virus movie review in malayalam

Virus Movie Review: An expertly-staged epidemic thriller

Rating: ( 4 / 5).

Aashiq Abu's new film begins in medias res, three days after the onset of the 2018 Nipah outbreak. The Kozhikode district collector Paul Abraham ( Tovino Thomas ) gets an urgent call, and without much delay, the film is immediately thrust into the middle of the gripping action at the medical college where a young doctor (Sreenath Bhasi) works. This is where everything begins. We get a quick glimpse of all the medical professionals who juggle multiple cases at once — sometimes they lose, sometimes they win. But the worst is yet to come. 

When the first of the confirmed Nipah cases are brought in, which includes Sreenath's medical student girlfriend (Madonna Sebastian), chaos ensues. A control room is set up, and urgent attempts are made to ascertain the cause of the victims' symptoms, trace the origin of the virus, and explore theories concerning the medicine mafia and bio-warfare. There is fear in everyone's eyes, even the higher authorities. No one is safe.

Director: Aashiq Abu

Cast: Revathy, Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Parvathy

For those who haven't been in Kozhikode at the time of the outbreak, Virus gives us a sufficiently anxiety-inducing picture of the events that took place in the city. Some of the film's tension-inducing moments are so skillfully staged that, every time you hear someone cough or sneeze, you begin to feel slightly uncomfortable. I found myself battling a mild urge to reach for my hand sanitizer during the intermission.

This is not one of those multi-starrers where each actor is competing for space. Big or small, everyone has a role to play, and all the actors carry out their respective duties with aplomb. How often do you get a film with so many good actors in the same frame? Indrajith Sukumaran shows up as the doctor who volunteers to cremate the bodies. He is not only one of the film's coolest characters but also its comic relief. The humour in the film sometimes comes from the most unexpected places.  

I also want to point out that, unlike many Indian thrillers, Virus doesn't have the characters mouthing medical jargon as if they're reading from a textbook. When Kunchacko Boban, Rahman, and Tovino are discussing 'official' matters, it doesn't sound artificial. They look and sound exactly how government officials and doctors do in real life. 

Pulling off a survival thriller based on actual events is not an easy feat, especially one featuring a group of well-known stars. But Aashiq and his team have done just that. The carefully researched and constructed script — penned by Muhsin Parari, Suhas and Sharfu — switches back and forth between the present and earlier moments of multiple characters, giving you just the right amount of information to make you care for them. The film doesn't linger on the sad moments for very long. In addition to paying tributes to the real-life heroes, the film doesn't forget to address the stigma faced by some of them.  

Editor Saiju Sreedharan ( Kumbalangi Nights ) carefully weaves all the pieces together into a coherent whole. Also worth noting is the usage of Sushin Shyam's pulsating and occasionally eerie background score. We don't see the usual tendency of using a musical cue to force certain emotions out of a viewer. 

In terms of the strong sense of urgency it creates, Virus sometimes evokes a Paul Greengrass or Kathryn Bigelow film. And the Christopher Nolan-style cross-cutting helps to heighten the tension. Directors of photography Rajeev Ravi and Shyju Khalid keep things as natural as possible, without drawing too much attention to their work. The film's poignant final shot, featuring Sudani from Nigeria director Zakariya, makes you see things from a completely different perspective. In fact, there are several perspective-altering shots in Virus .

Virus arrives just days after we learned of a second Nipah outbreak in Kerala, and exactly a year after the first. So, I was both surprised and happy to see a packed early morning show. It's a testament to the fact that passionate cinephiles will show up to watch a film of this magnitude no matter what others say. I'm not exaggerating when I say that we finally get in Virus  that Hollywood-level, race-against-time survival thriller I have been waiting to see from Malayalam cinema for a long time. This is how it's done.

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Published: June 07 , 2019 04:10 PM IST

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നിപ്പ- പ്രതിരോധ മരുന്നില്ലാത്ത വൈറസ്. ഒരിക്കൽ പിടിപെട്ടാൽ അതിജീവന സാധ്യത 20 ശതമാനത്തിൽ താഴെ. വൈറസ് എവിടെനിന്നു വന്നു, ആരിലേക്കൊക്കെ എത്തി എന്നറിയാൻ കഴിയാത്ത അവസ്ഥ. പരിമിതികളുടെ നടുവിൽ നിന്നിട്ടും സർക്കാർ സംവിധാനങ്ങളുടെയും ജനങ്ങളുടെയും ഒറ്റക്കെട്ടായ പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളിലൂടെ നിപ്പയെ പിടിച്ചുകെട്ടിയ ചരിത്രമാണ് ‘വൈറസ്’ എന്ന സിനിമയിലൂടെ ആഷിഖ് അബു രേഖപ്പെടുത്താൻ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നത്. കേരളത്തെ മുൾമുനയിൽ നിർത്തിയ രോഗത്തെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള സിനിമ റിലീസ് ചെയ്യാൻ കുറച്ചു ദിവസങ്ങൾ മാത്രം ബാക്കി നിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ അതേ രോഗം പുനരവതരിക്കുക, അതിനെ വീണ്ടും ഫലപ്രദമായി തടയുക തുടങ്ങിയ യാദൃച്ഛികതകളും ശ്രദ്ധേയമാണ്... 

