Ramaleela

Arun Gopy's 2017 Malayalam film follows Ramanunni, a legislator who leaves his party to stand as the opposition's candidate. He acquires a revolver; soon afterwards one of his political enemies is found shot and he becomes the first suspect. The structure rests on a detective plot. As Ramanunni tries to clear himself, past events open in flashback; who planned what stays unclear until the final section. The narrative uses the everyday workings of Kerala politics as background; changing parties, pressure from the base and local scores form its ground. Dileep leads. The cutting is fast and the turns frequent. Who it's for: those who like Malayalam political thrillers. Who it's not for: viewers expecting tight logic; the film leans too hard on coincidence in its resolution.