Malayalam films are capturing the imagination of all across the world. Tovino Thomas' milestone 50th film A.R.M (Ajayante Randam Moshanam) is releasing simultaneously in Telugu as A.R.M on 12 September 2024. Let us see what impact the film made on movie lovers.
A.R.M (Ajayante Randam Moshanam) story revolves across three timelines and involves the father and grandson and the startling happenings in their lives and how it impacted them and the society. Ajay (Tovino Thomas), who is a government employee falls in love with beautiful girl Lekshmi (Krithi Shetty), daughter of the influential person Chattutti Nambiar (Nistar Sait). However the people of Haripuram tease and brand Ajay as robber as his grandfather Maniyan (Tovino Thomas) was accused of stealing the precious idol from the temple in the village.
What challenges Ajay faces and how it involves his mother Sarojam (Rohini), Maniyan wife Manikyam (Surabhi Lakshmi), Sudev (Harish Utthaman), SI Saifuddeen (Aju Verghese), Suresh (Basil Joseph) and what is the connection to great warrior Kujikelu (Tovino Thomas), his lover Jyothi (Aishwarya Rajesh), Edakkal King Mana Varma (Madhupal) from the interesting twists and turns.
Tovino Thomas came up with stellar performances in three roles. As the warrior who saves the king,he looked royal and made his presence felt. In the role of the robber Maniyan,he showed various expressions and made a stunning impact. In the role of Ajay,he showed variations according to situations, as a lover, as a son who faces all the insults from the society silently and who also shows courage in the case of adversaries.
Krithi Shetty is ok in her role and got limited scope to show her performance. So is the case with other actors Aishwarya Lekshmi who was confined to one scene and Surabhi Lakshmi to couple of scenes. Rohini made her presence felt showing emotions as a mother.
Nistar Sait is fine in the role of the influential person while Harish Utthaman is ok in the role of who goes all out to get the treasure. Others like Kabir Duhan Singh performed according to their roles.
Jithin Lal's directorial venture, "A.R.M," ambitiously blends folklore, social commentary, and a thrilling narrative across three timelines: 1900, 1950, and 1990. The film delves into the complexities of North Kerala society, exploring themes of caste, deceit, and the enduring legacy of promises broken.
The film's initial narrative hook is intriguing, and the screenplay is engaging in parts. Lal deftly weaves together these diverse elements, creating a sense of suspense and intrigue. However, the film's pacing suffers from a lack of urgency, leading to moments that feel drawn out and test the audience's patience.
While Tovino Thomas shines in a powerful performance, the supporting cast is underutilized, with their screen time limited. The film could have benefited from a faster-paced screenplay, a more focused narrative, and a reduction in unnecessary romantic subplots.
Despite its shortcomings, "A.R.M" boasts strong technical aspects. Dibhu Ninan Thomas's background score elevates the scenes, adding depth and emotion to the narrative. Joman T Johan's captivating cinematography enhances the film's visual richness, while the VFX and CGI are top-notch. Shameer Muhammed's editing is adequate but could have been more crisp, tightening the overall pacing.
Altogether, A.R.M elevates the heroics of Tovino Thomas to new heights. Director Jithin Lal's "A.R.M" sees Tovino Thomas delivering a stellar performance, showcasing his versatility and captivating the audience. However, while the film boasts an intriguing story and premise, it ultimately falls short due to a lackluster screenplay and pacing.
The film's narrative, while promising, could have benefited from a more polished script and a racier screenplay. Had these elements been refined, "A.R.M" could have reached greater heights.Considering the overall strengths and weaknesses, Cinejosh awards "A.R.M" a rating of 2.25 out of 5.