Malayalam movie legend Mohanlal is in a role of 'OPPAM' with an amazing character, a visually challenged person chasing a killer. And at the brain of this thriller is Priyadarshan. The duo is well known in malayalam film industry for their projects since nintees. But what could have been a tightly made crime drama — where a visually challenged person is the sole ‘witness’ of a murder — comes to us in a rather diluted mixture, with a good amount of family sentiments and an assortment of characters thrown in.
Some of the things that strikes as the plot unravels are the sheer magic of the camera, the acting of Mohanlal as the blind man, the balancing of intrigue, the occasional philosophical strains and the portrayal of blindness. The movie also strives to engage with the viewer by making them part of the narrative. These markings of class make ‘Oppam’ a very interesting watch.
The premise is built upon the guilt trip of a retired judge, played by Nedumudi Venu, who finds a confidant in Jayaraman. As the plot unfurls in a posh apartment complex, we are given some light moments. But in a sequence reminiscent of the one in Kaakkakkuyil where Cochin Haneefa and Jagadeesh discuss the hiding of a key, the writing trips and falters despite having Chemban Vinod and Mamukkoya enacting it.
The intrigue presence of Justice Krishnamoorthy (Nedumudi) and the young Nandini (Baby Meenakshi) at the boarding school offer a freshness. Along with them, there are a host of characters lining the narrative and many of them lend interesting dimensions to the tale.
Oppam is almost entirely carried forward by Mohanlal with Samuthirakani securing the other end. But the going gets tiring as the narrative is interspersed with two almost back-to-back songs and a number of faces diverting attention.
Priyadarshan had been mired
in a slew of bad movies in recent times and he redeems himself by this movie
