Mura Movie Review

Muhammed Musthafa's sophomore film Mura revolves around a familiar premise: a group of young men entering the world of organized crime, only to discover they are merely pawns in a much larger scheme, eventually finding themselves in a dangerous, life-threatening situation. The plot is standard for a gangster film, but several elements work in the film’s favor, including Musthafa's gritty direction, raw, intense action sequences, and strong performances from the lead actors. Among the group of boys, Hridhu Haroon stands out as the "hero" figure, making all the major decisions. However, aside from this leadership, he is not portrayed as being significantly different from the others, which helps prevent the film from falling into the trap of typical "hero-centric" storytelling. While these choices feel fresh, one can’t help but wish that the film had ventured beyond the usual gangster tropes like greed, betrayal, and the rise-and-fall narrative.

The movie is edited efficiently, running for just under 130 minutes, keeping the pace quick for most of its duration. However, in the final act, it starts to falter as the screenplay, penned by Suresh Babu, fails to introduce new ideas, making the narrative feel overly predictable. Mura follows the story of Ani (played by Suraj Venjaramoodu), a gang leader working for a businesswoman named Rema (played by Maala Parvathi). Ani and his crew are involved in "quotation" crimes when they encounter a group of boys: Anandhu (Hridhu Haroon), Saji (Jobin Das), Manaf (Anujith Kannan), and Manu (Yedhu Krishnan). These boys quickly earn Ani's trust with their loyalty and exceptional fighting skills. Things take a dramatic turn when Ani hires them for a serious job, triggering a series of drastic events.

The best aspect of Mura is its action, with the four lead actors performing their stunts excellently. Initially, these fight scenes come across as thrilling, but they are also meant to be unsettling. Cinematographer Fazil Nazer and action choreographer PC Stunts deserve recognition for crafting fight sequences that are not typically seen in mainstream Malayalam cinema. The stunts are chaotic, frantic, and raw, featuring failed punches and characters stumbling over each other, creating an intense atmosphere. The film's strength also lies in its cast, especially the performances of the lead actors, many of whom are newcomers bringing a burst of raw energy to their roles. Hridhu Haroon, in particular, impresses in both the action scenes and the emotional moments. Suraj Venjaramoodu, as the seasoned gangster Ani, delivers his usual reliable performance, conveying authority without explicitly revealing his character’s true emotions. Maala Parvathi, usually seen in roles as a hero's mother or doctor, takes on a refreshing and complex role as Rema, a businesswoman with a negative edge.

Despite its promising premise and treatment, Mura draws strong influence from films like Subramaniapuram, Uriyadi, and Kammattipaadam, all of which feature hot-blooded protagonists in violent settings. However, unlike these films, Mura fails to dive deeper into its themes and limits itself to a typical gangster narrative. This holds the film back from being more than just a generic tale, despite having the potential to explore broader and more complex themes.