.
She effectively avoids being overshadowed by the more intense portrayals around her staying true to her role and capturing its essence with accuracy. Additionally veterans Jagadish and Ashokan contribute significantly with their well-crafted performances enhancing the film’s depth.
In the realm of cinematography Bahul Ramesh excels, surpassing his earlier work by capturing the atmospheric layers of the film with impressive depth and clarity. Sooraj ES’s editing is also noteworthy ensuring a fluid transition from scene to scene and allowing the screenplay’s rhythm to shine.
His adept manipulation of space alternating between open landscapes that evoke a sense of freedom and claustrophobic settings that reflect the characters’ hidden secrets elicits the right emotions at the right moments. Moreover Renju Raj Mathew’s sound design and Vishnu Sujathan’s sound mixing are deserving of praise as they significantly contribute to the film’s immersive quality.