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Black (Malayalam)
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'Black (Malayalam)' Many shades of a cold-blooded killer

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

It is not all that black as the name denotes. Yes, ‘Black’ is certainly a film with a difference. And director Renjith deserves credit for creating a visually vibrant underworld of Kochi.

The pivot of the storyline is Karikkamuri Shanmugham (Mammootty), a contract killer who goes about his job with ruthless efficiency. David Carlos Padaveedan (Lal), a lawyer who masterminds the operations of the underworld, is his friend, philosopher and guide. Into this murky world enters police inspector Ashok (Rahman) whose mission is to track down the desperadoes bedeviling the city and City Police Commissioner (Babu Antony).

Shanmugham

is picked up by the Marxist Party secretary (Janardhanan) and put in an orphanage. Shanmugham grows into a toughie, steeled by the rigors of a life in the slums.

Life takes an unexpected turn for Shanmugham who is entrusted with the care of a girl by the party secretary. To his surprise, Shanmugham learns that the girl is none other than his own daughter. The family picture is complete when a woman, Anandam (Sona Nair) whose husband dies in police custody, enters Shanmugham’s life.

Then begins the transformation of the killer. The hitman now wants to bid good-bye to his dubious past and turn a new life. Needless to say, this is not to the liking of Padaveedan, who lets loose his boys to bump off Shanmugham. Interestingly, Shanmugham is a cop-turned-killer, who develops a soft corner for Ashok hunting for the hitmen of Kochi.

The rest of the story deals with how Shanmugham sheds his violent past, and leads a peaceful life.

Renjith has succeeded in creating the grim ambience of the underworld. Though the film cannot boast of thematic novelty, the director manages to hold the attention of the audience to the unfolding of a macabre drama punctuated with scenes of street fights, killings and violence.

The film certainly is not for the softhearted. No wonder, it has put off women. But the youngsters are flocking to the theatre in large numbers.

Mammootty essays the lead role with effortless ease. The ruthlessness of the gangster and the subsequent yearning for a normal life have all been portrayed with the master’s touch expected of an artiste of Mammootty’s caliber. It is Mammootty at his restrained best. Janardhanan excels as the party secretary. Sona Nair makes her presence felt as Anandam.

Special mention must be made of Rahman who plays the police inspector. It is a comeback film for Rahman, who looks convincing. Shreya Reddy does not have much to do in a deglamourised role.

Interestingly, the film has only one song: “Ambalakara Thechikavil Pooram”, rendered well by M.G.Sreekumar. The picturisation of the song, choreographed by Brinda, on Rahman and Meenakshi is good. The music by Alex Paul, particularly the background score is effective and meshes well with the mood of the movie.

If you have a stomach for violence, Black won’t disappoint you. It does have shades of Ramgopal Varma’s “Company”. The pace could have been faster. The climax too looked a bit contrived. Still, eminently watchable.

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