Shaji Kailas, the director, is re-emphasizing the lively scenes and signing his own name. Shaji Kailas and Prithviraj Sukumaran, who made it to the top collection chart this year with ‘Kaduwa’, are shocking the audience again with Kapaa at the end of the year. Kapha, prepared with an emphasis on emotions, is like a slow burning fire. Kappa’s backbone is a double strong story.
In one word Kappa can be described as a clean and tidy action movie. Shaji Kailas Kappa has made a Mass Masala-Gangster movie without touching any of the thakikoot formulas seen in Malayalam recently. The screenplay is the backbone of the film, not the mass gimmicks. Kappa, which starts with a melodious rhythm, has a decent first half and a thunderous second half. Shaji Kailas is rewriting the usual cinematography in the last half hour by reversing the storyline in a way that the audience never expected.
The ‘Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act’ or ‘Kappa’ law was passed by the police to end the gang violence in Kerala. Kappa also tells the story of the never-ending feud of quotation gangs that once ran rampant in the city of Thiruvananthapuram. Kappa is the story of Kota Madhu, who had to become a Quotation leader after he summoned a girl named Pramila and brought her into his life. The man who comes to Thiruvananthapuram after marrying the sister of the man who had to die at the hands of Kota Madhu is not exactly aware of his wife’s past. The story begins with a young man realizing that his family has been trapped by a fictional Quotation Gang created by an evening newspaperman.
Asif Ali, Aparna Balamurali, Anna Benn, Dileesh Pothan and Minon provide strong supporting roles while Prithviraj fills the screen playing Kota Madhu in two get-ups, young and middle-aged. Kota Madhu’s forehead has the black spot seen on the forehead of any Thiruvananthapuram resident who passes in front of Pazhavangadi Ganapati Temple. Not the young Kota Madhu who went to slash and stab in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, but the middle-aged Kota Madhu. He who opens the account book of the mistakes made and looks at the addition and subtraction. Caring for the family including wife and child. Kota Madhu is trying and failing to rewrite his life behind a white double-pocketed shirt and a black shirt. Prithviraj’s sharp performance and hand in the action scenes complements Kotta Madhu. Kappa is a completely different character in Jagadish’s career.
2022 is the year that marked the growth of Asif Ali as an actor. Not the numbers of wins and losses. This is the year when Asif Ali proved that he is an actor who has matured to play great roles. Strong acting in films like Keut Vum Shiksha, Kooman and Koth. Asif Ali is adding a touch of spice to these performances with Kappa, which was released at the end of the year.
GR is a writer who has created his own place in Malayalam literature. Indugopan. Indugopan possesses a rare style of storytelling that keeps the readers on edge but without compromising on literary values. Shaji Kailas has adapted Indu Gopan’s short novel Shankhumukhi to the silver screen. Indu Gopan has also scripted the film.
Kappa’s is not that Thiruvananthapuram dialect which is regularly stretched and distorted in films with the aim of making the audience laugh. The story is told in the vernacular spoken by common people of Thiruvananthapuram. Indugopan Kappa has adopted the storytelling method of interweaving muruki and matikatti like a folk tale. Cinematographer Jomon T. John, who has gifted the Malayalis with beautiful scenes, gives excellent support to Shaji Kailas. Cappa’s storytelling is strengthened by the never-ending background music.
The goodness behind the movie Kappa has already been discussed. Many writers who thrilled the Malayalees in the past are now destitute. FEFCA Writers’ Union Kappa, a group of filmmakers, has decided to make the life of those writers who hope to take their lives forward if they get at least five thousand rupees a month. The OTT rights of the film are owned by Netflix.