‘Pradhama Drishtya Kuttakkar’, a brisk police thriller with a clever premise | First Half Review

Malayalam cinema has been churning out police procedurals at a steady pace, with investigations of every kind finding their way to the screen. Shahad’s ‘Pradhama Drishtya Kuttakkar’ enters this crowded space with one interesting question: what happens when the people who are supposed to investigate a crime find themselves caught on the other side of the law?

The title, which translates to ‘prima facie guilty’, is a neat fit for the story. The phrase refers to a case where there is enough initial evidence to treat someone as an accused, though it does not establish guilt. The film takes that idea and turns it on its police protagonists.

Parvathy Thiruvothu, Mathew Thomas, Sidharth Bharathan and Unnimaya Prasad play police officers whose lives take an unexpected turn over the course of one night. Something goes seriously wrong and, faced with circumstances beyond their control, they are forced into making choices that leave them open to suspicion. 

For officers who know the rules, procedures and consequences better than most, being on the wrong side of an investigation makes for an intriguing predicament.

The film’s biggest advantage is its pace. ‘Pradhama Drishtya Kuttakkar’ rarely gives you enough time to settle back. It moves from one development to the next, keeping the curiosity alive without stretching its central conflict unnecessarily. The proceedings have a briskness that works particularly well for a story unfolding over a tense night.

The four leads hold their own, bringing a welcome naturalism to their performances. None of them feels like they are trying too hard to play a police officer, and that makes the characters easier to invest in. 

Stay tuned for the full review.