പേരാമ്പ്രയിലെ ഒരു കുടുംബത്തിൽ നിന്നാരംഭിക്കുന്ന രോഗബാധ ചില ഡോക്ടർമാരിൽ സന്ദേഹം ജനിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. പക്ഷേ രോഗം തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞപ്പോഴേക്കും അത് പലരിലേക്കും പടർന്നിരുന്നു. രോഗത്തിന്റെ സംഹാരശേഷിയേക്കാൾ അതുണ്ടാക്കിയ ഭീതി സമൂഹത്തെ എങ്ങനെ നിയന്ത്രിക്കുന്നു എന്ന് ചിത്രം വിവരിക്കുന്നു. രോഗത്തിന്റെ ആവിർഭാവവും മരണവും പ്രതിരോധവും ആദ്യ പകുതി സജീവമാക്കുമ്പോൾ രണ്ടാം പകുതി രോഗത്തിന്റെ ഉറവിടം തേടി നടത്തുന്ന അന്വേഷണമാണ്. അതിനോട് ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടു കിടക്കുന്ന നിഗൂഢതകളും ചിത്രത്തിന് ത്രില്ലർ സ്വഭാവം നൽകുന്നു. 

ഒരുവശത്തു രോഗം പത്തിമടക്കുന്നതിന് സമാന്തരമായി, നിപ്പയുടെ ഉറവിടം തേടിയുള്ള യാത്ര കൊണ്ടെത്തിക്കുന്ന തിരിച്ചറിവുകളിലാണ് ചിത്രം ഉപസംഹരിക്കുന്നത്. നിപ്പയെ പ്രതിരോധിക്കുന്ന പോരാട്ടത്തിൽ സ്വന്തം ജീവൻ ത്യജിച്ച ലിനി എന്ന നഴ്സ് ചിത്രത്തിൽ അഖിലയായി തന്റെ ജീവിതം ഒരിക്കൽ കൂടി പറയാനെത്തുന്നു എന്നതും എടുത്തുപറയേണ്ട കാര്യമാണ്. 

സിനിമയും ജീവിതവും ഏതെന്നു തിരിച്ചറിയാനാകാത്ത വിധം ഇഴചേർന്നു കിടക്കുകയാണ് ചിത്രത്തിൽ. സിനിമ ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്ന ഫിക്‌ഷന്റെ സാധ്യതകൾ ഉപയോഗിക്കുമ്പോൾത്തന്നെ വസ്തുതാപരമായി അങ്ങേയറ്റം റിയലിസ്റ്റിക്കായി കഥ പറയാൻ അണിയറ പ്രവർത്തകർക്ക് സാധിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. മുഹ്സിന്‍ പരാരി, സുഹാസ്, ഷറഫു എന്നിവര്‍ ചേര്‍ന്നാണ് ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ രചന നിർവഹിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഭീതി, പോരാട്ടം, അതിജീവനം. ഇങ്ങനെയാണ് ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ കഥ പുരോഗമിക്കുന്നത്.

ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ കാസ്റ്റിങ് അഭിനന്ദനം അർഹിക്കുന്നു. എല്ലാ കഥാപാത്രങ്ങൾക്കും അർഹമായ പ്രാധാന്യം നൽകിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ ഏകനായക കേന്ദ്രീകൃതമായ സിനിമയുടെ സമവാക്യങ്ങൾ തിരുത്തിക്കുറിക്കുകയാണ് ചിത്രം. ഭൂരിഭാഗം കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളും തങ്ങളുടെ പ്രവൃത്തി കൊണ്ട് വീരോചിതമായ സ്ഥാനം അലങ്കരിക്കുന്നവരാണ്. അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ കുറച്ചുപേരുടെ പ്രകടനം മാത്രം എടുത്തുപറഞ്ഞാൽ അനീതിയാകും.

കുഞ്ചാക്കോ ബോബൻ, ടൊവീനോ തോമസ്, ആസിഫ് അലി, ഇന്ദ്രജിത്, സൗബിൻ ഷാഹിർ, ജോജു, ശ്രീനാഥ് ഭാസി, ദിലീഷ് പോത്തൻ, രേവതി, റിമ കല്ലിങ്കൽ, പാർവതി, രമ്യ നമ്പീശൻ, മഡോണ സെബാസ്റ്റ്യൻ, പൂർണിമ ഇന്ദ്രജിത് തുടങ്ങി വലിയൊരു താരനിര ചിത്രത്തിൽ അണിനിരക്കുന്നു. ഒപിഎമ്മിന്റെ ബാനറില്‍ ആഷിഖ് അബുവും റിമ കല്ലിങ്കലും ചേർന്ന് നിർമിച്ച ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ ഛായാഗ്രാഹകന്‍ രാജീവ് രവിയാണ്. സുഷിന്‍ ശ്യാം സംഗീതമൊരുക്കുന്നു. എഡിറ്റര്‍ സൈജു ശ്രീധരൻ. വസ്ത്രാലങ്കാരം സമീറ സനീഷ്.

ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ സാങ്കേതിക മേഖലയിലും മികച്ച കൂട്ടുകെട്ടിന്റെ മികവാണ് പ്രകടമാകുന്നത്. പ്രേക്ഷകരെ മുൾമുനയിൽ നിർത്തുന്ന ഫ്രെയിമുകളുമായി രാജീവ് രവിയുടെ ഛായാഗ്രഹണം വിസ്മയിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. സുഷിന്റെ പശ്ചാത്തലസംഗീതം അതിനു പിന്തുണയേകുന്നു.

പ്രളയം വന്നപ്പോൾ നാം നിപ്പയുടെ പോരാളികളെ മറന്നുപോയി. അവരെ ഓർക്കാനുള്ളൊരു സിനിമയാണിത്. നിപ്പ വന്നു ഇത്രയാളുകൾ മരിച്ചു എന്നുള്ളതല്ലാതെ എന്താണ് യഥാർഥത്തിൽ നടന്നതെന്ന് പലർക്കും അറിയില്ല. ലോകത്തൊരിടത്തും നടക്കാത്ത രീതിയിൽ എങ്ങനെയാണ് ഇതിനെ വേഗം കണ്ടു പിടിക്കാനും പ്രതിരോധിക്കാനും സാധിച്ചത്? ഒാരോരുത്തരും എന്താണ് ചെയ്തത്? അത്തരം, അറിയാത്ത ഒരുപാടു ചോദ്യങ്ങൾക്കുള്ള ഉത്തരം വൈറസ് എന്ന സിനിമ പറയും. 

