ishq malayalam movie review

Ishq (I) (2019)

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Ishq Movie Review: A tense drama powered by strong performances

Rating: ( 4 / 5).

I don't think I would be spoiling anything when I say that Ishq begins and ends with a conversation between a man and a woman. The emotion in both situations, however, is different. The film's tagline -- Not a Love Story -- is more dominant than its title. A series of high-pressure moments tests a man's love for his woman and consequently makes every man in the audience reflect on their perspectives concerning certain complex issues.

The naive, twenty-something couple at the center of the film are Sachidanandan (Shane Nigam) and Vasudha (Ann Sheetal). With Jakes Bejoy's beautiful music to enhance their quiet, romantic moments, life seems all hunky dory for them until a late-night confrontation with a creep named Alvin (Shine Tom Chacko) changes everything. The latter's unwelcomed intrusion deals a huge blow to Sachidanandan's ego. Something happened when Sachidanandan wasn't looking and now he is desperate to know what happened -- to confirm his girl's purity.

Director: Anuraj Manohar Cast: Shane Nigam, Ann Sheetal, Shine Tom Chacko, Leona Lishoy

This is an emotion that filmmakers like Padmarajan and MT Vasudevan Nair have explored in the past, by putting their protagonists in more complex situations than anything Sachidanandan (Shane Nigam) goes through in the film. It asks every man in the audience: What would you do if you were put in his shoes? Like another recent Shane Nigam film, Kumbalangi Nights, Ishq is about men with fragile masculinity. In Kumbalangi Nights , there was Shammi; in Ishq , we get Alvin. Though both Shammi and Alvin get their kicks from their own individual perversions, they both operate in a similar fashion. Oh, and they both happen to be family men. This is another film that reminds us that sometimes a man blessed with a beautiful family can be as psychotic as those who are deprived of it.

Ishq is bolstered by the scene-stealing moments of Shane and Shine -- especially the latter. I've always seen Shine as an underrated actor who, up until Ishq , did not get the roles he really deserved. I'm glad that he finally got a character that does justice to the actor in him. As Alvin, Shine is truly a revelation, especially in the second half, when he also displays a talent for dark humour. He reminds me so much of actor Harvey Keitel from films such as Taxi Driver, Bad Lieutenant, or Cop Land . They both have the same, what I call, a 'pervert's gaze'.

As for Shane, it goes without saying that he once again delivers one of his finest performances through Ishq. Sachi doesn't mind giving a piece of his mind to any guy who looks at her, but all his manliness leaks away in front of Alvin's intimidating tactics. On more than one occasion, he looks as if he is going to faint from the overwhelming humiliation he is made to undergo in front of his girl. Though Ann Sheetal doesn't have many dialogues -- because it's the men who do most of the talking -- she manages to be quite effective with the few lines she has been given. Also making a solid impression is Leona Lishoy as Maria, Alvin's wife. There is an explosive, clap-worthy moment towards the end of the film involving Shane, Shine, and Leona.

What I liked best about this Ratheesh Ravi-scripted film is that it doesn't take any sides. In the end, it neither absolves Sachi nor Alvin. Debutant Anuraj Manohar directs the film with the assuredness of an experienced filmmaker. Ishq is replete with plenty of intense moments and I'm not exaggerating when I say that Anuraj's commendable mastery over his actors' performances brings to mind filmmakers like Sidney Lumet and Martin Scorsese. Not many films can make you root for a character and then minutes later make you ask if it wouldn't be more appropriate to show them the finger instead. 

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‘ishq’ movie review: a brilliant, edgy drama about a road trip gone wrong.

There is a basic principle that’s followed by any storyteller worth his salt: Show, don’t tell.

That is when the director plays a moment out without spoon-feeding the audience on what we’re supposed to feel about what transpired. That is when the director trusts the emotional intelligence of the audience. That is when the director and the writer have faith in themselves.

‘Show, Don’t Tell’ is a great way to set up characters. A great example of this is in the Hindi movie Udaan , where the dynamics of the father and the son are set up without a single word spoken. Another classic example is the beautiful first 5 minutes of Pixar’s Up . ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ can also add a great amount of tension to a scene, making the audience uneasy even if they cannot understand the source of that emotion. A great illustration of this would be in The Pub scene in Inglorious Basterds .

Malayalam movies usually treat their audience poorly. Big B is one of my favourite movies, and Bilal’s intro in the rain is hands down one of the best intro sequences in Malayalam cinema. But I gag every time it gets intercut to people looking directly into the camera and describing Bilal and his past to the audience.

And this is where Ishq shines.

Ishq is a story about Sachi (Shane Nigam), an IT employee, and his girlfriend Vasudha (Ann Sheetal), a college student, and their day-long road trip on her birthday. Before long, the couple gets targeted by two moral goons on the prowl in the city (played in a chillingly realistic manner by Shine Tom Chacko and Jafar Idukki).

Anuraj Manohar and Ratheesh Ravi weave a tale that’s a little bit about love and a whole lot about other things in this seemingly straightforward story. And they completely placed their trust in the actors to perform without any spoon-fed dialogues and placed full faith in the audience to understand the different themes at play here. That’s why I think what this movie warrant is a discussion, not a review.

Syam Pushkaran in recent interviews stated that Malayalam movies are in dire need of good writers. I firmly believe that Ratheesh Ravi would be a great addition to the new group of amazing writers that are cropping up in our industry. The way the “antagonists” act and react to the situations they’re presented with clearly shows that he’s done his research. Although for the most part it felt like the story was about the two men, and the women were just there to instigate a crucial incident, the climax actually provides some depth and dimensions to the Ann Sheetal’s Vasudha.

