Pravinkoodu Shappu Movie Review: Basil Joseph starrer is a whodunit masquerading as black humor that fails at both

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Name: Pravinkoodu Shappu

Director: Sreeraj Sreenivasan

Actors: Basil Joseph, Soubin Shahir, Chemban Vinod Jose, Chandini Sreedharan, Shivajith, Shaji Chen, Shabareesh Varma, Arjai, Niyas Backer (in a more natural and easy-to-read format)

Writer: Sreeraj Sreenivasan

Rating: 2/5

On January 16, 2025, the movie “Pravinkoodu Shappu,” starring Basil Joseph in the main role, premiered in theaters. This new directorial venture by Sreeraj Sreenivasan can now be streamed on SonyLIV.

This dark comedy murder mystery film features Soubin Shahir, Chemban Vinod Jose, Chandini Sreedharan, and others in significant parts. If you’re considering watching it, check out the TopMob review!

The Plot

Investigation ensues following the murder of toddy shop owner “Komban” Babu, who was found hanging at the center of his establishment. With eleven individuals being the main suspects in this crime, a newly assigned police officer finds himself tasked with uncovering the real perpetrator as he embarks on his initial case within the city.

The Good

The idea of Pravinkoodu Shappu seems visually appealing and offers a fresh perspective within its particular genre.

The movie, with its innovative plot that combines two distinct genres, benefits significantly from its technical elements. The exceptional cinematography by Shyju Khalid, adding another feather to his impressive portfolio, is a key contributor. Moreover, the skillful editing by Shafique Mohamed Ali significantly enhances the film’s appeal and keeps viewers engaged throughout.

Furthermore, the movie’s excellence is enhanced by Vishnu Vijay’s exceptional background score and musical skills, creating an even more enjoyable experience for audiences.

The action choreographer’s work on the movie should not go unnoticed, particularly the fight sequence with Shivajith that he created.

The Bad

Despite its technically solid filmmaking, Pravinkoodu Shappu struggles in storytelling. Its script, combined with a less-than-effective execution, attempts to merge dark comedy with a classic whodunit plot.

In trying to achieve this, the film fails to deliver as a classic whodunit or provide the expected level of black comedy entertainment. The writer-director needs to understand that creating a significant plot twist or humor of this caliber requires more effort and dedication than shown in this production.

The film successfully builds tension and curiosity at first as a mystery, but as it unfolds, I found myself losing interest and not feeling invested enough to keep watching. Furthermore, the climax of the movie fell flat for me, offering nothing particularly exciting or reminiscent of Hitchcock’s iconic thrillers.

Furthermore, the script, essential for the entire movie’s structure, contains multiple plot inconsistencies. An excessive amount of these discrepancies within the suspense genre can make viewers disengage from the film, leaving them puzzled and seeking clarification rather than satisfaction.

The Performances

Basil Joseph plays a pivotal role in this movie, striving for excellence in portraying his character that carries significant responsibility. Alongside him, Soubin Shahir, Chemban Vinod Jose, Shivajith, and Chandini Sreedharan lend richness to the film, with a host of other gifted actors offering additional support.

Nonetheless, at times, these presentations can struggle to captivate an audience and may seem overly aggressive in pushing a seemingly extraordinary storyline.

Or

Despite some impressive moments, these performances occasionally fall short of sparking interest and can appear pushy when it comes to advancing the narrative.

Or

On occasion, these shows don’t always hold our attention and may come across as forceful in their attempt to present something extraordinary as part of the storyline.

See the official trailer:

The Verdict

Pravinkoodu Shappu is a somewhat dull production that combines dark comedy and enigma. It has some intriguing scenes, making it worth watching once, particularly if you’re a fan of murder mysteries.

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2025-04-11 09:22