Cast: Mammootty, Arjun Ashokan, Sidharth Bharathan, Amalda Liz, Manikandan R. Achari, and Aluva Sheeba Sebastian
Cinematography: Shehnad Jalal
Editing: Shafique Mohamed Ali
Production Design: Jotish Shankar
Music Director: Christo Xavier
Producer: S. Sashikanth
Director: Rahul Sadasivan
Banner: Y Not Studios
Rating: 2/5
Produced by S. Sashikanth and Chakravarthy Ramachandra, “Bramayugam” hit the cinemas on Friday.
STORY
The manor where the story is set is haunted. Thevan (Arjun Ashokan in a court singer role) is an unexpected guest of Kodumon Potti (Mammootty) and his cook (Sidharth Bharathan). He is there after fleeing away from a potentially fatal incident with a female ghost. Potti, who has an enigmatic past, connives to deceive Thevan into rolling dice. Thevan will have to spend the rest of his life in the manor if he loses the game. Is Potti a wizard of the dark? Does he have more strength than he seems to have? What will happen to Thevan? What happened to the cook? What drives the various characters’ actions, and what becomes of them? That’s the main focus of the movie.
ANALYSIS
Bramayugam, according to writer-director Rahul Sadasivan, is a darker era than Kaliyugam. There are no scruples and ideals, no gods and morals. Potti is a metaphor for the villainous boss who demands subservience from his workers. The film’s premise has inspired film critics and cinephiles to argue that it is an allegory that shows the terrible reality of ultimate power destroying the human soul.
The end that meets Thevan’s friend Koran (Manikandan R. Achari) appears to have a more profound, all-encompassing significance. As the movie goes on, it becomes clear that this is a psychological horror movie with a societal undertone rather than an exciting horror movie.
What, then, is the social undertone? It is about rich vs. poor, as many have previously noted. In the grand scheme of things, the idea of outcasts and inferior castes continues to resurface. The dialogue is sparse and lethal.
The cinematography by Shehnad Jalal is brilliant. There’s no music that builds the tempo like that of Christo Xavier! It fills the void left by the absence of popular discourse. Mammootty is remarkable in every single scene. There is a certain feeling of dread that is shown by Arjun Ashokan. The performance of Sidharth Bharathan is excellent too.
The horror thriller Bramayugam offers a social critique of caste and class structures. Don’t expect jump scares. This film is cerebral, not visceral!
