A Promising Concept Undermined by Sloppy Execution
At the outset of Oru Ronaldo Chithram, aspiring filmmaker Ronaldo Mathew (Ashwin Jose) heads to a theatre where a short film contest is underway. As part of the audience, he watches the three shortlisted entries - and so do we, the viewers. In effect, the film's first half becomes an anthology of short films, cleverly woven into the narrative of a budding director chasing his dream. Writer-director Rinoy Kalloor embraces this intriguing structure, offering a fresh cinematic approach by embedding short films within a two-hour-forty-one-minute feature.
These embedded short films, presented as entries by other contestants, feature mostly fresh faces and diverse storylines that quickly pull us into their worlds. The actors in these segments effectively capture the emotional depth of their characters. Meanwhile, Ronaldo keeps updating his girlfriend (Chaithanya Prakash) about the contest, organised by film producer PK Aravindan (played by Indrans), and centered around the theme of 'love and revenge.'
However, while the premise is innovative, the film stumbles in execution. The second half, which centers on Ronaldo narrating his own script to the producer, feels stretched and uneven. The story-within-a-story - focusing on Tomy (Midhun M Das), a heartbroken man seeking revenge against his ex-girlfriend Lijina (Hanna Reji Koshy) - attempts to dive into darker emotional territory, including body shaming and humiliation. But instead of delivering a hard-hitting arc, these segments tend to meander, diluting the impact and testing the viewer's patience.
Ashwin Jose delivers a grounded performance, portraying Ronaldo's frustrations and persistence with emotional authenticity. His character's ongoing failures and inner turmoil are believable, and his scenes with his girlfriend lend some warmth to the narrative. Midhun M Das stands out in the second half with a subdued, poignant portrayal of Tomy. However, the writing fails to stay focused, and the lack of concise editing makes this portion feel bloated and repetitive.
Cinematographer PM Unnikrishnan deserves credit for crafting visually distinct moods for each of the film's embedded stories, while Deepak Revi's light, atmospheric music subtly enhances their emotional resonance. Yet, the film's overall impact is weakened by inconsistent pacing.
Ultimately, Oru Ronaldo Chithram is an earnest and novel attempt by a debutant filmmaker. Its structure - a film about films - is engaging, and the embedded short stories are emotionally resonant. But the core narrative, meant to tie everything together, is let down by unfocused storytelling and a lack of narrative tightness. With more refinement and sharper editing, this could have been a memorable tribute to aspiring filmmakers. As it stands, it's a bold experiment that doesn't quite fulfill its potential.