Anuraj Manohar makes a solid debut. And I’m already a fan of his with the way he dealt with one of the negative comments about the movie. It shows a director who believes in the work he put out.

He and the writer points to the mentality of society which hides behind the veil of culture and draws pleasure from antagonizing their victims. And he provides us with some of the most thrilling, uncomfortable, edge-of-the-seat moments in Malayalam cinema in recent memory.

Performances

This movie belongs to Shane Nigam and Shine Tom Chacko. They are who this movie is about, the ones who operate in different shades of grey throughout the movie. Both men deliver such impressive performances, especially towards the climax. There were moments in Shane’s performance where it reminded me of Mohanlal’s performance in the classic “Sadayam”. Shine Tom Chacko is on a roll. The guy really deserves to be put in more movies. Ann Sheethal was ample. Leona and Jafar Idukki elevated the scenes they’re in. Rest of the supporting cast did a decent job as well.

Editing by Kiran Das is in perfect rhythm with the movie. This is a movie that if not edited properly would’ve been a complete misfire. But I loved how restrained the editing is. Many of the scenes were allowed to play out in full and that’s what makes it more uncomfortable and sometimes downright creepy. I do have some issues with the way some songs were cut. But other than that, great job.

Ansarsha manages to capture the cuteness of the romance, the fear that comes with the night, the uneasiness of an uninvited advance and the discombobulation during a situation going south absolutely splendidly.

After a rather loud and exhilarating background score for Swathanthryam Ardharathriyil, Jakes Bejoy returns. Though most of the score was meant to gel with the situation and enhance the emotions at play, there were times it felt like he let himself go a little bit. The background music during the climax was a misfire in my opinion. The songs were sweet, with Sid Sriram crooning “Parayuvaan…” already topping the chartbusters.

Even though this movie going experience was an overly positive experience for me, I sometimes wonder about the choices they made in the movie. And whether they’d translate well to a general audience. There are instances in the movie where you question its own moral compass; on its ideas on themes of revenge and love. But at the very least, when a movie makes you wonder, makes you discuss these themes, I see it as an absolute win.

Definitely worth your time.

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Ishq review: Shane and Shine in a saga of love and passion

The Arabic word Ishq often denotes love and passion, centred around a hero and heroine.

But unlike old tales of romance, the Malayalam movie Ishq explores the definition of the word. Ishq goes beyond the cliched romance narrative of meeting, chatting and kissing, and focuses on the trope of 'immorality'.

Sachi (Shane Nigam) is head over heels in love with Vasudha (Ann Sheethal) and so is she. While both are looking forward to spending time together, Sachi's family is gearing up for his sister's (Swasika) wedding.

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With a supportive and understanding mother (Maala Parvathi), Sachi finds a perfect day to propose to his lady love with a ring.

They manage to spend quasi-happy day until they meet Alvin (Shine Tom Chacko).

Unlike the movies that amplify the qualities of a protagonists, here the lead character's milieu is woven around 'morality'.

The first half briefly tells about Sachi and Vasudha's relationship and how Sachi would even pick up a fight with a stranger who stares at his lady love.

He would even ask his friends to thrash the guy who touched their sister.

And if someone dares to come near his girl, he has his own standard operating procedures.

The narrative criss-crosses from love to revenge and that's where the movie Ishq grips on.

Shane Nigam, right from the flamboyant lover to spunk hero, shines at poignant moments of the film. Ann Sheetal's performance is laudable but her character gives an impression that it lacks depth at times. But it's her character --a special mention for the climax sequence -- that takes the movie to an elevated zone from mediocrity.

Equally impeccable was actor Shine Tom Chacko's performance. The sequences inside Alvin's house with his wife (Leona Lishoy) and kid might remind us of many other movies, but it strikes a chord with the viewers.

What hinders the flow of the movie is the contradictions of the plot where viewers are revealed about the whereabouts of Alvin, while Sachi is kept in dark.

There seems to be a few loopholes in the screenplay by Ratheesh Ravi, but director Anuraj Manohar patches it up with his craft, ably assisted with some amazing shots by Ansarsha. Cheers to composer Jakes Bejoy too as music had a crucial part setting the mood from a love drama to a thriller.

The scene where Shane sits on his couch and Shine on the floor is perhaps a reminder to the attitude of the so-called 'morally correct' individuals.

Without diverting from its serious note, Ishq wins heart for the subtle nuances through which it tried to differentiate between 'love' and 'passion'.

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ISHQ MOVIE REVIEW CLICK TO RATE THE MOVIE

Anuraj Manohar's Ishq opens with a harmless phone conversation between Sachi (played by Shane Nigam) and Vasudha (Ann Sheetal), as they conjure up a plan for 'a romantic outing on Vasudha's birthday, amidst some light banter. The film opens like any other romance, but it turns into something that is a stark contrast to the usual romantic entertainers in the past.

Ishq revolves around the passive-aggressive Sachi and Vasudha, whose lives change as they experience a strange encounter in the midst of a car trip. The initial portions of Ishq have a lighter tone to it, as they beautifully set up the relationship between Sachi and Vasudha. The familial bond displayed in Sachi's household reeks of the warmth that we usually associate to a friendly love story. But these events are just used to butter up for an unexpected aftermath.

The film's pace accelerates as their intimate moment gets disrupted by a lecherous voyeur and his companion. The unpredictable nature of the film heightens when the couple tries their way to escape from the clutches of the two men.  The plot has some elements of revenge that usually scapegoats the female characters, but Ishq turns the cliche over its head with ways you won't expect.

