Kala

Rohith VS's 2021 Malayalam film follows Shaji, who lives in a large house in the countryside. He is comfortable, indulged and unable to control his anger. When a man from his past arrives at the house the day changes entirely, and the film becomes almost wholly that single confrontation. The second half consists of one long fight. But this is nothing like choreographed genre action; two men grapple in mud, exhausted, clumsy and in pain. The violence gives no pleasure, it wears you down. Underneath lies caste and land. How Shaji's family came to own what they own, and who the other man is, changes the meaning of the fight. The film does not explain this but leaves the markers. Tovino Thomas both acts and produces. Who it's for: those who like hard Malayalam thrillers and allegorical narrative. Who it's not for: viewers who want to avoid long and graphic violence; the film also contains scenes of violence against animals.