Iblis Malayalam Movie
The life in this fantasy world would have been enticing, had the writing been more solid and powerful. If that had happened, there would have been remorse and rethinking on the faces of the living souls. What leaves "Iblis" in the lurch is its feeble script and missing target.
Here the intention is to convey a message accompanied by a fantasy tale blended with satirical elements. During the process, the viewers are striding confidently towards the conclusion much ahead of the film. Occasionally, you recall films of this ilk-- "Aayushkalam" and "Pappan Priyappetta Pappan" to name a few. The difference here is that "Iblis" has been conceived as a fable set in a rustic milieu. It tells about the dead people in an old village, who appear as spirits sans spooky background and smoke but with white robes for sure.
They assemble not for avenging anybody. On the contrary, they live among the normal human beings happily and ridiculing them for their grave expression and immoral activities. "Iblis", directed by Rohith. V.S, has been crafted with the aid of a ropy screenplay, penned by Sameer Abdul. Albeit the intention is on the right track, the substance seldom rises to the level of being rated it as satire or surrealistic flick.
Rohith's treatment of the fantasy is tepid and crude due to the lack of a powerful content. The premise of the tale might appear as a novelty. From the point of view of the deceased, the director showcases the follies of the human beings. In a sense, every movie is experimental so "Iblis" too could be pigeonholed in that category.
Asif Ali as Vaishakan is a timid and childish youth, who loves Fida, played by Madonna Sebastian. After his death, Vaishakan joins with his grandfather Sreedharan (Lal), who used to be a wanderer while alive, and Musthafa (Adhish Praveen).
The following incidents are unfolded as they design them according to their wish. Saiju Kurup as Sukumaran and Siddique as Jabbar fail miserably to evoke the satirical effect intended by the director. The romance between Vaishakan and Fida never flies above the peripheral terrains so are the incidents related to it.
Asif has nothing specific to remember in acting-wise except his appearance as a shy young man. Surprisingly, his expressions are more eloquent than his dialogues. Meanwhile, Madonna looks pretty average in her performance. Cinematography by Akhil George, costume design by Jackie and art direction by Jotish Shankar are notable as they are surely appealing.
Overall, this 120.4 minutes film is a crude fantasy drama and you repeatedly try to keep faith in the impending portions, which prove you wrong. Rohith's understanding of satire and fantasy struggle to get along with the appreciation norms. Besides, the didactic and metaphoric elements peter out sans any contribution.
MOVIE REVIEWS