The characterization is written is such an intricate manner that the film taps into the aggression of masculinity and the frailty associated with it. One of the major instances is the interval block, where Vasudha retorts by questioning Sachi's manhood when he doubts her chastity. These little touches make Ishq a notch above your usual potboilers. The second half is the moment where the tables turn and the hunter becomes the hunted.

The tension is not only sustained, but it's taken to unprecedented levels through the sheer unpredictability of Sachi, who comes across as relatively unassuming and soft natured. One might fear that Ishq might become another Arjun Reddy and RX-100, where the protagonists ascend to self-destruction via substance addiction. But in Ishq, the substance is replaced by Sachi's thirst for revenge and the quest to satisfy his weak male ego.

Ishq gives a cathartic and unexpected closure. The film excels at mood creation, especially during the pivotal car scene, where you may have predicted what happens in the next frame, but the staging and the editing compensate for it whilst increasing your anticipation. The wafer-thin plot is very well thickened by Ratheesh Ravi's fast-paced screenplay and the visceral performances.

Shane Nigam knocks the ball out of the park with his performance that makes every emotion of Sachi palpable without an ounce of theatricality. Shine Tom Chacko gives a thrilling performance as the man who holds the couple hostage. The background score doesn't attempt to oversell the moments or emotions, but it aids to the haunting mood of the film. As the film's caption suggests, Ishq is a brilliant anti-romance that is engrossing till the end

ISHQ VIDEO REVIEW

BEHINDWOODS REVIEW BOARD RATING

PUBLIC REVIEW BOARD RATING

REVIEW RATING EXPLANATION

பிரேக்கிங் சினிமா செய்திகள், திரை விமர்சனம், பாடல் விமர்சனம், ஃபோட்டோ கேலரி, பாக்ஸ் ஆபிஸ் செய்திகள், ஸ்லைடு ஷோ, போன்ற பல்வேறு சுவாரஸியமான தகவல்களை தமிழில் படிக்க இங்கு கிளிக் செய்யவும்      

ISHQ NEWS STORIES

Watch Kumbalangi Nights fame Shane Nigam reveal his favorite actor and sing Munbe Vaa onstage!

BREAKING: Kumbalangi Nights star's film gets a Tamil remake- Guess who's playing the lead

Shriya and samantha go to the same family .

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ISHQ RELATED NEWS STORIES

• Kumbalangi Nights fame Shane Nigam sings at the Behindwoods Gold Medals 2019
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Ishq (aka) Ishqq

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Directed by Anuraj Manohar

Not a love story

Two youngsters try to find joy after they lose out on love and their need for a mutual trust to sustain love and happiness.

Shane Nigam Ann Sheetal Shine Tom Chacko Maala Parvathi Jaffer Idukki Leona Lishoy Kainakary Thankaraj Swasika

Director Director

Anuraj Manohar

Producers Producers

A.V. Anoop Mukesh R. Mehta C. V. Sarathi

Writer Writer

Ratheesh Ravi

Editor Editor

Cinematography cinematography, executive producer exec. producer.

K K Premlal

Art Direction Art Direction

Jayan Crayon

Composer Composer

Jakes Bejoy

Sound Sound

Vishnu Govind Sree Sankar

Costume Design Costume Design

Stephy Zaviour

E4 Entertainments AVA Productions

Alternative Title

รอยรัก แรงแค้น

Romance Thriller

Releases by Date

17 may 2019, releases by country.

• Theatrical UA

134 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Michael James ★★★½

A thrilling drama that stands out for its unconventional narrative and strong performances. A narrative that appears as a revenge for an act of moral policing, but later utilizes it as provocative tool, ending up showing the middle finger on the toxic masculinity and patriarchal mindset prevailing in our present day society. The normalcy of the character’s background setting, makes the events and its climax even the more horrifying and impactful. An intense must watch drama.

Review by Ashwin Dev ★★½ 2

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

In Ishq, two men measure and compare their dicks using the women in their lives as yardsticks. It could have worked as a powerful statement on patriarchy IF it had been made from a neutral point of view distant from BOTH of these men.

Unfortunately it is said from Sachi's perspective. However, I honestly understand that creative decision. They want the audience to empathize with this character and even let some of us (God bless them!) enjoy what transpires in the second half. Why? Because that's the only way the twist at the end will have the intended gimmicky shock value. But, this is problematic.

In the film, two distinct aspects of the toxic masculinity of Sachi are at display:…

Review by Varghese ★★★★

THE ENDING OF THE YEAR!!!

Crushes male toxicity by literally giving the finger! Can't remember the last time I have cheered in unison with the audience ( not even for Endgame). Like most films it has some questionable portions but all those rough edges comes together in a tense third act which has to be seen to be believed! One of the best films of the year hands down!

Review by Shivam ★★★★ 1

Where was this manhood when I needed it?"

The pace at which this film went from angelic charming to chaotic evil is unbelievable. A terrific thriller with a misleading title and synopsis everywhere. But, it's also kind of okay as it's better to jump into it without knowing anything. Just know that it has outstanding performances, great editing with brilliant screenplay. The direction is spectacular. The importance of the film intact and the ending being the best this year. Here's me a pleb suggesting a fucking great thriller. Watch it. (4/5)

Review by Jithin K Mohan ★★★★

The psychology of a rapist is said to be more on the power they have at the time rather than just the sex. Here even when it's not sex it's the power over such a chance that drives the lust. The power psychology and male ego are explored which forms the events on and after the phenomenon of moral policing. The revenge that ensues is also shown to be just another version of the male ego that simultaneously satisfies the audience and then reveals why that is not really the way to go. The tension build up during the simple romantic scenes itself was amazing. Shane, Shine, Leona and Ann were all fantastic. But it is Shine who really scores. He really deserves more prominent roles.

