Imbam Malayalam Movie

It is a question of survival for a vernacular magazine and its chief editor when a politician plays a nasty game for its closure. The dramatic milieu coupled with artificial narration undermines the conflict, turning it into a more soulless creation. Nov 3, 2023 By K. R. Rejeesh

Considerable thought has been invested in this story-line at a moment when regional magazines grapple with their existence. "Imbam," written and directed by Sreejith Chandran, situates its narrative in that context by shedding light on the challenges faced by the Chief Editor of a magazine and their impact on those in his orbit. However, Sreejith Chandran's efforts are marked by a lackluster treatment and a perfunctory placement of characters, which seemingly contribute to the trivialization of the central conflict. The film meanders through the periphery of its premise, relying on dramatic elements and inadequately developed relationships among the characters.

The standout performance of Lalu Alex as the Chief Editor of the magazine emerges as the film's redeeming quality. The seasoned actor takes the lead with a compelling portrayal, injecting ample intensity into the emotions of the wavering protagonist. Yet, the introduction of budding cartoonist Nithin (Deepak Parambol) into Karunakaran's life disrupts the narrative threads, resulting in a disconnected movie that fails to evoke empathy from viewers. Nithin begins with resentment toward Karunakaran but later decides to work for the struggling magazine 'Shabdam' without expecting any rewards.

Chief Editor Karunakaran operates the Kozhikode-based publication with great difficulty, as revenue is scarce in the digital age of the Internet. The crisis-ridden 'Shabdam' office is housed in an old building, and Karunakaran encounters trouble when he is unable to secure a loan from banks. The situation worsens when the corrupt politician Premarajan (Irshad Ali) eyes the land in collusion with the real estate mafia, putting Karunakaran in a moral dilemma. Meanwhile, freelance writer Kathambari (Darshana Sudarshan), who has a close relationship with Karunakaran, along with Nithin, launches the web edition of the magazine. However, the controversial news about Premarajan on the web portal goes viral, leading to the wrath of the politician.

For Karunakaran, 'Shabdam' is his soul and life, compelling him to take on the defamation case filed by Premarajan. Writer Malathi Swaminathan, portrayed by Meera Vasudevan, plays a significant role in the tale, but Meera's performance lacks the required shine throughout. Furthermore, the film fails to adequately establish Malathi Swaminathan's importance as it progresses, leaving only a superficial impact. Deepak Parambol and Darshana occupy the cliched cinematic landscape in 'Imbam' without significantly influencing the story's development. In fact, the film's melodramatic atmosphere and contrived storytelling detract from the central conflict, rendering it a somewhat lifeless creation.

Beyond the issues in the narrative, the abrupt transformation of the antagonist at a crucial point in the film lacks genuine justification. The melodramatic sequences do little to enhance the movie's quality, often leading it further into its decline. The fairly good background score by PS Jayahari occasionally enlivens the contrived scenes. The film's core problem lies in its inability to establish a connection with the audience, with the director struggling to refine the weighty theme, let alone elevate it.