Movie Name : Rekhachithram
Release Date : March 07, 2025
123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5
Starring : Asif Ali, Mammootty (AI), Anaswara Rajan, Manoj K Jayan, Zarin Shihab, Siddique, and others
Director : Jofin T Chacko
Producers : Venu Kunnappilly
Music Director : Mujeeb Majeed
Cinematographer : Appu Prabhakar
Editors : Shameer Muhammad
Related Links : Trailer
Rekhachithram is the latest Malayalam murder mystery thriller that premiered in multiple languages on the Sony LIV OTT platform. Starring Mollywood actors Asif Ali, Anaswara Rajan, Manoj K Jayan, and the legendary Mammootty in an AI-generated cameo, the film was released in cinemas across Kerala during the Pongal festive season and ended up grossing over Rs 50 crores at the box office. Check out our review to know how this much-talked-about thriller fared.
Story:
Vivek (Asif Ali), a Kerala police officer who was suspended for his betting activities, is reinstated to investigate an old case of a young woman’s murder. The murder is brought to light following a Facebook Live video of an old man named Rajendran (Siddique), who confesses to the killing of the young woman named Rekha (Anaswara Rajan) with the help of Vincent (Manoj K. Jayan) and two others while shooting for Mammootty’s iconic Kathodu Kathoram in 1985. Will Vivek solve the case that took place almost 40 years ago? Watch the movie on Sony LIV to know more.
Plus Points:
How can a flawed police officer solve a 40-year-old case? The Malayalam writers and directors have effortlessly mastered the art of crafting engrossing slow-burn thrillers. Rekhachithram joins this special league, with a riveting murder mystery and nuanced performances by the lead cast at the core. Director Jofin T Chacko skillfully incorporates some crucial twists and turns as he unravels the mystery.
Asif Ali, as usual, comes up with a restrained yet solid performance. He seamlessly displays perseverance and grit as he digs deeper into a 40-year-old murder case with very few clues as his ammunition. Young actress Anaswara Rajan as Rekha, an aspiring actor and a die-hard fan of Mollywood legend Mammootty, brings in a sense of emotional depth to the proceedings with her impressive act.
The director, through Anaswara’s character, offers a few glimpses of the glorious period of Malayalam cinema, where stars are worshipped and cinema is celebrated by the masses, and pays tribute to the Malayalam movie industry. Watch out for an AI-generated cameo by the Mollywood stalwart Mammootty during the making of Kathodu Kathoram, while several key scenes involving the murder take place parallelly on the movie’s set.
Minus Points:
While the positives are aplenty, Rekhachithram does have its share of negatives. Just like most Malayalam thrillers, the pacing of Rekhachithram is a tad bit slow, and the movie may not be enjoyed by those who prefer fast-paced thrillers. The movie’s efforts to bring out nostalgia through novel storytelling are marred by the slow-paced narrative to an extent.
Technical Aspects:
The screenplay of Rekhachithram, penned by John Manthrikal and Ramu Sunil, is fresh and never-before-seen in Indian cinema. Apart from Ramu Sunil’s innovative story that blurs the lines between the past and present, the film scores highly on its technical brilliance.
Cinematographer Appu Prabhakar’s visuals splendidly capture the stark contrast of nostalgia and the present. Editor Shameer Muhammed manages to maintain drama and rhythm as he cuts through the period and present timelines. Music by Mujeeb Majeed heightens the mystery in several crucial scenes and perfectly aids the storytelling.
Verdict:
Rekhachithram is a neatly crafted whodunnit that engages with an impressive storyline that transcends through the 80s and present in the backdrop of a vintage movie’s shoot. The very idea of solving a murder case that takes place on an erstwhile cult movie’s set is quite impressive. In addition, the film is packed with solid performances, twists, and technical brilliance. However, the slow-paced narrative might act as a hindrance to a section of audiences from enjoying the true experience the film sets out to offer.
123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team