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‘virus’ movie review: a perfect blend of dread and hope.

‘VIRUS ‘ is the 2019 Malayalam movie based on the first of its kind Nipah outbreak in Kerala.  Before it goes around capturing the finer details of a deadly epidemic outbreak, its roots and subsequent trauma, VIRUS , opens to the setting of a beehive-like Government Medical College hospital, having an earnest medical wing at work without any break. The thumping background music during the title sequence makes you wonder whether it’s your own heart trying to break out of your ribcage. 

Aashiq Abu is an accomplished craftsman and an auteur. Ever since his first movie, he always had a clear idea about the theme of the movie that he’s going to make. Moreover, that’s how he conceives the title songs of his movies. You can see it in the hero worship song form the son dedicated to his father in “Daddy” from Daddy Cool . Or the “Chempaav” song, spelling out the star dishes from all ends of Kerala in Salt n Pepper . Or “Chillane” song depicting virtues of being a woman from 22 Female Kottayam . Or “Enthaan Bhai” , a song about self-love and accepting who you are from Da Thadiya . I could go on. However, let’s leave that for another occasion.

Going into the movie, I was of the notion that it belonged to the survival thriller genre. But as the title credits began to roll on the backdrop of the doctors working round the clock, I felt it belonged to a medical drama genre. However, as the end credits rolled, the movie cemented its genre to be docufiction with a hyperlink narrative.

With a stellar cast, a gripping pace, and a subject matter as hard to shake as the disease that spreads through its story, VIRUS is a winner. (When your first instinct after seeing the movie is to attempt not to touch anything on your way home and not to be overly physical with anyone.) Though some cast members have more camera time than others – Poornima Indrajith and Parvathy, for instance, who were first-rate, and Kunchacko Boban, Indrajith, Asif Ali & Soubin, in meaty, satisfying roles — the film is a powerful ensemble piece in which no one hogs the spotlight. The breakout role in the movie would be Sreenath Bhasi’s, Dr Abid. I’m a stranger to the world of medicine and hospitals, having had to visit casualty only once or twice in my whole life, but I felt that with his role as a Second Year Junior Resident, Bhasi delivers his maximum. He probably had significant inputs from the house surgeons or other residents, but still, the shots of him giving CPR (probably the first time on screen I’m seeing someone giving CPR sweating), checking reflex, and reassuring patients fool your brain into thinking that he belongs in the environment. 

The screenplay, credited to Muhsin Parari, Suhas and Sharfu, is so intense and layered and there is never a dull moment. The writing sans any lag prevents the viewers from looking away as they are bombarded by new developments every minute. They focused the first half on fear and the dread, and the second half on survival and of course turns almost into an investigative procedural. The screenplay carefully knits together various characters and incidents, and despite chances of losing track at a few points, it manages to keep you engaged, partly due to the tight editing by Saiju Sreedharan. Saiju also refrains from differentiating present and past shots, which may alienate some viewers. However, that proves to be harmless during the narrative. Saiju helmed one of the most elegantly edited sequences in Kumbalangi Nights earlier this year (The sequence between Saji and Bobby explaining their family history to the Psychologist and Baby respectively), and he continues to impress. The movie is a celebration of well planned and executed L cuts, J cuts, Match cuts and Cross cuts

Rajeev Ravi’s cinematography, with additional cinematography provided by Shyju Khalid, was remarkable. Sometimes you tend to squirm in your seats when the camera gets uncomfortably close to the patients. The Red and Green lighting that was prevalent throughout the posters and on screen, and even on the Promo Song “Spread Love” really managed to elevate the scenes. The alienation these colours brought to the already tense air was phenomenal. 

Sushin Shyam is on a roll, and even when there’s no song in the movie, it speaks volume about his work when you see people wondering who made the music. Because his contribution heightens the emotions conveyed through the course of the movie. He is the one that fills you with dread with the sense of impending doom. He is the one who fills you with hope as the two surviving patients meet in the hospital corridor. 

VIRUS will take you through many emotional rollercoasters. There are no commercial elements nor any gimmicks in the movie which you might expect — however, it is a neatly crafted movie where the whole cast and crew did their jobs perfectly. This one is infectious enough to make you skip a heartbeat or evoke tears. It’s more than just a film; it’s humanity joining hands to beat a deadly disease. For me, it was the feeling the movie gave that is unexplainable.

Given the subject matter, it’s surprising how VIRUS doesn’t unfold like a hospital-based TV drama. Jargon pops up in seemingly organic and essential moments; it’s explained well, too. Emotional moments are used selectively, grounding the film in humanity without becoming maudlin (or manipulative). The subplots involving the Vaidyars and the insinuation that the whole thing might be a weaponised terrorist attack hovers dangerously close to excess but manages to pull away from the brink. VIRUS hangs together perfectly well as a movie, though sometimes it looks like a collection of ardently tense mini-dramas represented by the ensemble cast: Aashiq Abu is much less keen on showing the fear and despair of ordinary people, and the sense of loss. However, I believe that on the onset of a second Nipah outbreak, maybe the fear being downplayed might’ve been the better act. Instead, the movie educates us, assures us, and encourages us to place our faith on humanity.

Definitely worth the theatre experience.

• Mollywood celebrities
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Well explainded bro!!!!

