Prakambanam Movie Review: A Perfect Blend of Horror and Humor
The Malayalam film industry has once again delivered a gem with Prakambanam, a horror-comedy that masterfully balances scares with laughter. Directed by Vijesh Panathur and released on January 30, 2026, this 2-hour-2-minute film has garnered attention for its unique approach to the genre.
Story and Setting
The narrative begins in the atmospheric setting of Chembakath Veedu, an ancestral home where portraits of communist leaders silently observe daily life. Here, a grandmother continues traditional rituals for the deceased, despite her sons' ideological opposition to such practices. Her eventual passing without proper rites sets in motion a chain of supernatural events that forms the core of the film's conflict.
Characters and Performances
The story then shifts to a men's hostel in Kochi, where we meet three final-year students:
- Sidhu played by Ganapathi
- Punyalan portrayed by Sagar Surya
- Shankaran brought to life by Al Ameen
Their lives revolve around typical hostel activities—drinking, boasting, and camaraderie—until an accidental mix-up involving the grandmother's ashes (played by Mallika Sukumaran) plunges them into bizarre, spooky situations. What makes these sequences work is how they consistently spiral into comedy rather than fear.
Genre Execution
Like successful predecessors such as Romancham and Adi Kapyare Kootamani, Prakambanam relies on group panic, exaggerated reactions, and situational chaos to generate laughs. The horror elements serve primarily to amplify the humor, creating an experience where laughter consistently outweighs scares.
Director Vijesh Panathur maintains an easy, playful tone throughout, while writer Sreehari Vadakkan builds humor through relatable hostel life scenarios. The actors demonstrate excellent comic timing, and the technical aspects—camerawork and background score—subtly support the shifts between carefree fun and mild spooky moments.
Narrative Strengths
The film truly finds its rhythm in the second half, where jokes and spooky vibes work in perfect harmony. This transforms the viewing experience into what feels more like a fun ride than a stressful horror fest. Even when the narrative occasionally loosens its grip, the film remains engaging because it never loses sight of its primary goal: to entertain rather than intimidate.
While not attempting to be groundbreaking, Prakambanam delivers exactly what it promises—a packed laugh riot that young theater-goers will thoroughly enjoy.
Social Commentary
Beyond its surface-level humor, the film functions as subtle political and social satire. It cleverly pokes fun at:
- Ideological rigidity
- Generational contradictions
- The casual hypocrisy often found in belief systems
Supporting Cast
The film benefits from a strong supporting ensemble including:
- Rajesh Madhavan
- Sheethal Joseph
- PP Kunjikrishnan
- Prashanth Alexander
- Kalabhavan Navas
- Azeez Nedumangad
Each actor brings reliable comic presence to their roles, ensuring that even brief appearances leave a memorable impression.
Critical Reception
The film has received a 3.0 critic's rating from The Times of India (reviewed by Aiswarya S Nair on February 2, 2026) and matches this with a 3.0 user rating. This consistent scoring suggests the film successfully meets audience expectations for the horror-comedy genre.
Prakambanam stands as a testament to Malayalam cinema's ability to blend genres while delivering social commentary wrapped in entertainment. It's a film that understands its audience and delivers exactly what they want—laughter with just enough spookiness to keep things interesting.
