ID: The Fake Malayalam Movie Review
ID: The Fake: A Missed Opportunity to Tackle Cybercrime with Depth
Despite its relevant premise about the emotional toll of social media crimes, ID: The Fake falters with a cliched narrative, lackluster execution, and a superficial approach to its serious theme.Cybercrime dramas are inherently relatable, as they explore how digital offenses invade the personal lives of ordinary people, often disrupting families and relationships. In 'ID: The Fake', writer-director Arun Sivavilasam tries to delve into this dynamic, focusing on the repercussions of social media-related crime on a family. Unfortunately, the film sticks to a well-worn template that lacks the emotional depth or inventive twists needed to elevate it beyond a mundane viewing experience.
The film follows Vinod (Dhyan Sreenivasan), a man whose life is upended when a fake nude photograph of his pregnant wife, Gowri (Divya Pillai), circulates on social media. While trying to protect his wife from emotional distress, Vinod embarks on a mission to track down the person responsible for uploading the damaging image. In this simple setup, the film touches on the serious issue of online harassment, but its uninspired approach makes it hard to fully invest in the unfolding drama.
While the premise of a family facing a public cyberattack is timely and relevant, the execution is lackluster. The story feels formulaic, offering little suspense or intrigue as Vinod's search for the culprit unfolds. Despite the potential for an emotional rollercoaster, the screenplay remains rigid and uninspired. The film lacks the intensity necessary to drive the plot forward, and its moralistic ending feels forced and juvenile, rather than insightful.
The film's main flaw is its failure to engage with its own premise in a meaningful way. The narrative is stuck in a predictable groove, following the well-trodden path of a man seeking revenge or justice for a personal wrong. The director's handling of the material never ventures beyond the basics, leaving the audience with a series of dull moments that fail to generate real tension. Despite the film's attempt to make a point about the perils of social media crime, the lack of originality or urgency results in a stagnant viewing experience. A key issue lies in the director's choice to deliver a "lesson" at the climax, with the resolution feeling unearned and simplistic. Rather than providing a thought-provoking conclusion, the film falls into the trap of preaching without much depth or emotional resonance.
Dhyan Sreenivasan does his best to portray the anguish of a husband trying to protect his family, but the shallow conflict doesn't allow him to fully transcend the role. His performance feels constrained by the lack of character development and the lackluster screenplay. Despite his earnest effort, Vinod remains a one-dimensional character, with little to make him stand out or elicit empathy from the audience. Divya Pillai's portrayal of Gowri is one of the film's stronger aspects. She injects a sense of realism into her character, balancing vulnerability and strength as a pregnant woman caught in the turmoil of an online crime.
Kalabhavan Shajohn plays Joji, Vinod's supportive friend, and is perhaps the most enjoyable character in the film. One of the initial scenes, where Vinod's office team meets, attempts to introduce some humour into the film. Unfortunately, this attempt falls flat. The film tries to balance dark themes with lighter moments, but the humour feels forced and doesn't contribute meaningfully to the narrative. The theme of social media and its potential to harm individuals and families is undoubtedly relevant in today's digital age. However, 'ID: The Fake' misses an opportunity to explore this issue with the depth and nuance it deserves. The film touches on the emotional toll of online harassment, but it never delves into the psychological complexities of its characters. Instead, it focuses on surface-level conflicts and presents a simplistic moral conclusion, which does little to provoke thought or spark conversation.
The flick fails to deliver a compelling or innovative take on the issue of cybercrime. Despite its relevant theme, the film's cliched narrative and uninspired direction result in a forgettable viewing experience. The film doesn't do justice to the serious topic it tries to address, leaving audiences with little more than an obligatory lesson about the dangers of online deception.
