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Core content: A story based on the mental illness, Paranoid Schizophrenia

Watch Samasya – Malayalam Shortfilm Teaser now:

Appreciation and critic:

The first thing that attracted me while watching this film is that this film was structured into chapters on YouTube which made it easy to dive through this story. So technically the film got my attention to move forward. The music at the beginning and the animation of the production company were good enough to create the first best impression of the film. Later the color and the very first frame are good and attractive. There are lots of reasons for a film to get distracted while watching. This film earned its first impression in a good way.

There is a lot to discuss in this film that is patterned and few areas I wanted to give constructive criticism or suggestions. First, this film is a partly non-linear story. Why am I saying it as partly non-linear? Because the story is a non-linear one. The picturization is a partly non-linear one. Initially, the phone call and Vivek’s dialogues are very natural, and it was very clear and realistic. Later there comes a suspect when the person asks the Viji. So that is where the plot point of this film begins. From there the film travels with suspicion.

Samasya - Malayalam Shortfilm Review & Rating - Poster - 1

As I said, a few areas made me admire them. As usual, these are common in every film, but the way they took this in this short film is impressive. I’m talking about the name-revealing part. In the beginning, we don’t know who the protagonist is and what’s his name . We might think the person who showed up second is the antagonist. But there comes a twist in the story. So, this is one of the elements which I admired while watching this film. Another element which I loved to tell you is the title of the book and the concept of the author’s copy. Now we can find out about what Niranjan was talking about in the beginning. And the title of the book is the same as the title of this film.

So now, another element which I would like to tell is the pattern of frames. This film had a similar pattern of frames throughout the film. Most highlighted areas in this film had a tight wide shot in the face and the lighting was bright and straight. Most of the areas in this film had tight shots in the face. One area I admired in when Dr. David was speaking to that person about the illness of Viji, the angle, and the lighting were good. It was one side lighting and the other side darkness. Every cinematographer should be aware of the script and the scene to place lighting. This team was aware of it and the dialogue is matching the lighting. This is another area I admired. Also, a few of the shots with Viji were tight and expressive. The frames and angles have a connection with the audience. Each frame and angle convey a language while watching. For a suspense non-linear film, the frames they chose were good enough.

Samasya - Malayalam Shortfilm Review & Rating - Poster - 2

Can we talk about music? I’m not satisfied with the music composition or the placement of music. I love the way that music was mastered, and the mix was clean and good. But the role of the music seems a bit less. It may be the director’s idea or the efficiency of the music director. Whomsoever, the music was not complementing the script that much. As we all know music is the one that can turn the whole script into a different perception, this music part was not impressive for me. For example, the murder scene of the Viji. During that scene, the dialogues are good and audible far better. But the scene is a very crucial moment. In that area, along with the rage of the Viji, the music should be able to convey the rage. But, in the film, the rage of the anger and the range of the music is not complementing, and the scene went a little blunt while watching. This is completely from an audience perspective.

But the major aspects like dialogues and dubbing and other effects are good. There is nothing to find any flaw in these aspects. Dubbing and mixing were good. I always believe that a person is truly an actor only if they can recreate the action whenever there is a need. Dubbing and the act were in sync and the artists are good at that.

Samasya - Malayalam Shortfilm Review & Rating - Poster - 3

Another element that I felt was unusual is the blood over the phone in the climax shot. The climax ends like Viji is going to murder the person sitting on the sofa. The next immediate shot is blood over the phone. So here, there arises a confusion with what she killed. Yeh, we can have something in our mind, and we can easily consider the weapon as a knife or a log. But when it comes to the crucial climax or the filming spot, there should be an explanation somehow for the next shot. But the scene is “Where was she supposed to do with that rage in the rage?”. Then another shot is a close swap to the person, then an immediate shot is blood over the phone. We cannot alter the first two shots, but we can make an extra detailing in the climax shot. Because already explained in the left through text that she was dangerous. So, we could have shown some explanation for the blood. As an audience, I don’t bother about it. But as a film critic, I should look for the technical elements in a script.

So far, this film has given us new information along with the expected entertainment. It was a great effort behind this, and I can see it. Even though there are few areas in which I’m not satisfied, this film is one of the good films on my list. If anyone asks me to suggest this film to anyone, 65% I would prefer. Best Wishes to the team for making a good film.

Samasya - Malayalam Shortfilm Awards in filmfestival

“If you are not open to constructive criticism, then you are truly open to grow as a person”.

If you ask me to give ratings,

For Direction – I would like to give 8/10
For Script – I would like to give 6/10
For Screenplay – I would like to give 7/10
For Editing – I would like to give 8/10
For Cinematography – I would like to give 8/10
For Lighting – I would give 7/10
For Music – I would like to give 6/10
For Dubbing – I would like to give 7/10
For Artists acting – I would like to give 7/10
For Climax – I would like to give 7/10
For Creativity and Innovation – I would like to give 5/10

Overall, I would like to give 7/10

I hope you love this review… Please do not forget to share this review with your friends, family, and your loved ones. Cheers!!!

Watch Samasya – Malayalam Shortfilm now:

Casts

Anand Shankar

Anjali Devi

Aravind Krishnan

Akhilesh Easwar & Umesh Kumar

Written & Direction by : Gopikrishnan R
Creative Director : Anoop Narayanan
Camera & Editing : Vishnu Dev
Additional DOP : Gokul Nandakumar
Associate Director : Saneesh S Nair
Sound Design : Vidhu Nandan
BGM : Abin Ponnachan
Final Mix Master : Jeevan Johny
Creative Support : Pranay Nair
Posters : Arjun Surendran

A Bag of Scripts Initiative

Short film Released by : Irshad Ali (Actor), Vishnu Unnikrishnan (Actor), Shajoon Kariyaal (Director), Rajesh Balachandiran (Actor), Niranjan Nair (Actor)

Also, read the latest short film review from shortfundly

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