Review by Ajinkya Ghatol ★★★★

4.25 A riveting watch especially in the 2nd half and the special thing is that the movie has a message but it's not preachy,it's woven beautifully in the screenplay. A must watch thriller.

Review by prtk j ★★★★

This movie went places that i never expected...what a delightful surprise

A strong critique on the male ego backed by some excellent performances ,especially Shine Tom Chacko

Review by Nakul ★★★½

Ishq (Malayalam) is a solid thriller that pulses with unease & maintains seat-gripping tension throughout. Some great performances & an astounding score that stacks up the tension. It's based on moral policing but real subject is about patriarchal mindset/toxic masculinity.

Review by Mirna Dianasari ★★★½

Nontonin ini bener2 banyak bikin ngumpat. Kesel!

Bercerita mengenai dua sejoli yg kepergok mau kissing di mobil sama polisi.  Babak pertama film ini lumayan bikin tegang bgt sama tingkah si polisi yg ngeri2 sedap nebar teror ke pasangan yg lagi apes dengan mengajak nih couple keliling2 nyari atm buat mereka palakin, tp agak kesel juga sama sikap lakinya. Masa tega bgt ninggalin cewenya di mobil sama salah satu polisi yg sedari awal udh keliatan mesum ke si cewe? What a di*k move. 

Terus dipertengahan durasi mulai agak berantakan, cerita tentang pembalasan dendamnya dirasa ga perlu dan terlalu lebai.

Tapi, hamba terpuaskan lagi sama endingnya yg BAGUS BANGET!! Sampe keprok2 loh daku liat endingnya 👏🏻👏🏻

Review by Aastha Gupta ★★½

I have mixed feelings about the film, whether to like it, criticize the faulty characters or say hurray in the END scene. I mean, just the ending, then oh yes, BEST ENDING OF THE YEAR.

'Fuck you' and you stole the show woman!

Review by Akhil J Ajayan ★★★★½

Favourite Malayalam movie from last year. Watched it thrice in theatre, and including today twice in ott. Will probably watch it a couple more times.

The Second half reminded me of funny games for some reason.

Performance of a lifetime- Shane Nigam and Shine Tom Chacko. Mad respect.

The first few times, I hated the climax so much. I thought it was a tad too much, a potential overkill but now that I think of it Sachi and Vasudha were never in love. They only liked the idea of being in love, it was probably something cool to them, that's pretty much it.

Also I love the way how the movie gets darker and darker and the fact that this movie is inspired from true events is just crazy.

Review by Charvi ★★★★

This is a movie where it’s best to know nothing going in. The title is misleading but perfect and the transition from a sweet and innocent movie to a thriller was seamless and amazing. I was nervous for the ending because it could have gone either way but wow the ending is spectacular and if I watched this in theaters there would have been whistles. 

A movie with a tight screenplay, excellent direction, great acting and one of my favorite endings. 

There have been many social issue dramas but this takes a completely different approach and gives the right response to male toxicity.

Malayalam cinema has once again gone above and beyond.

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Ishq Review - A Shane Nigam Show All The Way

PUBLISHED DATE : 24/May/2019

Suhansid Srikanth

Anuraj Manohar's 'Ishq' is an intriguing thriller for how the drama is conceived into the story. The film literally has three to four major scenes with two extended sequences contributing to its major screentime. One, the act and other, the revenge! And with this, the film stretches out a interestingly executed ambient, thriller!

The film that gradually starts as an intimate love story creepily sweeps into a thriller drama when a stranger comes in the way. Anything more would spoil the show for the viewer given how everything about this movie is in its telling and gripping visual coldness.

One of the brilliant moves in the film is that it doesn't man up its protagonist into a hero but make him play it within his limits. He fears a lot, shivers a lot, trembles a lot yet doesn't fail to give back. Even when he settles his terms with the villain at the end.. he does it within his character traits and doesn't end up doing sketches or call for his gangs as we expect in a film of this kind.

Shane Nigam as Sasi, yet again put out a great show of what a versatile actor he is! Be it the helpless victim in the first half or the triggered man all set to take a revenge in the latter part, he delivers a high octane performance that sets you hooked to the screen.

Ann Sheetal as Vasudha plays her role to its fullest fears and strengths. We wish we know her a little better as much as we know him, given the extreme the character go towards the end. Shine Tom Chacko, plays Alwin, a creepy stranger who intrudes into the couple's life. The demon show he pulls off is brilliant. And so is, Jaffer Idukki, who plays his handman.

However, my favorite character in the film is that of Alwin's wife, Mariya, played by Leona Lishoy. It comes off as the only outsider to the story who gets to judge all that that has happened. The entire act where Sasi visits her at Alwin's very home is spine chillingly executed. The imagery of Sasi's face over a photo of Jesus.. revenge happening over big rioting drums of Easter.. the mood is a mayhem. Sasi leaves it upto Mariya to decide what to do any further.

The problem with the film is, the grey shade of the protagonist does gets overboard and cringy at places. (Given how at both the scenarios, women become the center or trump card of violence / abuse) Is it just about teaching him a lesson? And in that sense, how different is Sasi from Alwin? What is his stand as a (moral) man? We never get that!

I find it bit too much at one go with what Vasudha does at the end. I felt there was no need for that as I would have happily left on seeing them finally finding peace together. The director might have looked it out as a bang! But.. it never really hits you rather than as a mere closure shock value!

The film holds an applaud-worthy technical finesse with respect to the score and cinematography. The edit is powerful. The usage of sound design deserves a mention. With realistic performances and a tone & mood to hold it all together, Ishq is definitely a film you can't miss out in big screens!

