Jeethu Joseph's highly anticipated directorial venture Valathu Vashathe Kallan has finally made its theatrical debut today, January 30. The film features acclaimed actors Biju Menon and Joju George in pivotal lead roles, marking another significant release in the Malayalam film industry. Given Jeethu Joseph's monumental success with the Drishyam franchise, which captivated audiences worldwide with its gripping narratives and suspenseful storytelling, expectations were sky-high for this new project.
Initial Audience Reactions Flood Social Media
As the film premiered across theaters, social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), became inundated with immediate feedback from moviegoers who managed to catch the first-day shows. The collective response paints a picture of divided opinions, with many expressing disappointment while others acknowledging certain strengths.
Criticism of Narrative and Execution
For viewers who anticipated another edge-of-the-seat thriller akin to Drishyam, Valathu Vashathe Kallan appears to have fallen short. One X user described the film as a poor thriller despite appreciating its technical aspects and performances. The user elaborated, "Watched #ValathuVashatheKallan Poor Thriller, with sluggish making from Jeethu. Technically good, especially visuals. Inconsistent script. Started well, but then falls into the category of a usual crime drama. Predictable. No emotional depth. Decent performances. Artificiality hits."
Another social media post from a film forum labeled it a below-average thriller, criticizing the writing and execution. The forum noted, "Underwhelming, below-average thriller. Okay first half, but the second half turns dull and drags. The idea had potential, but the writing feels vague, and the execution is really weak. The twists aren't convincing or impactful, so the suspense never really works. Couldn't keep the momentum which worked in the interval in the 2nd half! Another weak one from Jeethu Joseph."
Praise for Technical Brilliance and Performances
Amid the criticism, several audience members highlighted positive elements. One movie buff who watched until the interval mentioned that the first half was decent with an interesting interval block. The post read, "Decent first half with an interesting interval block. Started with a slow narrative, which took into characters flashback portions that took so long hours. Phase by phase film gets into the mood and waiting for the 2nd half with expectations."
Another X user acknowledged the promising aspects, stating, "Promising first half. Looks like Jeethu is back in his element. Technically, a very typical Jeethu setup." However, this user also concurred with the overall sentiment of an underwhelming experience.
Consensus on Weak Second Half
A recurring theme in the reviews is the film's inability to maintain momentum post-interval. Many netizens shared the opinion that while the first half was engaging, the second half lost its charm. One comment summarized, "Ok, 1st half, dull 2nd half. The basic idea had potential, but it isn't well developed due to vague writing and mediocre execution. A thriller with no real thrills and only a few mildly exciting moments."
Further criticism was directed at the screenplay and emotional depth. An X user pointed out, "A below-average emotional crime thriller with an okay 1st half & a dull, confusing 2nd half. Weak writing, flat emotions, miscasting, and forced dialogue kill the impact. Biju Menon and Joju George perform well, bgm was decent."
Behind the Scenes of Valathu Vashathe Kallan
Helmed by Jeethu Joseph, Valathu Vashathe Kallan is scripted by Dinu Thomas Eelan. The film boasts a strong ensemble cast including Lena, Leona Lishoy, Shaju Sreedhar, Niranjana Anoop, and Vyshnavi Raj in significant supporting roles alongside the leads Biju Menon and Joju George.
On the technical front, the film features Satheesh Kurup as the cinematographer, Vinayak VS as the editor, and Vishnu Shyam as the music composer. This collaboration aimed to deliver a visually and sonically compelling experience, though audience reactions suggest mixed results in execution.
As the film continues its theatrical run, it remains to be seen whether word-of-mouth will boost its prospects or if the initial mixed reviews will define its box office trajectory. For now, Valathu Vashathe Kallan stands as a testament to the high expectations placed on filmmakers following blockbuster successes, and the challenging task of meeting audience anticipation in the competitive landscape of Malayalam cinema.