Thank You. 🙂

Beautifully explained😀

Thank You, Shankar! 🙂

Brilliant review! Couldn’t agree more with what you said about the screenplay. It was soooo good.

I’ve actually been introduced to Malayalam movies only recently. Would love to hear some good suggestions from you.

It would also mean a lot if you checked out my review as well. https://letstalkcinema.movie.blog/2019/06/15/virus-movie-review/

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A real life account of the deadly Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, and the courageous fight put on by several individuals which helped to contain the epidemic. A real life account of the deadly Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, and the courageous fight put on by several individuals which helped to contain the epidemic. A real life account of the deadly Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, and the courageous fight put on by several individuals which helped to contain the epidemic.

• Muhsin Parari
• Parvathy Thiruvothu
• Tovino Thomas
• Joju George
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• Trivia Based on real events happened in Kerala during May and June of 2018 which claimed 17 lives.
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• Jun 18, 2019
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VIRUS MOVIE REVIEW CLICK TO RATE THE MOVIE

Director Aashiq Abu's Virus is a medical thriller that sprawls across faiths, relationships and binds them under the roof of a life-threatening catastrophe. The film tries to create a sense of immediacy from the title card itself, which is designed like a pounding piece of flesh in the midst of green hues and lifeline graphs. The process of creating a tone and tenor is evident in every scene of the film. 

The film opens with moments from the characters' own personal struggles. We have a young doctor Abid (played by Sreenath Bhasi) whose relationship with a woman turns sour. The film also throws light on the plight of a contractual labourer in a hospital whose dues are pending for months. The rush of a dingy hospital is portrayed and staged with so much detail, which makes the maddening atmosphere more immersive. Even the medical terms are seldom spoon-fed. Such is the filmmaker's conviction. The film revolves around the 2018 Nipah virus outbreak and how it's contained by a committed group of individuals, ranging from a state minister to an unorganized worker.

The first half has a fast-paced rhythm as we see the narrative where the characters slowly fight back from the life-threatening calamity. The film excels at creating a race against time type of situation through a lot of intertwined plotlines and emotional arcs that makes you empathize with the proceedings. Music director Sushin Shyam's stomach-churning background score subtly announces that there is still danger around the corner. The score substitutes as a devilish roar of that microscopic creature. The first half effectively demonizes the outbreak through an amalgamation of visual and aural storytelling.

But the biggest setback of Virus is that the second half is ridden with the introduction of more characters and plot points. The narrative becomes a procedural that demands undivided attention as seemingly throwaway lines can be a major plot point. The film ties a lot of loose ends in the second half, not by throwing some fleeting surprises, but through free-flowing, organic moments of clarity. Kudos to the filmmaker for treating such a sensitive issue without glamorizing the heroic nature of its characters. Every emotion is underplayed, but the impact isn't.

The ensemble cast's acting has uplifted the film consistently without being aided by tone-deaf score and editing in order to oversell the performances. Virus has excelled in mood creation. We witness the unpopulated aerial view of exteriors and on the other side, you see starkly lit, crowded interiors that carries a constant air of dread. The strong use of primary colours (red and green) don't merely exist as flashy visual touches, but it perfectly conveys the space of an infected ward. The segue and transition from one scene to another is flawlessly executed (the film is edited by Saiju Sreedharan).

With Virus, Aashiq Abu cements his top form as a filmmaker. Overall, Virus is a straightforward, detailed and uncompromising retelling of an unbelievable story of humanity.

BEHINDWOODS REVIEW BOARD RATING

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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      

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கொரோனா வந்தா எப்படி இருக்கும்?... மீண்டு வந்த பிரபல நடிகர் கொடுத்த அதிர்ச்சி பேட்டி...!

பிரபல நடிகைக்கு கொரோனா உறுதி.... "இதுவரை எந்த அறிகுறியும் இல்லை, ஆனால் இப்போது"...கண்ணீர் பதிவு...!

Bollywood's King Khan teams up with Aashiq Abu for his next?

Virus related news stories.

• கொரோனா வந்தா எப்படி இருக்கும் பிரபல நடிகர் அதிர்ச்சி பேட்டி How will corona feel popular actor gives interview after curing
• பிரபல நடிகைக்கு கொரோனா உறுதி புகைப்படத்துடன் உருக்கமான பதிவு Popular Actress Shares An Emotional Notes On Corona Virus Symptoms stting it has
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Virus movie review: Aashiq Abu's ingeniously clinical-yet-emotional ode to Kerala's successful Nipah battle

Aashiq Abu has been at the forefront of the new parallel cinema movement that has blossomed in Mollywood in the past decade, but Virus is a whole new level of achievement.

Language: Malayalam   

The last time Aashiq Abu released a film, it left in its wake a beautiful pain that is yet to subside and a heartache that may never go away. One and half years after Mayaanadhi came to theatres, Abu is out with his next. Virus is a medical thriller cum medical/government/bureaucratic procedural featuring a constellation of some of Malayalam cinema’s biggest stars coming together to recount the successful containment of the dreaded Nipah virus in Kerala last year.

It is a measure of the high esteem in which Abu is held in the Malayalam film industry that he was able to gather so many stars for a single project though each one gets limited screen time, no character in particular is projected as a protagonist and though the star-studded ensemble film is not common in Mollywood.

Virus firms up the director’s reputation for prioritising theme over stars, by not being a Garry Marshall-style, Valentine’s Day -type venture in which the casting was a gimmick and the result an unremarkable game of spot-the-famous-face. Here in Virus, Abu’s deployment of these big-screen luminaries guarantees memorability for each character. It also serves to underline the points that in the giant battle against Nipah even the seemingly smallest player’s actions could have meant the difference between life and death, no cog in the wheel was/is minor, and the state’s quietly diligent politicians, bureaucrats, healthcare professionals, ordinary citizens and all others involved are/were superstars no less than the glitzy artistes playing fictionalised versions of them in this film.

