Kolla Review: Two Women, One Heist, and 26 Kilos of Gold

‘Kolla’ is a Malayalam crime thriller that premiered in theaters on June 9, 2023. Directed by Sooraj Varma, the film stars Rajisha Vijayan and Priya Prakash Varrier in the lead roles. Blending crime, drama, and suspense, the film quickly gained popularity upon release and is now available for streaming on ETV Win. The gripping performances of Rajisha (as Annie) and Priya (as Shilpa), along with compelling storytelling, form the backbone of the film.

In the narrative, Annie (played by Rajisha Vijayan) aspires to create a stable and secure future for herself and Shilpa (portrayed by Priya Prakash Varrier).To achieve this, the duo devises a daring plan to rob gold from bank lockers. They rent a shutter next to a bank in a rural village under the guise of opening a beauty parlour. From this location, they manage to steal 26 kilograms of gold with the help of Stephen, a trusted accomplice. Shilpa continues to live in the village as if nothing happened, while Stephen hides the stolen gold in an abandoned house in his own village to avoid suspicion.

Soon, police officer Farooq begins investigating the case. As he follows leads from various directions, the tension builds around whether Annie and Shilpa can stay under the radar. What steps do they take to avoid arrest? How do they handle the mounting pressure? These questions drive the core of the narrative.

The film’s central theme revolves around the two women doing everything in their power to avoid being caught and to keep the stolen gold safe. With only a handful of main characters and a modest budget, Kolla presents an engaging and realistic storyline. While many films have explored bank heists before, Kolla stands out by portraying thieves who are determined not to let the police recover the stolen loot—no matter what—even if they themselves are captured.