The story begins with Kunji Kelu (Tovino Thomas), an exceptional warrior, whois granted the opportunity to request for a special gift from the king. He asks for a deity crafted from a unique rock that fell from a meteorite and struck their village, Haripuram. The story then shifts to Maniyan (Tovino Thomas), a clever thief who is accused of stealing the deity.
Maniyan's actions have lasting repercussions on his lineage. His grandson Ajayan (Tovino Thomas), is now suspected of every crime that occurs in the village. Ajayan aces the challenge of clearing his name and leading a dignified life while combating caste discrimination.
Ajayante Randam Moshanam aka ARM has a simple plot that chronicles over three generations. The story is elevated by a grand production value, which serves its purpose now and then. The visual effects and production design show great promise and make us intrigued. However, the film falters in execution.
ARM suffers from predictability. From the moment we are introduced to the special deity and the king’s reaction to Kunji Kelu's request, we know that the idol is fake. The plot then follows Maniyan and Ajayan’s quest to retrieve the original idol. While there is enough scope to create several impactful moments, the film doesn’t fully explore them. For example, when Maniyan steals the idol from the temple and stands on the roof, you are supposed to hoot for him and feel goosebumps. However, the intended impact falls short.
What the film gets right is its politics. It addresses the rampant caste discrimination in the village and puts forth important questions. Ajayan, Maniyan, their lineage and people belonging to a certain caste are not allowed inside the temple. The film is replete with solid dialogues that question this practice and seek to end this practice.
Tovino Thomas shines in triple roles and has shouldered the film. All three characters are distinct, and the variations help the audience in resonating with the three characters. Basil Joseph, yet again, proves that he is one of the best performers. Harish Uthaman, Krithi Shetty, Aju Varghese and several others played their parts well.
Composer Dhibu Ninan Thomas’s songs are soothing to the ears. In some instances, they evoke emotions directly rather than relying on the clever use of silence.
ARM intriguingly blends folklore and action. However, the screenplay has some shortcomings that prevent it from fully conveying the intended message.
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