The investment in casting then is a tribute to these real-life heroines and heroes including Nipah’s victims, many of whom contracted the disease through an act of kindness.

The closest companion to Virus I can think of among the films I have watched is Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion (2011) starring Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne and several other Western cinema heavyweights, and set in the midst of a worldwide epidemic. The underlying socio-political themes in Contagion were very different though. Besides, that film was fictional and dealt in hypotheticals, Virus actually happened. Just recently. In our own country. And we have failed to recognise how those of us living just a couple of state borders away from Kerala came within a whisper of being affected by what could have ended up being a nationwide tragedy.

Virus takes us through those tension-ridden days in the summer of 2018 when the deadly Nipah surfaced in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. As the potentially fatal infection begins to spread, the state’s health minister (Kerala’s KK Shailaja, named CK Prameela here and played by Revathy) gathers a team of officials, medicos and volunteers to investigate its origins and stem its spread.

With clinical efficiency reflective of the methodical manner in which disease control must perforce be conducted if it is to be effective, Virus goes about its business of painstakingly chronicling their painstaking work. The wonderment of seeing so many big names in successive frames and often together wears off within minutes, as it becomes clear that there is nothing flashy about this film and that its story is supreme.

The news media has reported that Kerala earned kudos from domestic and international quarters for its handling of Nipah last year . What Virus does is inspire a sense of awe at the realisation of how much must have gone on behind the scenes and how much else could have gone wrong if any individual in the entire exercise had set one toe wrong.

In some senses it plays out like a suspense drama, although we know that the outbreak did not ultimately turn into an epidemic. The tenterhooks emanate from a question, investigated meticulously by Parvathy’s character - how did the first victim in this episode get infected? - and because of the pushes and pulls between the state and Central governments in Abu’s take on what transpired away from the media spotlight.

(Minor spoiler alert for this paragraph)

Virus is particularly intriguing because of what it states and implies about the Centre-state tussle. What were the sources from whom the film’s writers got their information? If this account is indeed accurate or even if creative licence is at work here then, among other things, Virus is a chilling reminder of the pandemic of prejudice spreading across today’s world, as lethal perhaps as any known microbe.

(Spoiler alert ends)

With its multi-strand, non-linear narrative style, hyperlinking back and forth from one thread to another then back to an earlier one, the director — aided by Muhsin Parari, Sharfu and Suhas’ say-it-like-it-is, no-frills-attached writing and Saiju Sreedharan’s masterful editing — has the film trotting along at an unrelenting yet simultaneously miraculously unrushed pace.

Abu does not resort to artificial highlights to stress the urgency of the job at hand but does not in any way underplay it either. It is what it is - the viewer is not so stupid as to need a loud background score, drumrolls and dramatic camera movements to recognise an emergency. Sushin Shyam’s minimal music, for one, is used sparingly and, as a consequence, to striking effect. Rajeev Ravi’s cinematography supplemented by Shyju Khalid captures in no-nonsense documentary style the goings-on in Virus. With such extraordinary collaborators at hand, Abu manages to infuse the film with a sedateness that mirrors the calm Prameela/Shailaja and her associates seek to instil in the fearful populace.

A word here about the subtitling by Rajeev Ramachandran. Most subtitled Indian films treat subs merely as translations for the benefit of those who do not know the language in which the film has been made. Virus heads down a path that some outside India have already taken, by caring about the hearing impaired too. There is little awareness in India about this, which is why you often see even well-meaning people grumbling about how subs are distracting (for instance, “why does an English film need English subtitles?”) - I confess I had not given this matter much thought until one of my students lost her hearing a few years back and I was compelled to think in this direction. The couple of spelling mistakes in Virus’ subs and repeated use of the ungrammatical “tensed” (it should be “I am tense”, please) feel minor in comparison with its consideration towards a largely neglected community. So if you find yourself getting irritated because Virus’ subtitles describe ambient sounds, the tone of the background music and so on in addition to explaining dialogues, do keep this in mind.

Virus’ dissection of Kerala’s response to Nipah in 2018 offers an ocean of insights into the interconnectedness of our species with the entire animal kingdom, how crisis can bring out the best and worst in human beings, how trigger-happy governments could turn even a health issue into a communal conflagration, how humankind is forever teetering on the edge of inhumanity and held back by the best among us, and much more. What would have made it complete would have been an examination of human interference with nature that is triggering calamities earlier rare or unheard of.

The film is determined not to villainise scared citizens, but it does not pedestalise anyone either. Parvathy’s Dr Annu, for instance, is admirable for her beaver-like diligence but in a scene in which she interrogates a man who may be dying, we see her dedication to her job overriding - perhaps unintentionally - the need for extreme gentleness in such circumstances.

In CK Prameela and Kozhikode Collector Paul Abraham (Tovino Thomas) we see a lesson in how great leadership is about constantly putting out small fires. And through the Manipal Institute of Virology’s Dr Suresh Rajan (Kunchacko Boban) we are forced to also see that preparing yourself for the worst while hoping for the best does not necessarily mean you are a bad person or even a cynic, it could be that you are simply realistic.

Wittingly or unwittingly, especially while linking the stories of the policeman Prakash (Dileesh Pothan) and the no-hoper Unnikrishnan (Soubin Shahir), Virus also throws light on what Hindi bhaashis call a chalta-hai (casual) attitude in Indian society and systems that begs for disasters to happen.

