Khaleefa Malayalam Movie
Presenting Nedumudi Venu as the eponymous character, "Khaleefa" is an attempt to unravel the alarming interpretations of the sermons of a religion. The female characters, who are portrayed as victims of orthodox beliefs, reflect rays of freedom and defiance in the movie. Khaleefa's three daughters come across difficult situations in life like him, exposing the haplessness of the poor family.
To break the fetters of custom is not easy. Moreover, the film has no answer for the exploitation of the under-privileged though it puts forward modern norms through characters like Muneer (Aneesh. G. Menon). His love affair with Khaleefa's second daughter Rejuna reveals the conflict, and it shows the chasm between different social statuses in a community.
Mubihaq's debut film has a heavy topic to debate so it's bound to be a serious flick. But there are not many interesting factors in the plot to make it engaging. The sole area where it scores is the exploitation of the minorities. Mubihaq has given a tinge of spiritual layer to the tale and often indicates matters like harmony and tolerance. Obviously, the melodrama in the plot is a damp squib so that it only adds monotonous episodes.
Nedumudi Venu is eloquent and in full flow in his performance despite the character falls on track in the latter stage. The hapless Khaleefa keeps his faith in the God even when tragedy strikes his family. The emotional conflict of Khaleefa is safe in the seasoned actor. Niyas Becker as Razaq and Sivaji Guruvayur as Moosa Hajiyar have performed very convincingly.
Overall, a mediocre presentation affects the way the movie should be appreciated. The decibel of the strong reaction against bad practices in a religion is not as impressive as the serious subject the film carries. Only Nedumudi Venu offers some respite in this social drama.