Kunjeldho review: "A kunj story that comes across as rather uneventful & trite!!!"

A couple of weeks into the New Year & the next wave of COVID has kind of disrupted our normal lives to a certain extent yet again. With many of the new releases being postponed, I decided to take the time to pen about some of the movies that I had watched during the time I was back home. One of them happened to be Mathukutty's "Kunjeldho" that released on Xmas eve. From the trailer itself, we get an idea as to what was Mathukutty trying to convey through his maiden venture. However, it wasn't as entertaining as his job as an anchor or RJ. 

Well the story is basically about Kunjeldho (Asif Ali) who embraces the vibrant college life that he always yearned for. As expected, a campus romance blossoms between him & Niveditha (Gopika Udayan) and what subsequently happens in their relationship forms the crux of the movie. Incidentally, Mathukutty had written the script & wanted Vineeth Srinivasan to helm the project, but the latter motivated Mathukutty to take the reins and offered his services as a creative director. The script fails to create much of an impact as it presented scenes and scenarios that we are accustomed to from movies like "Meenathil Thaalikettu" which though not the same handled the subject in a bit more emotional and engaging manner. Coming to the technical aspects, Mathukutty's directorial effort, Shaan Rahman' music or Swaroop Philip's visuals were decent.

Though the protagonist is a teenager, Asif Ali still managed to imbibe the traits and characteristics of Kunjeldho and do justice to it. Gopika Udayan was ok in the screen space allotted to her while Siddique yet again was fine in a very predictable role (it's time he reconsiders the roles that he takes up). As for the rest of the cast, since Ahammed Khabeer was the co-director quite a few of the cast from his "June" also featured here.

Verdict: Well it doesn't give the audience anything fresh be it in terms of the subject or the manner in which it was treated. It's not the kind of movie that neither will be slammed but wont be embraced as well. In short, better luck next time Mathukutty!!!

Rating: 2/5

Regards...Ben