Movie: Officer On Duty
Rating: 2.75/5
Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Priya Mani, Jagadish, Vishak Nair and others
Director: Jithu Ashraf
Producer: Martin Prakkat,Renjith Nair & Siby Chavara
Streaming On: Netflix
Kunchacko Boban, one of the popular stars in Malayalam cinema, appeared in a new crime thriller called Officer on Duty, featuring Priyamani as the main female character. The movie was released in Malayalam on February 20 and has also recently been dubbed in Telugu under the same name. It is now streaming on OTT. Please read our review to find out how it has been shaped.
Story:
Suspended Circle Inspector Hari Shankar, played by Kunchacko Boban, is back on the job after a suspension. His tough personality often causes friction with his coworkers. On his first day back, he is given a case involving a stolen gold chain. As he digs deeper, he discovers connections between the theft, a girl’s tragic death, and a police officer’s suicide in Bengaluru.
As Hari investigates, he faces accusations from the girl’s father, who holds him responsible for her death. What led the girl to take such a drastic step? Could it be tied to Hari’s own painful past? Who is behind these terrible events? The story unfolds as Hari works to solve the mystery and catch the culprits.
Performances:
Kunchacko Boban gives one of his best performances in the character of Hari Shankar. He showed the intensity/aggression in action and emotional moments as well. Priyamani convincingly plays her part. Vishakh Nair and other actors who played the villain roles are good.
Analysis:
Director Jithu Ashraf starts the film with a compelling plot and an interesting arc for the lead character. The gradual unveiling of Hari’s struggles is particularly striking. Many scenes in the film are skillfully crafted and filled with tension and suspense. The action sequences between the hero and villains are also engaging, though they are too violent.
However, after creating the intrigue in the first half, the narration fails to maintain the momentum in the latter half. The game between the villains and the hero could have been stronger. The actions of the criminal gang members (Drug addicts) appear silly. Also, the backstory/revenge plot that connects all the dots is pretty much predictable.
But, still, the emotional struggle of the Hero makes the climax work, and the ending scene is also impressive.
Positives:
- Kunchacko Bobban’s Performance
- First Half
- Last 20 Mins
Negatives:
- Excessive Violence
- Predictable Backstory
- Not So Strong Handling of Villains gang in the Second Half
Officer On Duty Movie Review and Verdict:
Officer on Duty is a decent crime investigation thriller. Though the predictability in the second half along with excessive violence work against it, Kunchacko Boban’s performance, interesting first half, and a few emotional scenes and climax work well for the film.