We all know that awful feeling when someone makes a huge mistake at work, panics, and tries to cover it up instead of telling the truth.
Now imagine that happens inside a police station.
That is the main idea behind the new Malayalam movie Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar (streaming on Netflix as Prima Facie Guilty). Directed by Shahad Nilambur, the story starts with a terrible incident inside a police station. Instead of reporting what happened, the cops on duty decide to hide the body and cook up a fake story. Everything seems fine until the Crime Branch steps in to investigate. From there, their lies begin to fall apart.
It is a great setup for a crime thriller. But while the movie has some solid moments, it takes too long to get to the point.
The Good: Vijayaraghavan Steals the Show
The best part of the film is watching Vijayaraghavan as Harris Meeran, the senior officer sent to investigate.He does not play the typical angry cop. He does not shout, hit tables, or make big speeches. Instead, he just walks into the room, sits quietly, and asks simple questions about daily station records. He lets long silences hang in the air, and that silence makes everyone around him sweat. Watching him slowly corner the guilty cops is where the film feels truly tense.
Parvathy Thiruvothu plays Aleena Abraham, a police officer caught in this mess. As usual, her acting is natural and controlled. She doesn't overact or break down for drama; you can see the fear and guilt right on her face.
The only letdown is her role. The film gives her an interesting backstory, but then forgets about it. In the second half, she mostly stands on the side and watches other cops talk, which feels like a missed chance for an actress of her caliber.
Mathew Thomas is also very good as the young, terrified cop who looks like he might confess at any second. His nervousness keeps you on edge.
He does not play the typical angry cop. He does not shout, hit tables, or make big speeches. Instead, he just walks into the room, sits quietly, and asks simple questions about daily station records. He lets long silences hang in the air, and that silence makes everyone around him sweat. Watching him slowly corner the guilty cops is where the film feels truly tense.
Parvathy Thiruvothu plays Aleena Abraham, a police officer caught in this mess. As usual, her acting is natural and controlled. She doesn't overact or break down for drama; you can see the fear and guilt right on her face.
The only letdown is her role. The film gives her an interesting backstory, but then forgets about it. In the second half, she mostly stands on the side and watches other cops talk, which feels like a missed chance for an actress of her caliber.
Mathew Thomas is also very good as the young, terrified cop who looks like he might confess at any second. His nervousness keeps you on edge.
Where the Movie Drags
The film works best when it shows the messy, real details of hiding a crime:
Trying to fake official logbook entries
Making sure all the officers tell the exact same story
The fear that one person might break down under questioning
These cops are not clever criminals. They are ordinary people who made one stupid choice, followed by five more stupid choices to save their jobs. That part feels very real.
The big issue is the length. At 161 minutes (almost 2 hours and 45 minutes), the movie simply drags.
After a strong start, the story gets stuck in a loop. You get scene after scene of cops whispering behind vehicles, asking each other what they should do next, and worrying about getting caught. Nothing new really happens for a long stretch in the middle. Cutting out 20 minutes of these repetitive talks would have made the film much tighter and more exciting.
The film works best when it shows the messy, real details of hiding a crime:
Trying to fake official logbook entries
Making sure all the officers tell the exact same story
The fear that one person might break down under questioning
These cops are not clever criminals. They are ordinary people who made one stupid choice, followed by five more stupid choices to save their jobs. That part feels very real.
The big issue is the length. At 161 minutes (almost 2 hours and 45 minutes), the movie simply drags.
After a strong start, the story gets stuck in a loop. You get scene after scene of cops whispering behind vehicles, asking each other what they should do next, and worrying about getting caught. Nothing new really happens for a long stretch in the middle. Cutting out 20 minutes of these repetitive talks would have made the film much tighter and more exciting.
Worth Watching on Netflix?
You might think of movies like Drishyam or Nayattu when you read the plot, but this film is much simpler. It is just about a small group of scared cops trying to save their own skin.
The police station setting feels authentic, and the background music by Mujeeb Majeed stays quiet and doesn't get in the way.
If you enjoy slow-burn police stories and want to see great acting from Vijayaraghavan and Parvathy, it is definitely worth a watch this weekend on Netflix. Just keep your expectations in check regarding the pace, because the movie takes its sweet time.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Continue Reading: Drishyam: The Conclusion Review: A Satisfying Finale, But Can It Beat Drishyam 2?
The police station setting feels authentic, and the background music by Mujeeb Majeed stays quiet and doesn't get in the way.
If you enjoy slow-burn police stories and want to see great acting from Vijayaraghavan and Parvathy, it is definitely worth a watch this weekend on Netflix. Just keep your expectations in check regarding the pace, because the movie takes its sweet time.
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Continue Reading: Drishyam: The Conclusion Review: A Satisfying Finale, But Can It Beat Drishyam 2?
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