Raakilipattu
(translates as "rock music")
2007
5/5 stars
This film is the Malayalam-language version of Snegithiye, a Tamil movie which was shot simultaneously in both languages, and intended to be released at the same time in 2000. For reasons I couldn't discover, the release of the Malayalam version, as well as a Hindi dubbed one, did not happen until 2007.
Radhika (Sharbani Mukherjee) and Josephine (played by Jyothika) are best friends at college where they are free-spirits, and even pranksters at times. Radhika's aunt wants to see Radhika become more responsible, and feels that marriage would be the answer. To avoid this, the friends invent a boyfriend for Radhika, called Ramesh Nair. When Radhika begins to receive letters and phone calls from someone calling himself Ramesh Nair, both girls become terrified. However, things get worse when someone by that name is found dead and Radhika and Josephine are the prime suspects for his murder. An Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gayathri (played by Tabu), is an alumna of their college and the two go to her for help. She seems to believe Josephine and Radhika, but someone is determined that the girls will not be alive to tell their side of the story.
What starts out as a fun film about female friendship quickly turns into a tense, twisty, amazing thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, and then reduced me to tears at the end.
The acting by Jyothika, Tabu, and Sharbani Mukherjee is fantastic -- so believable and natural -- and the supporting cast is solid. The dramatic film techniques and effective incidental music add to the suspense and general excellence of the movie. Though the music is average, with the exception of the memorable item number, it fits perfectly and is used effectively.
It's important to note that the main story is worked around substories about the dangers women face, and as such, is peopled almost entirely by women. There are only a few times when a male voice is heard throughout the whole movie. This gives an additional depth to the overall feel of the film.
The first time I watched it, I was so caught up in the plot that I missed much of the nuances that add an extra layer. The second viewing, I was able to take it all in, and was thoroughly wowed. This is truly a sadly underrated gem.
