Ezra Malayalam Movie
No difference in the template, but the ingredients are quite refreshing; it helps "Ezra" to snap up a prominent spot in the horror genre list of Malayalam Cinema. Primarily, as a horror thriller, the film faces the multi-task of creating the 'spooky moments' as well as sustaining its thrilling/chilling mood till the end. It is a daunting task in front of an audience who has exposure to umpteen number of deftly-crafted Hollywood horror flicks. Nevertheless, newbie Jay. K proves his craftsmanship with a gripping tale in the backdrops of Jewish life, and you are awestruck.
The filmmaker, who has co-written the script with Manu Gopal, displays immense maturity in handling the plot, especially avoiding fatuous horror sequences.
The film opens with the demise of the last Jew who lived in Kochi. A mysterious box found in his mansion was bought by an antique shop owner Moosakka (Alansiar). Soon a murder occurs in his shop. The scene then shifts to Mumbai where Ranjan (Prithviraj) and his wife Priya ( Priya Anand) get ready to move to Kochi following his promotion with transfer. Priya, an antique lover, buys this mysterious box from Moosaka's shop. Later some bizarre experiences in the house make Ranjan and Priya scared.There begins their search for answers and finally they realize who is "Ezra"? The story progresses through new characters and the movie ends with a brilliant climax.
For a horror film the settings of a haunted house or flat occupied by couples are quite common (remember Tamil film "Shock" in which actors Prashanth and Meena witness odd incidents in a flat). At one stage the film gives a tad impression of such a theme. But the plot appears more riveting once the film enters the second half, and as far as Prithviraj is concerned, his stylish performance is noteworthy. His portrayal of the helpless husband and responsible project head of a company which is engaged in disposing of nuclear activity waste is delightful to watch.
Priya Anand has a meaningful role in the film, may be her first film to showcase her unexplored acting prowess. In fact, major portions of the first half heavily hinges on her.
"Ezra" is not just another horror flick, instead it deserves a serious appreciation for its depiction of a supernatural spirit in the Jewish milieu. An extensive research has gone into the film, which has splendid visuals by Sujith Vassudev and befitting background music by Sushin Shyam.
"Ezra" is appealing both by content and visuals. Jay. K has tried to present it in a way that is something unprecedented in horror genre, at least in Malayalam Cinema. No fear of disappointment!
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Kiran Allan