Aashiq Abu has been at the forefront of the new parallel cinema movement that has blossomed in Mollywood in the past decade, but Virus  — which he has co-produced with Rima Kallingal — is a whole new level of achievement. In an India of thin skins and combustible sensitivities, it is also courageous in the way it risks something that most of this country’s quality filmmakers avoid: it recounts recent history. This is a minutely observant, unobtrusively educative and moving ode to unsung stars, the triumph of the team and the strength of the human spirit .

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Virus (2019) Malayalam Movie Review – Veeyen

‘Virus’ is an effectual ensemble piece that marvellously bonds together the pieces of a jigsaw, thereby rendering complete, a story of how fortitude eventually stamps over irrepressible fear. Emotionally pervasive and unnervingly real, It is also the kind of film that makes you go for a few extra dabs of your hand sanitizer, as you get all set to key down a review.

A screeching stretcher rams ahead on the screen as the patient on it – Akhila (Rima Kallingal) – visibly in severe trauma and apparently delirious, continually insists that she has tested negative for dengue fever, and that something else is severely wrong with her. The duty doctor Abid Rehman (Sreenath Bhasi) holds her hand and assures her that they will take care of her, and she is ushered away into the throngs of the casualty crowd, to be provided further medical attention. And in the darkness of the cinema hall, from some corner, a man lets out a short, garish cough.

The hypochondriac in you stands in rapt attention, and you can’t but turn your head towards the direction of the noise, that had by now, relapsed into silence. You scurry back an year, when friends from Calicut, darted messages across as to how in the course of a few days, a vibrant city had turned desolate, the multitudes that had swarmed its streets having retreated to the sheltered confines of their homes, even as reports of a killer virus that none had heard of till then, made it to the news headlines.

Aashiq Abu’s ‘Virus’ is indisputably a personal experience for any average Malayali who had been through the fright, the indecisiveness, the qualms, the terror and the eventual respite that a micro organism unleashed on a massive population that struggled to find its feet on track, and yet, which valiantly fought back with a fervour that the rest of the world watched in astonishment. It’s a throwback, and a befitting one at that, to troubled times that ebbed away under human resilience, leaving behind a spectacular tale of survival that will be discussed for ages to come.

In many ways, ‘Virus’ is a testament as to how an epidemic wreaks havoc on a populace, with panic consistently threatening to replace logic, with basic sense dangerously giving way to imminent, intimidating chaos and the heart eventually edging its way into the head. It is here that a group of resolute men and women join hands, where bureaucracy leans over to lend an arm to science, where human grit prevails, persists and ultimately wins.

‘Virus’ is non-chronological in its narrative, and in-keeps its account with the tracks forward and backward in time, traversed by the real life heroes that make up its tale. With Dr. Rahim (Rahman) making the cautious announcement that we might actually be face to face with the dreaded Nipah virus, a dedicated team of medical professionals spring to action, unwavering in their endeavor to keep the disease from spreading any further. The health minister Pramila (Revathy), the district collector Paul Abraham (Tovino Thomas), Dr Suresh Rajan (Kunchacko Boban) and Dr. Smrithi (Poornima Indrajith) set up teams for parallel missions, that would track down the virus to its possible source, and one among them in particular led by a staunchly determined Dr. Anu (Parvathy Thiruvoth) comes up with reliable estimates of possible transmissions from the index patient and the ones that have been subsequently infected.

The social consequences of an outbreak as this cannot be ignored in any cinematic adaptation, and it becomes even more pertinent, through the portrayal of Babu (Joju George), an attendant at the government hospital, who readily agrees to offer his services despite the immense risks involved, on the promise of being made a permanent employee, along with scores of other daily wagers like him. Back home, his wife (Remya Nameeshan) and two kids are shunned due to suspicions of Babu being infected, and as the virus finally gives in, we get to see Babu buying a new backpack for his son, that would replace the older one that is totally in tatters. A year later, when one hears of the plight of the temporary staff at Calicut Medical College, ‘Virus’ should also serve as a reminder to assurances that have been made, but are yet to be realized.

In another subtle, yet poignant prompt as to how thankless the community often is, to the nursing profession, and how unappreciated their services are, we get to see Akhila talking over the phone to her husband in the Gulf. Her conversation is cut short by an infuriated remark from a bystander at the ward, and she rushes back to tend to Zachariah (Zakariya Mohammed), who is severely ill. Having contracted the disease from him, Akhila soon passes away, and her distraught husband Sandeep (Sharafudeen) dismally stands by, watching the fumes make their way up towards the sky through the furnace at the crematorium.

‘Virus’ is a tormenting experience that is sickeningly realistic as well, despite the dramatic elements that have been added all along to make it cinematically appealing. It is here that the film delves into individual story lines, albeit briefly, to take a look at a few stories that hold significance. It is here that we get to see Zachariah and his journeys deep into the forest,  Unnikrishnan (Soubin Shahir) and his reckless ways, Vishnu (Asif Ali) and Anjali (Darshana Rajendran) and the secrets that lie buried within the folds of their relationship, the audacious doctor Baburaj (Indrajith) who is cross at not being able to light a smoke with the protective gear on him, Yahiya (Shebin Benson), his mother Jameela (Savithri Sreedharan) and what has been left behind in their shattered lives, Dr. Sarah Yakub (Madonna Sebastian) and her journey back to a life that had seemed not so long back, to be slipping away rapidly through her fingers and a police officer (Dileesh Pothen)who staunchly believes that his end is frightfully near.

To Aashiq Abu, this film must surely have been a litmus test; one that would stretch his experience several notches further into realms that have not been explored in Malayalam cinema as yet. This is a monumental film in that it sports a colossal cast, and teems with characters occupying distinctive positions on the plot build. Writers Muhsin Parari (who had bowled us over last year with the incredible ‘Sudani from Nigeria’), Sharfu and Suhas  brings in a chill – the unnerving kind that stealthily burrows itself deep beneath your skin – into the writing, that evenly spreads over, making you watchfully gaze over time and again to check if the air conditioning is all right.

