Producer- Nisad Haneefa
Director- Rosshan Andrrews
Cast- Prithviraj, Rahman, Jayasurya, Kunjan, Aparna etc.
Music- Gopi Sundhar
Review By : Unni R Nair (Kerala9.com )
When I visited the sets of ‘Udayananu Tharam’ a few years back, I was impressed with the confidence that Rosshan Andrrews, then a debutant director, exuded. I knew that this confident guy was going to deliver a hit. ‘Udayananu Tharam’ was a hit, a big hit. Now, eight years after ‘Udayananu Thaaram’, I once again witnessed the same confidence at work, in ‘Mumbai Police’, Rosshan’s fifth film as director. That’s what prompted me to send him an SMS, after seeing the movie, saying “Good Job”. Yes, good job it indeed is, excellent and neat work, not just on the part of Rosshan, but also on the part of the writers Bobby and Sanjay and also the actors, especially the lead player Prithviraj. A taut, well-made thriller that breaks conventions to an extent- that’s what ‘Mumbai Police’ is.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Antony Moses alias Tony (Prithviraj), who is on his way back after investigating a case, calls us Police Commissioner Farhan (Rahman), who’s not just his superior, but his best friend and brother-in-law as well, and informs him that he has solved the case. But, before he names the culprit whom he has identified, he meets with an accident, post which he loses his memory.
A few days later Tony, scarred and sans a past that he can recollect, is once again on the case; Farhan makes him take up the case once again. But since he doesn’t recollect anything, not even his name or anyone else or that he has been investigating the death of his friend and Assistant Commissioner Aryan John Jacob (Jayasurya), he has to begin from scratch. The most complicated thing about it is that he doesn’t even know who his friend is and who now… Farhan briefs him on things he knows and then leaves Tony to do the rest. Tony, whom his doctor now calls Antony Moses B (sans his memories, which constituted the persona of Antony Moses A), starts from scratch, groping in the dark and putting pieces together.
A neat, well written script, a director who’s in control of things and neat performances by key players is what makes ‘Mumbai Police’ stand out. I know there are people who’d just comment, with a usual, all-knowing shrug, “Oh, yet another taut thriller!”. But no, this one is really worth watching. The finale, the grand finale, is sure to turn out to be a bit shocking for you. You would never expect it to go on those lines…never ever!! (Don’t want to give out anything about it; that would spoil the entire thing!) Watch the film; don’t expect it to be a formulaic thriller, just keep your mind free and watch ‘Mumbai Police. You wouldn’t be disappointed.
Performance
Well, well… I just don’t know what to say about Prithviraj, the lead player. It’s not just that he has played his part excellently well and 100 percent convincingly, he has also done something that no other star in Malayalam has dared to do (Sorry, can’t divulge details!). Rahman and Jayasurya render excellent support while others in the cast fit into their respective roles perfectly well.
Technical aspects
R.Diwakaran, the cinematographer seems to know exactly what the director and the film needs; his frames suit the tempo of the thriller in all ways. Editing by Mahesh Narayan and art work by Cyril Kuruvila also deserve mention.
Music
Gopi Sundhar has done a perfect and neat job of the background score. He’s done it so well that we don’t at any stage stop to ponder about the background score and its composer; it jells so well with the film’s total fabric.
Script
Brothers Bobby and Sanjay, who have already penned some hit screenplays (including ‘Traffic’), prove once again that a good script can indeed work wonders for a film. It’s their script, with almost no loose ends, that works out in favour of the whole film. They deserve appreciation for paying perfect attention to each single sequence in the film and also for daring to do something really bold and unprecedented, as regards the climax. The tempo is retained in every frame and the suspense element worked out quite well. Also interesting is the characterisation aspect; the plight of a man who doesn’t remember his past but still has to reconstruct that past is etched out well. Similarly, the supporting characters- especially those of Farhan and Aryan John Jacob, have been handled well.
Direction
As said earlier, Rosshan Andrrews is in full form and full control as the director. It’s his rapport with the writers as well as with his actors and technicians that works out a kind of chemistry, in favour of the film. We expect more good films from you, Rosshan!!
Verdict- Taut thriller; daring and unconventional; superb script; good performances…
Rating: 3/5