In the 2020 thriller Anjaam Pathiraa, directed and written by Midhun Manuel Thomas, Ripper Ravi vividly describes why he has this obsession for killing. This lust for murder is explained differently, but vividly by the accused in director Arun Varma's debut work 'Garudan', which hit the theatres today. It should not be surprising since Midhun Manuel wrote the screenplay for both the films, though the resemblance ends there.
'Garudan', which is co-written by M Jinesh and featuring Suresh Gopi and Biju Menon in lead roles, is a murder mystery exploring a new ground by pitting a police officer and a convict against each other in a court of justice. Suresh Gopi, who plays a reputed police officer Harish Madhav puts Nishanth, a smart, college professor behind the bars for rape of a college student. Though Nishanth serves his jail term, he returns to public life as an advocate (after pursuing law inside prison), in a quest to earn back his reputation. He takes Harish to court and files a case against him proving he is innocent. This taints Harish's reputation as an honest police officer, leaving him in a state of shock and despair.
After this intriguing juncture, the movie explores different angles of a police investigation, including Genetic Ancestry testing and DNA profiling, giving you an insight into how the process works. Biju Menon and Suresh Gopi are excellent in their roles as Nishanth and Harish, respectively. They both have their reasons to put up a fight, but only one would prevail. The friction between the two reminds you of Biju Menon and Prithviraj's clash in 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum', though 'Garudan' does not explore their emotions as vividly.
The other cast including Abhirami, Jagadish, Siddique, Nishanth Sagar and Thalaivasal Vijay also deliver impactful performances. But it is Jagadish, who deserves special mention for his breathtaking show as Salaam, the prime witness in the rape investigation case. Abhirami has also made a powerful portrayal in the film.
Though the screenplay moves ahead smoothly, there are some pitfalls too. The second half seems rushed, affecting the climax a bit. Nevertheless, the movie offers a lot of interesting twists that keep the audience engaged.