Bottomline:

Anuraj Manohar's thriller tale, 'Ishq' that comes with the tag line 'Not a love story' definitely isn't a normal one. The whooping twists and turns with Shane Nigam's terrific performance makes the film engaging, interesting and gets us constantly hooked!

Rating : 3/5

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‘Ishq’ is not a love story

Thara krishna, 18 may 2019, 08:01 am ist.

D irector Anuraj Manohar presented his debut independent film ‘Ishq’ with the tagline ‘not a love story' and has done total justice to it. ‘Ishq’ is presenting a socially relevant subject wrapped up in romance.

The movie unfolds the love story of Sachidanandan (Sachi), who works at Infopark and Vasudha, an MA student and the events that follow. However, the movie doesn’t have monotonous clichés. This makes the script and direction worthy of praises. ‘Ishq’ begins like any other love story and attains a serious nature at one point.

The film begins in the backdrop of a family, combining elements of fun and love. The hero Sachi (Shane Nigam) who always keeps looking at his phone, involving in silly fights with mom and sister gives a feel of the boy-next-door. The plot then progresses to Sachi’s romance and to a grave subject. The story told by ‘Ishq’ is relevant based on some of the events which made recent headlines.

All the characters who appear on screen were able to transfer their emotions to the audience. Their love, sorrow, stress or fear is rightly communicated to the viewers. The audience will also give a sigh of relief when the hero and heroine are relieved at a stage.

‘Ishq’ has again proved that Shane Nigam deserves the title of a promising young actor. The audience who have watched Bobby in ‘Kumbalangi Nights’ can see a totally different individual in Sachi. Vasudha is played by Ann Sheetal who is familiar through the movie ‘Ezra’. Her performance in the movie was equal to Shane's or sometimes above par. When Sachi would be the star while watching the movie, he would be replaced by Vasudha when the viewer leaves the theatre.

The antagonist played by Shine Tom Chacko is also worth a mention. Alvin is a crucial character in the film and in the career of Shine. After a certain stage, Shine and Shane are taking the movie ahead. The supporting characters Leona, Jaffer Idukki, Maala Parvathi and Swasika have also done justice to their characters. The songs including ‘Parayuvan Ithaadyamayi’ sung by Sid Sriram and directed by Jakes Bejoy are beautiful.

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Ishq Review: Tests Patience With Unending Harassment

Movie: Ishq (Not A Love Story) Rating: 2/5 Banner: Mega Supergood Films Cast: Teja Sajja, Priya Varrier, Ravindra Vijay, and others Cinematography: Shyam K Naidu Music: Mahathi Swara Sagar Editor: A Vara Prasad  Art: Vithal Kosanam Presenter: RB Choudary Director: SS Raju Producers: NV Prasad, Paras Jain, Vakada Anjan Kumar Release Date: July 30, 2021

Theatres have reopened this week after the prolonged second wave of coronavirus situation. Teja Sajja, Priya Prakash Varrier’s “Ishq -Not A Love Story” is one of the films to hit the screens today.

Check out the film’s merits and demerits. 

Story: The film is set in Vizag. Siddhu (Teja Sajja) and Anu (Priya Prakash Varrier) go for a long drive to ring on her birthday. Siddhu knows a parking lot beside a hospital that hardly sees any people coming in. They drive into that lot to have a moment together. 

Their romantic moment is disturbed by a creep named Madhav demands to know what they are doing in the car and threatens them to arrest and put them in the police station. Another person joins him, and the two moral goons harass the young couple for hours in the night.

Artistes’ Performances: Teja Sajja is effective in the role as he effortlessly portrays the character that transforms from a weak guy to that of a revenge seeker.

Priya appears gorgeous and also pulls off the role, with her believable performance. Ravindra Vijay as the main villain is terrific.

Technical Excellence: Mahati Swara Sagar’s music is appropriate. “Aagalekapotunna...” stands out. Shyam K Naidu’s cinematography is neat, and the production values look decent.

Highlights: Basic plot The pre-interval scenes

Drawback: Boring sequences of harassment Many scenes drag on and on The slow pace

Analysis Stories about lovers facing harassment are not new. Still, “Ishq Not A Love Story” addresses an important topic - moral policing. At the center of this story, which is based on a super hit Malayalam film of the same name, is a relevant social issue of unlawful acts of duplicate police.

This begins as a slow love story and sets the tempo high when a moral police goon begins to harass them. The sudden turn of the story from a romantic mood to a spine-chilling mood is good. But it becomes a drag after a point, and the harassment reaches an unbelievable level.

It is understandable if the youngster feared to retaliate because the other person is a police officer. But it defies logic to see the young guy remaining silent when the so-called police officer crosses all levels of decency with his girlfriend. Youngsters tend to react wildly for no reason, but here the hero is more passive even though the creep tortures his girlfriend with his lewd act.

Moreover, it is in plain sight to notice that the creeps are not the real police. Still, he doesn't gather the courage to react. The prolonged harassment sequence has spoiled the believability factor.

Furthermore, the second half expectedly turns into a revenge tale, and the sequence of an elaborate revenge ritual is exhausting. They are a bore. Some scenes test our patience. However, the final act is relatively good.

Despite having a good plot point, the execution is unimpressive. Director SS Raju has followed the original but has not managed to hold our interest.

All in all, “Ishq” is neither a perfect love story, nor a fitting revenge tale, and this cocktail of elements is not palatable.