There are of course the minor quibbles that could probably be overlooked in the larger scheme of things, but which nevertheless exist. About fifteen minutes into the film, with the tension gently building up, in perhaps what seems like an overenthusiastic attempt to visually capture the horror of the event that prevails, the film flashes a few scenes with text messages writ large that suddenly appear out of sync with the rest of the piece. There are also occasions when the fiction shows signs of spilling over, as in the scene where you get to see Vishnu sharing a bed with Anjali in the hospital, the very awkward query that Dr. Anu poses to Unnikrishnan or the feeble love track that connects Abid and Sarah together. The final speech by the minister herself sounds like one that deserved some better writing, and while it appears adequate, fails to raise the anticipated goose bumps.

The cast of ‘Virus’ is one that does total justice to its roles, and the film has been deftly caught on camera by Rajeev Ravi and Shyju Khalid, with an incredible background score by Sushin Shyam that retains the terror of the times.

As the petrifying images and incidents mount up over time, you cannot but end up thinking of the isolation wards that have been set up, not many kilometres away from the cinema hall, as news of the virus having made a fresh appearance streaks in. ‘Virus’ is an effectual ensemble piece that marvellously bonds together the pieces of a jigsaw, thereby rendering complete, a story of how fortitude eventually stamps over irrepressible fear. Emotionally pervasive and unnervingly real, It is also the kind of film that makes you go for a few extra dabs of your hand sanitizer, as you get all set to key down a review.

Verdict: Good

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‘Virus’ Movie Review: This Medical Thriller Shouldn’t Be Missed

How do you turn a rare, fatal virus outbreak that killed people and kept a state and its government on tenterhooks for weeks into a compelling script and film? With Virus , possibly Malayalam cinema ’s first big-budget medical thriller, director Aashiq Abu has figured out the answer. You do your research, etch out characters that you feel like you’ve met, convince a bunch of really talented actors to work with you and make a film that almost allows the reader to travel back in time to experience the tragedy and triumph Kerala experienced in 2018 during the first Nipah virus outbreak.

From its opening shot, an aerial view of Kozhikode, cinematographer Rajeev Ravi makes you feel that there is no filter between the human eye and his camera. When he takes us through the government hospital’s casualty wards, bustling with patients, nurses, doctors and anxious bystanders, it’s as if you’re actually in there with them, taking in the familiar, gloomy sights, smells and sounds of a hospital.

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The characters stride in just as rapidly and undramatically, while the film latches on to their stories, going back and forth while maintaining the thrill and suspense. Abin (Sreenath Bhasi), a young doctor in love with medical student Sara (Madonna Sebastian)—their love story seems to have run into trouble and even in the middle of the rush of patients, it’s clear half his mind is on her. A young couple (Asif Ali and Darshana Rajendran) battling financial problems, who get a moving scene where the man’s insecurity and complexes are underlined. Unnikrishnan (Soubin Shahir, heartbreakingly good) who is dealing with personal demons at home, gets involved in counterfeit money deals and seems to be hallucinating about his mother as he lies under an oxygen mask. A hospital worker (Joju George), also the local union leader, who decides to join as a volunteer to help just so that his position is made permanent. A doctor (Indrajith, brilliant) who is summoned for the mission despite his dubious reputation. A lower middle-class Muslim family from where the virus gets transmitted first to their eldest son and then the father. Virus makes all these characters come alive.

The Nipah virus outbreak scenes—patients being admitted with high fever, vomiting and tremors, followed by the initial fear and confusion—and the possibility of a new epidemic and diagnosis, the involvement of the state government and health sector are flawlessly crafted.

The writing is thoroughly researched and more importantly, the medical jargon has been broken down well for the layperson.

Though Aashiq Abu has tried to keep the narrative without frills, there is a deliberate drama that accompanies some of the character introductions. Like Rahman’s Dr Salim, who is the first to suggest the possibility of the Nipah virus, Kunchako Boban’s Dr Suresh Rajan, who is the pragmatic medical brain behind the entire operation, or Indrajith’s Dr Baburaj, who is defiant but does his job well.

The most emotional storyline, however, is that of Rima Kallingal, who inhabits the role of nurse Akhila (based on Nurse Lini , who died after contracting the infection). Even her entry shakes you up—feverish, panting for breath and even then, warning the doctors of contagion and worrying about her daughter.

The state government is well represented, especially Health Minister KK Shailaja, played by Revathy, who looks uncannily like her. Having said that, her role for the most part is that of a gentle spectator, though they allow her a long climactic speech which unfortunately turns out to the only sore moment of the film (possibly because of the dubbing, which sounds unnatural).

Parvathy , as always, is efficient as the dedicated medical research officer who is instrumental in changing the narrative around the virus with her findings. In her comeback role, Poornima Indrajith is measured as Dr Smriti, Chief Health Officer. Tovino Thomas’s district collector role also feels like a departure from the usual celluloid representations. He brings a sensitivity to his scenes, noticeable especially when he sits for a chat with ambulance drivers for chat, masking his anxiety. No actor phones in their performance—they all just slip into their roles.

This is a triumph of a movie, and what makes it even more poignant is watching it while remembering that the state is once again dealing with fears of a similar outbreak .

