Detective, maiden directorial venture of Jithu Joseph, has evoked mixed reviews from the critics. Most reviewers opine that the director holds promise, but the movie doesn’t. As per the reviews and reviewers the story and it’s treatment draws similarity to the CBI series.
Detective, the debut directorial venture of Jeethu Joseph, is a rather well made suspense-thriller, which keeps you glued to your seats, but at times lets a yawn escape your mouth too. The film has almost all the elements of a typical suspense thriller but provides nothing new, except for the fact that Suresh Gopi does a double role. Though Detective satisfies you as a suspense thriller, it doesn’t satisfy you much as a film.
The story begins from where young Reshmi, the wife of an idealistic young politician Mohan Kumar, is found dead in her own bedroom, presumably killing herself consuming rat-poison. Mohan Kumar at this juncture, is getting ready to contest the coming assembly bye-elections and his victory is certain, considering his mass appeal, his honesty and integrity. However, when the police begin the investigations, they get a note written by Reshmi saying her suicide is a result of the cruelties inflicted on her by her husband
You have a certain image of Suresh Gopi films; either he is an honest politician or an upright cop taking on the corrupt and corroded system. So, when a newcomer tries to do a double whammy by casting him in both the roles in one film, you cannot help but praise him for the courage he has shown.
But beyond that director Jeethu Joseph’s Detective turns out to be a typical fare, not because Suresh Gopi is cast in familiar roles, but because the investigative story (the film was publicised as an investigative thriller) is not intelligently written.
Jithu Joseph who has also written the screenplay has made the film an edge-of-the-seat thriller though the basic plot and presentation seems to be highly inspired from Oru CBI Diary Kurippu . The way Shyam walks, talks, dresses and speaks reminds you of Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer!
Suresh Gopi is there in all the frames and he is in top form. The rest of the characters are all apt and does their roles to conviction. The only weakness is that the film loses speed in the climax as the reason for the murder is not convincing and lacks logic.
But Detective is a ready made investigative masala that works mainly due to Suresh Gopi and his immense screen presence.
Jithu Joseph, the debutant director proves that he is here to stay with his first venture, Detective. Closely following the footsteps of C.B.I. film, the best of the genres in Malayalam, Jithu has tried to be with the original in every possible way as his protagonist walks, talks and dresses and speaks like Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer! The film which has shaped out into a fast moving investigative thriller has a plenty of twists and suspense till the end. Even though the scripts hold you to your seats most of the time, a little overly dramatic sequences at times makes you yawn a little.
The highlight of the movie is again Suresh Gopi, this time in a double role. As a simple down-to-earth politician Mohan Kumar, he is comfortable but as his half brother a shrewd intelligent investigative cop, he is smart and keeps us guessing all the way with his new maneuvers.
Technorati Tags: Suresh Gopi, Jithu Joseph, Detective
Loading ...
February 24th, 2007 at 6:50 am
The suspense is edge of the seat. But it is the debut of jithu joseph and it counts inexperience which affected the making of the film. The screenplay really killed the story, made the film dragging. Jagathy do not have continuity. He is suddenly sucked away from the film. And the four youth accompanying the superstar do not contribute much. Suresh Gopi got some more screen value with this movie. The suspense is really good. Th director has succeeded in that. That is all I can say.