'Prathichaya' review: B Unnikrishnan-Nivin Pauly film is an emotionally-charged political thriller

Amidst the wave of thrillers and fantasy films currently dominating Mollywood, B Unnikrishnan returns with ‘Prathichaya,’ a political thriller that is among the first few films in recent times to explore this genre. The film’s release during the state’s election period, coupled with its apparent parallels to a prominent Chief Minister from Kerala’s recent history, is likely to spark considerable discussion and debate.

From Kaitheri Sahadevan in ‘Left Right Left’ to Kadakkal Chandran in ‘One,’ Malayalam political dramas have long thrived on characters that mirror real-life political figures, yet most of these narratives are carefully framed as fictional accounts, maintaining a safe distance from the real world. With ‘Prathichaya,’ B Unnikrishnan blurs that line, at least, to some extent, given that some of the incidents mentioned in the movie are still fresh in the minds of the viewers.

Having said that, ‘Prathichaya’ is not a biography of sorts. Rather, it is a dramatic political thriller that takes several creative liberties, especially in how it portrays corporate houses and the media. What is the connection between such corporate houses and politicians? This is what ‘Prathichaya’ sets out to explore by centering the narrative on a veteran politician — Chief Minister Varghese (Balachandra Menon) and his two sons Tobin (Nishanth Sagar) and John (Nivin Pauly).

In a way, the movie’s title perfectly captures the themes it explores—perception, influence, and the drama of politics that define a politician's life. Unnikrishan also succeeds in elevating the narrative through sharply crafted dialogues and an emotionally layered storyline, with family dynamics being one of the key elements at play. Despite its standout moments, ‘Prathichaya’ doesn’t follow the mass masala formula that made Prithviraj’s ‘Lucifer’ such a benchmark in Mollywood’s political dramas, a film that continues to stand as an unmatched blend of entertainment and political intrigue in recent history

Some scenes, especially in the latter half of the film, do tend to become a bit overdramatic, affecting the overall viewing experience. However, despite these missteps, Unnikrishnan manages to close the film with a deeply emotional conclusion, leaving the audience with a few poignant takeaways.

As with his earlier works, the film once again showcases Unnikrishnan’s trademark strength, his ability to present central characters with a distinct sense of style and grandeur.

The performances of Nivin Pauly and Balachandran Menon lend emotional weight to the narrative with their performances, while Sharafudheen, Harisree Ashokan, Neethu Krishna and Maniyan Pillai Raju appear in significant supporting roles, contributing to the film’s layered character landscape. Nivin Pauly is no stranger to political dramas, having already showcased his skill in portraying intense political figures with films like ‘Sakhavu.’ However, with ‘Prathichaya, ‘he takes his performance to a whole new level.

Justin Varghese's background score is undoubtedly impressive, though at times it feels a bit overwhelming due to its overuse, which can make it feel jarring. But the minimalistic songs add depth and richness to the film, effectively capturing the emotions on screen.

Overall, B Unnikrishnan, who is best known for films like ‘Madambi’ and ‘Villain’, manages to recreate his cinematic identity with ‘Prathichaya’, by delivering an engaging storyline after the dud receptions of his recent ventures like ‘Arattu’.