'Udumbanchola Vision': The good, bad and ugly of the media circus with Mathew Thomas at the centre | First half review

'Udumbanchola Vision' explores the rise of a media owner, with Mathew Thomas playing Mithun, an ambitious young man who takes over a defunct news channel of the same name. New to the game but seemingly determined to make his mark, Mithun offers Mathew an interesting role to explore after his turn as a police officer in 'Prathama Drishtya Kuttakaar'.

Malayalam cinema has a long-standing relationship with the media, often portraying it as intrusive and sensationalist. Films such as 'New Delhi' and 'Passenger' have explored the power of news media, while more recent titles like 'Naradan' and 'Run Baby Run' have delved into its theatrics and ethical dilemmas.

What sets 'Udumbanchola Vision' apart, at least in its first half, is its relatively restrained approach. While there are hints that the narrative could eventually embrace the sensationalism associated with television news, the film does not immediately resort to the loud, familiar tropes of media dramas. Instead, it grounds its story in the people and landscape of Udumbanchola, giving the setting a sense of authenticity rather than making it feel like a world detached from everyday life.

The premise is intriguing, and the interval sets the stage for a possible face-off between Mithun and a rival media owner, played by Sudev Nair, whose channel thrives on sensationalism. This raises the question of whether the film will explore a clash between contrasting media ethics or show how ambition can blur the lines between right and wrong. However, the potential of this conflict is yet to translate into a compelling character-driven narrative.

The characters, in particular, do not feel sufficiently fleshed out in the first half. While the second half may offer more depth, the film needs to establish stronger character motivations and make us care about the people at the centre of the conflict. Without that emotional investment, even an intriguing premise risks falling flat. This is one of the key challenges facing debutant director Salaam Bukhari. Still, 'Udumbanchola Vision' makes a reasonably promising start, building a world and setting up a conflict that could have been more engaging with better-developed characters.