'Kalamkaval' movie review: Mammooty stuns as a chilling villain

Mammooty’s latest offering will leave the audience impressed by its villain, Stanley Das, a complex and disturbing character played by the star. In our inability to relate with him, let alone have an ounce of sympathy for the diabolical being, we come to admire his façade.

Almost every Malayalam crime thriller comprises a holy trinity of characters — journalists, a victimised woman and the quintessential policeman who is often the villain in disguise. Set between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, ‘Kalamkaval’ follows two police officers looking for missing or perhaps murdered women. Stanley aids fellow cop Jayshankar aka ‘Nath’ (Vinayakan), the supposed ‘hero’ who cracks the case. 

The crux of the film lies in the bloody desire to kill — a murder addict who romances women, lures them into dingy hotel rooms and then kills them after sex, to satisfy a kink he nurtures in secret. 

The film leaves the audience grappling with anticipation, whilst creating an internalised sense of horror within the female psyche much after the credits roll. The versatility shown by the cast, especially Vinayakan, who is usually seen in profligate roles deserves applause.

The film’s disclaimer may state that the film is purely a “work of fiction”, and any resemblance being “purely coincidental”, but the coincidence holds a mirror to the world around us, demanding accountability and safety.

To conclude, the movie does a fabulous job of educating people about the dangers lurking beneath burning love.