Bottom-line: Exhausting

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‘Ishq’ review – an thriller that strangely contradicts itself

Moral policing is one social vice that often presents a bizarre oxymoron. The victim can easily turn the perpetrator and vice versa. The affected parties would not even realize as they themselves indulge in it – violently or subtly. Fresh off the Kiss of Love movement, Kerala is still plagued by anti-social elements who believe it is their responsibility to school the world on morality. Director Anuraj Manohar’s Ishq presents a curious case where a couple in their early twenties get entangled in an ugly duel with two vile men in an eventful night.

The film kicks off with a syrupy phone conversation between Sachi (Shane Nigam), a young office-going youth from Kochi and Vasudha (Ann Sheethal), a collegian from Kottayam. He is initially not listening to her with rapt attention but eventually does so as the conversation races towards their impending meeting on her birthday eve. Sachi borrows his friend’s red (symbolizing passion, perhaps) car and zooms off to meet his girlfriend. As the two begin their fateful journey, Sachi humorously labels it as Vasudha’s ‘first night’ to which she chides in response. All is well and good until the couple stops by a parking lot to exchange a few awkward pecks. One thing leads to another, they are caught in a humiliating situation where two strange men (Shine Tom Chacko and Jaffer Idukki) begin to intimidate them. The rest of Ishq is spent in how their actions affect Sachi and Vasudha – as individuals and as a couple.

First up, the film’s intents are noble and the issue is one that deserves a major motion picture. The immediate scenarios that the writer (Ratheesh Ravi) presents are highly believable. Ishq addresses how chastity is still considered a woman’s noblest virtue. Ditto for gender roles that are silently assigned by the society – man protects; women get hunted. At one point, Sachi feels the need to know a certain detail that Vasudha might be hiding. Sachi cites how he, as a man, deserves to know it. Vasudha, on the other hand, counter-questions stating how he wasn’t a man enough the night before. It is a crucial moment but not without a tiny background to it. In an early scene, we witness Sachi empathizing with a group of men who are out to avenge a man who had molested a friend’s sister. He casually adds, “Give a couple of punches on my behalf too,” Now this is a very typically manly (and borderline problematic) statement to make. Only if Ishq knew how it was silently and unknowingly contracting its core message.

The idea behind Ishq , to an average viewer’s understanding, is to expose toxic masculinity, which in turn percolates through layers to hypocrisy to give shape to what is labelled as moral policing. The chief antagonist, for instance, is not exactly a heinous villain. A family man with an acceptable vocation to boot, his criminal tendency emerges from deeply entrenched oppression. He considers intimidation as a tool to subjugate easy preys. The first half of Ishq , etched out in a series of grueling phases, is gripping, to say the least. One that starkly reminds us of the 2017 film S…Durga, the situations in Ishq , nevertheless, emerge from a more convincing network. The film throws on us a crackling interval point scene, only to go downhill and contradict its own message in the strangest ways possible.

In a age-old bid for the hero’s journey to find an accomplishment, the second half of Ishq completely sidelines Vasudha. It is indigestible how the film underestimates her strength. Yes, she is silent throughout the moments of intimidation, easily fearing a situation of social isolation. Still, Ishq forgets how she is a somewhat coy, young woman who doesn’t think twice before going on a long drive with her lover – which may not be a very acceptable or organic act for the social echelon that she belongs to. In absence of shades or notable agency, the twist in the tale attributed to her in the climax goes on to be a damp squib. It is as if Vasudha, at that moment, arose from a completely different film. Even if she were to convey the message that she does at the point of time, the devices would have been different and ditto for the style of delivery.

In terms of characterizations, Alwin’s (Chacko) part is the best etched. We feel the menace in his perceived normalcy, almost like Fahadh Fasil in Kumbalangi Nights. His wife (played by a fantastic Leona Lishoy) has her moments too, despite the entire extended sequence being somewhat problematic. The latter is the result of the tonal change which, many might argue, would be due to Sachi’s puzzling characterization. A gawky chap, despite his braces, is a poster boy of misogyny and toxic masculinity himself. In a smart scene staged at a restaurant, the film eerily establishes this very fact. Yet, it is a pity how Ishq fails to evaluate what to do with its people and their virulence. Instead, the film sort of empowers with him like some of those clichéd underdog victory narratives wherein the weakling derives strength (even physical) through unimaginable methods. At this instance, I couldn’t stop recalling 2018’s taut thriller Varathan which was going all fine until the writers stumbled upon the need to man-up its male protagonist.

ALSO READ: ‘S Durga’ review – about goddesses in a godless universe

Despite the film failing like nine pins from the third act onwards, it the ensemble cast that ties the premise like a tight drum. Shine Tom Chacko is extraordinary as he whisks through the understated deadliness of Alwin. Shane Nigam is first-rate as the youngster who finds himself on the crossroads of personal and moral conflicts. The family equation that the writer and director establish in the initial reels is warm and it also provides ample background to Sachi’s psyche. Newcomer Ann Sheethal gets limited scope but is photogenic and has a winsome screen presence. Jaffer Idukki successfully enacts what Alencier Ley Lopez would have aced in a similar film. However, his is another character that has been given a passive treatment and it becomes all the more baffling as the film approaches its penultimate reel.

Ishq , in entirety, adds up to be an occasionally thrilling yet weird film that breeds polar opposite intentions before and after the mid-point. The love story lacks in a much-needed volatility that one has seen in erstwhile Malayalam films such as Mayaanadhi and Anuraga Karikkin Vellam . For a timid couple who are awaiting everyman life destinations such as their impending marriage, the film’s sudden emotional transformation in the finale hits hard in our gut. So much so that we doubt if Vasudha is simply enacting a scene that she watched the night before in a certain Netflix sitcom whilst Sachi is stuck re-enacting an Indian telly thriller equivalent duly helped by a bizarre background score. Get the hint!

