Luca Malayalam Movie

Feature Film | 2019
Critics:
A confluence of romance and mystery, 'Luca' unfolds the life of a talented artist and his love affair with a girl, who unexpectedly enters into his life. It is emotionally gripping and powerful to satisfy you at one level even as the vital narrative part is panting for better treatment while dealing with the murder mystery.
Jun 29, 2019 By K. R. Rejeesh

Where To Watch:
Streaming:
   Manorama MAX
DVD Release: Oct 04 2019

The prelude of 'Luca' is a catalyst to amplify the suspense in it before the advent of a romantic episode. A confluence of romance and mystery, 'Luca' unfolds the life of a talented artist and his love affair with a girl, who unexpectedly enters into his life. The eponymous hero is sensitive and amicable so that Niharika falls in a relationship with him soon after their first meeting at Biennale venue. Luca, portrayed by Tovino Thomas, has bizarre lifestyle and delicate artistic expressions, which are really mere embellishments to conceal his mental agony.


The creative involvement of newbie director Arun Bose finds a rhythm so swiftly to establish the premise handsomely at the outset. With the perfect support of smart frames by Nimish Ravi and laudable artworks by Anees Nadody, 'Luca' offers a different ride to an extent. Arun has a promising screenplay in hand but he lets it down towards the latter half with a sense of ignorance in holding the proceedings firmly. It is emotionally gripping and powerful to satisfy you at one level even as the narrative part is panting for better care while dealing with the murder mystery.


Ahaana Krishna is subtle in performance as well as delightful in appearance as Niharika, who enters into the life of Luca. The real conflict emerges after her appearance in the tale. She becomes his emotional pillar through a passionate relationship. Niharika finds Luca as an outlet to share her annoying memories of childhood presented by her uncle JP (Srikant Murali).


Interestingly, Luca too is battling himself to get rid of the haunting dreams about his dead parents. The character possesses a sort of hysteria coupled with mental agony. Tovino is sublime in absorbing the soul of the role with a smart transition befittingly in accordance with the situation of the plot. A passionate and resounding dedication from the actor elevates the film altogether.


Arun Bose and Mridul George, the scriptwriters, simultaneously move the two layers of the tale by referring to the life of police officer Akbar (Nitin George) and his wife Fathimah, played by Vinita Koshy. On the verge of divorce, Akbar is in a dilemma after listening to the advice of his colleagues to reconsider his decision to get separated from his wife. But this part of the movie evidently weakens the gravity of the mystery element since the impact of these actors fails to infuse any solid backup to the main plot. From the diary penned by Niharika, Akbar gets to know about the incidents that happened in the life of the scrap artist.


The incessant rain in most part of the investigation acts as a pall of mystery over the murder. The heavy plot structure creates a burden in the narration as it intersperses two tales at a time--- of the victim and the investigator. Barring this conflict of interest and the shadows of drawbacks at decisive junctures, it's a good attempt from a debutant.

K. R. Rejeesh

   

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