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Home » Movies » Virus »

• 7.9 OTTplay Rating
• 2 Hr 32 Min

A Malayalam medical thriller film based on the 2018 Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala. The film narrativises the series of events that led to the outbreak from patient zero to the final containment of the epidemic. It accurately potrayes the fear, pain and loss of a deadly disease whilst simulatenously capturing the government's proactive efforts to identify and contain the virus before it spreads far and wide. Written by Muhsin Parari and Suhas-Sharfu and directed by Aashiq Abu, Virus features an ensemble cast of Kunchacko Boban, Indrajith Sukumaran, Asif Ali, Tovino Thomas, Revathi, Parvathy Thiruvothu and Poornima Indrajith, alongside Rahman, Rima Kallingal, Sharaf U Dheen, Zakariya Mohammed, Indrans, Sreenath Bhasi, Joju George, Dileesh Pothan, Madonna Sebastian, Remya Nambeeshan, Basil Joseph, Soubin Shahir, Darshana Rajendran and Lukman Avaran.  The film's pace and intensity coupled with its humanity-in-adversity theme earned it much praise including the honour featuring in The Hindu's top 25 Malayalam films of the decade. It was among the highest-grossing Malayalam films of 2019 and earned accolades such as CPC Cine Awards, Vanitha Film Awards and Asianet Film Awards. Rajeev Ravi handled the cinematography of the film primarily shot in Government Medical College, Kozhikode and Government Homoeopathic Medical College, Kozhikode and Sushin Shyam composed the film's soundtrack and promotional song 'Spread Love'.

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'Thalavan': A well-crafted investigative thriller with strong performances from Biju Menon, Asif Ali | Movie Review

'Thalavan', directed by Jis Joy and starring Biju Menon and Asif Ali delivers an entertaining investigative thriller. Recently, Malayalam cinema has seen an influx of police-themed movies, raising the question of what 'Thalavan' has to offer. Biju Menon's last release, 'Thundu', another police movie, received a lukewarm response at the box office, so audiences were curious about 'Thalavan'. This film is well-crafted and contains enough substance to be considered a solid investigative story.

The story revolves around two police officers, Jayashankar (Biju Menon) and Karthik (Asif Ali), and how one becomes a suspect in a murder case. While the movie may not be excessively gripping, it certainly manages to capture your attention. From the outset, the film dives into the investigative phase, immediately hooking you to the story. There is also an ongoing ego clash between the two officers, though this subplot doesn't significantly impact the main story.

The movie is commendable for avoiding excessive drama and maintaining a consistent tone throughout. Initially, the ego clashes between Asif Ali and Biju Menon might seem cliched, making it seem like Asif Ali is sticking to playing hot-headed characters. However, his character's temperament serves a meaningful purpose in the story. Biju Menon stands out with his strong and convincing performance, his natural demeanour enhancing his performance. It has now become quite evident that Biju Menon excels in police roles.

In addition to Biju Menon and Asif Ali, the film features actors such as Dileesh Pothan, Miya George, Anusree, Kottayam Nazeer, and more. The story provides a natural progression to the investigation without providing any "aha" moments. If you're expecting thrilling scenes, the movie doesn't quite deliver that. The writers also refrain from giving too much information for the audience to speculate about the killer's identity. Writers Anand Thevarkkat and Sarath Perumbavoor have crafted the script skillfully. The climax sequence is tidy, though it feels like the antagonist lacks significant character development. The movie follows familiar patterns, such as the placement of decoy killers throughout, a common trope in investigative thrillers. However, the film's ending is quite interesting.

While watching 'Thalavan,' you may be reminded of other investigative thrillers like 'Garudan' or 'Anweshippin Kandethum,' but the film carefully distinguishes itself from these similarities. Asif Ali's role is more substantial than Biju Menon's, and their scenes together are impressive. Despite the tension between their characters, they play it genuinely, avoiding overdramatization. The film is worth watching for anyone who enjoys engaging in police investigation thrillers. It promises an enjoyable viewing experience for all.

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'Thalavan' movie review: An investigative thriller that keeps viewers guessing

With Biju Menon and Asif Ali in cop roles, the film is like untangling tight knots

With Biju Menon and Asif Ali in cop roles, this investigative thriller is like untangling the tight knots surrounding a murder and the loopholes within.  And the duo have managed to pull off the roles of the "men in uniform" pretty convincingly.

Biju Menon was last seen in a police drama when he essayed the role of a constable in the comedy-drama ‘Thundu.’ This time, he is a Circle Inspector who is no pushover, a serious officer with little time for enjoyment. The occasional build-up to his character, Jayashankar, with an acrimonious approach holds central to the plot.  

Sub Inspector Karthik Vasudevan (Asif Ali) who is an idealistic cop, throws himself into some bitter rifts with Jayashankar. The character differences established through the narrative, make the audience believe this might be yet another battle for power between the two cops. But the story builds to a different angle as the plot develops. 

The thread of the story can get confusing in several instances, with numerous character involvements and past events, but clarity is later established in the plot as the mystery unfolds. The first half of the story is an introduction to the life of the two cops and the occasional rifts that they encounter with each other. Even though a lot of dots are left disjointed in the first half, the plot swiftly travels through the frames of past and present to connect the links of several characters to the missing puzzle in the story. 

The role of female characters is also notable with Anusree playing the character of Remya and Miya George as the wife of Jayashankar. 

Just like other cop films in the Malayalam cinema, this movie also brings to light the question of power and the limitations of working under the superior police officers. The background of the film slowly attains a grimness towards the second half with an eerie environment, to accelerate the mystery attached to the story. The occasional involvement of dim lights in the background towards the end, makes it quite baffling. 

Overall, the story is less predictable making it a decent investigative thriller. The story can also be considered as an example of whodunnit, where the identity of the murderer is revealed not until the story reaches the end. 

Movie: Thalavan

Cast: Biju Menon, Asif Ali, Miya George, Anusree, Dileesh Pothan, Jaffar Idukki, Kottayam Nazeer

Director: Jis Joy

Rating: 3/5

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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.