Rating: ★★★

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• ENGLISH HINDI MALAYALAM TAMIL TELUGU KANNADA BENGALI  

Ishq Malayalam Movie

Ishq is a 2019 Indian movie directed by Anuraj Manohar starring Shane Nigam, Ann Sheetal, Shine Tom Chacko and Leona Lishoy. The feature film is produced by Mukesh. R. Mehtha, A. V. Anoop and C.V. Sarathi and the music composed by Shaan Rahman.

Director: Anuraj Manohar Producers: Mukesh. R. Mehtha, A. V. Anoop , C.V. Sarathi Production Companies: AVA Productions, E4 Entertainment Music Director: Shaan Rahman Sound Designers: Vishnu Govind, Sree Sankar Cinematographer: Ansar Shah Editor: Vivek Harshan Art Designer: Jayan Crayon Screenplay Writer: Ratheesh Ravi

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Ishq (2019) Malayalam Movie Review – Veeyen

‘Ishq’ marks the arrival of another gifted film maker on the scene, who presents before us a fascinating study on how the human mind ticks, when pushed to exceptionally extreme limits and beyond. A brutal exercise that blatantly confronts a very pertinent social issue, ‘Ishq’ is a film that is so difficult to endure, and which yet, should be undeniably endured.

Warning: Spoilers ahead! 🙂

All it takes for your life to devastatingly twirl around on a wheel are a few ghastly hours that drag you away from the contentment and warmth that you had spun it up with; far away from the idyllic bit of universe that makes up your sheltered world. On the driveway to hell and back, the sights and sounds that surround you are of the altering kind; ones that strip you off the very last bit of persona that you had all the while assumed to be yours, and you lie bleeding and naked, astonished and flustered at what truly lies beneath your skin.

Anuraj Manohar’s directorial debut ‘Ishq’ is as its tagline claims, less of a love tale, albeit its lead being a love stricken techie who cannot even in broad daylight, see beyond the romance that rules his life. Sachi (Shane Nigam) is overwhelmed by love, and coyly reveals to his mother (Mala Parvathy) that he would love to tie the knot with his girlfriend Vasudha (Ann Sheetal), a post graduate student from Kottayam.

On Vasudha’s birthday, the couple hatches a grand plan to steal away from the city for a while. Awkwardly grinning and flashing his braced teeth, Sachi is all nerves as the two grab a Bombay toast at the Indian Coffee House, before speeding off on a long drive along the brightly lit roads. As the night and the late night love tales on the radio set in, an edgy Sachi demands a kiss. Vasudha refuses to comply and dismisses his request as inappropriate, reminding him that they are right on the road. Sachi thinks of an alternative and steers the car onto the deserted parking lot of a hospital, where one thing leads to another and they get cosy on the rear seat. And then, a flash light beams, and the earth beneath them caves in.

An intimidating visage makes its appearance, his mobile video camera capturing the horror that is writ large on the faces of the couple. Sachi quickly mumbles an apology and tries to get away, but the man – Alwyn (Shine Tom Chacko) – commences an ordeal from which there seems no return. He is soon joined by Mukundan (Jaffer Idukki), and as verbal threats give way to more terrifying demands, Sachi and Vasudha realize that their lives will never be the same again.

The initial hour of ‘Ishq’ is the stomach churning kind, where you find two trespassers who have blatantly intruded into your private space, inching in closer and closer, even as you frantically gasp around hoping to find a latch that would throw open a door back to normalcy. It’s a tormenting  trial without doubt; a harrowing nightmare that you wish was over and done with, but which shows no signs of drawing to a close.

There is nothing ambiguous about the emotions of the victims, and this is also the reason why their conflicts govern our entire experience of the film. The sadistic intensity that pervades throughout reaches mind boggling proportions when Alwyn climbs into the rear seat with Vasudha and snaps shut the car door as Mukundan lures Sachi away for a few moments. A petrified Sachi rushes back to find a beaming Alwyn inside with an awfully distraught Vasudha crouching towards a corner.

It’s precisely here that the film takes a veritable stand, and what follows is an extension of that very moment that proves to be decisive in the couple’s lives. I refuse to see the latter half as a resolution or a rational way out that the film maker has on offer for a severely grave issue that has made it to the headlines time and again in recent times. This isn’t a solution that is being proferred as it might probably be interpreted; rather it holds a mirror to what trauma of the extreme sort does to you, and even more importantly what you end up doing to cover up the ugly scars that have been left behind.

Sachi has been precisely etched out, and earlier on script writer Ratheesh Ravi lets him walk over to a bunch of men at a coffee table and reprimand one of them for having stared at his girlfriend. ‘Cheap show’, he shrugs when Vasudha questions him about the immediate reason behind the act, and hours later when  confronted by Alwyn, this foreboding young man is nowhere in sight. And there is a reason why, as horrifying as it might sound – a burdening sense of guilt for an act that is perceived to be depraved, and Sachi himself is no exception.

This is also what makes the writing interesting in that, as you move on further and further, Sachi emerges as more of an extension of Alwyn himself, displaying traits that had all the while remained unexposed. Barging into Alwyn’s home, he literally keeps his wife Maria (Leona Lishoy) and his young daughter captive, and sends Alwyn sprawling on the floor in no time. It is extremely effortless to view this as a plain act of redemption, but it is apparent that it’s much, much more than a mere attempt at revenge.

The male psyche in Sachi has been so brutally attacked, that he is shorn of everything that makes up the ‘man’ that he is. In his attempts to regain his blemished male makeup, he goes the extra length that probably not many of us would dare to, and returns triumphantly, the shreds of dignity and masculinity that he had regained from his assaulter thrown over his shoulders, hoping to wipe his slates clean and start anew. And his grin is finally back in place.

Not an easy walkover however lies in store, and with a thunderbolt of a climax, Anuraj seals up this black hearted affair with aplomb, in what could be considered as the most feminist and evocative statements on screen in recent times. In as much as a silent scene or two, the gender power equations tumble down, and the crowd breaks into an applause, and rightly so.

‘Ishq’ has exemplary performances all around – Shane is unbelievably, delectably good, Shine and Jaffer Idukky slice through with icy performances, Ann Sheetal delivers a whopper feat and Leona comes up with a spot on act. Ansarsha has crafted the most diligent of frames, and the musical score by Jakes Bijoy competent.

Verdict: Promising Directorial Debut

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'Turbo' Review: Mammootty's charm saves this predictable mass masala entertainer

Director vysakh's 'turbo', starring mammootty, raj b shetty and anjana jayaprakash, is a template commercial entertainer. mammootty's performance and a few twists and turns make this film watchable, says our review..

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• Mammootty's 'Turbo' released in theatres on May 23
• The film is a predictable action comedy with great performances
• The commercial entertainer is directed by Vysakh

Release Date: 23 May, 2024

Malayalam superstar Mammootty has been in impeccable form over the past two years. After a brilliant performance in 'Bramayugam', he is back with 'Turbo', which will see him in a complete mass avatar. Will Mammootty's association with director Vysakh help him continue his streak or will this be a dent? Let's find out!

Turbo Jose (Mammootty), is a jeep driver, who gets into fights in his village at the slightest provocation. Youngsters in his village look forward to his fight at a festival. When his friend Jerry (Shabareesh Varma) gets injured in the fight, he learns that the enemy gang targeted him as he fell in love with Indhulekha (Anjana Jayaprakash). Jose goes to Indhu's house and brings her (with her consent) to Jerry's house, only to be blown away by him. This lands Indhu and Jerry in trouble and the story shifts to Chennai.

Jerry and Indhu, who work at different banks, are still quarrelling as lovers. However, Jerry is also dealing with a bigger enemy as he learns about a big scam carried out by Vetrivel Shanmuga Sundaram (Raj B Shetty). Will Jerry be able to expose him? What happens to his relationship with Indhu? How will Jose help them? The answers to these questions are answered over two and a half hours.

Written by Midhun Manuel Thomas, 'Turbo' is directed by Vysakh. Going by the trailer, 'Turbo' is a no-holds-barred commercial entertainer about a brash man who beats everyone to pulp. Mammootty's Jose is not-so-serious, but a vulnerable guy, who is going through PTSD after a childhood incident. And then you put him against Raj B Shetty's Vetrivel Shanmuga Sundaram, who is a formulaic psycho villain who takes pleasure in killing people.

'Turbo' has many theatrical moments, but they are quite predictable. What makes it interesting is Mammootty's charm and the film's technical brilliance. Be it the camera work by Vishnu Sarma or the music by Christo Xavier, they elevate the ordinary moments and make you cheer for Mammootty. The mass masala entertainer also has a bunch of twists and turns, especially in the climax, that make things intriguing.

Wait for the climax voice-over, which hints at a sequel featuring the two best actors in the country.

'Turbo' is Mammootty's show all the way. The show also deals with how the police and political system are corrupted and how men with money can easily exploit the system. The story that is constructed around this issue is relevant and makes you want to know how the creator has dealt with it.

The high-octane fights in 'Turbo' are performed and filmed well. It is Mammootty's charm and such quirks that made 'Turbo' work to an extent.

It is fun to see Mammootty get back to commercial entertainer after a long time and he has lived the role with perfection. Anjana Jayaprakash has a solid role, which she has portrayed with ease. Raj B Shetty plays a cliched villain. But, his performance made him a perfect adversary for Mammootty. The actor who played Mammootty's mother in the film gives much-needed comedy relief to the story. PS: Watch out for the scene where she is watching 'Avengers' at a crucial time.

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'Turbo' movie review: Vysakh-Mammootty combo's action flick is packed with punches

Mammootty is convincing as Idukki-native ''Turbo Jose’

After the 2010 hit 'Pokkiri Raja', the Vysakh-Mammootty combo is back again with another action entertainer, 'Turbo'. Produced by Mammootty Kampany, the movie also marks the Malayalam debut of multi-faceted Kannada star Raj B. Shetty.

Mammootty plays 'Turbo Jose’, a man from Idukki, forced to move to Chennai to help his friend who is in trouble. The movie begins with a murder, and you are introduced to the main characters before the action switches to Chennai, where the main antagonist Vetrivel Shanmugha Sundaram, played by Raj B. Shetty, is introduced.

While the director spends the first half of the movie establishing the characters, the second half is a cat-and-mouse game between Jose and Vetrivel, and you get plenty of action along the way.

Christo Xavier’s background helps elevate the proceedings. Mammootty, as always, delivers an impressive performance as 'Turbo Jose’ while  Raj B. Shetty is menacing as the main antagonist. Anjana Jayaprakash, Shabareesh Varma, Sunil, Bindu Panikkar and Kabir Duhan Singh too come up with decent performances.

Of course, if you are a fan of realistic movies, 'Turbo' isn't for you as it is an out-and-out action entertainer. There are also plenty of predictable moments and plotlines that do not go anywhere. But if you are in the mood for a mass masala entertainer, Turbo won't disappoint you.

Movie: Turbo

Cast: Mammootty, Raj B. Shetty, Anjana Jayaprakash, Shabareesh Varma, Sunil, Bindu Panikkar and Kabir Duhan Singh

Director: Vysakh Rating: 3/5

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