The Malayalam industry is one where the power of an exceptional screenplay alone can make a blockbuster, irrespective of stars. This film, the director’s follow-up to the remarkable Manjummel Boys, is a masterclass in emotional thriller writing. Chidambaram could have made a movie with any superstar he chose after the record breaking success of his previous film, but instead chose rank newcomers, who have outdone themselves, and a story that is rooted in the land it is set in but thrills universally. A brilliant exploration of a unique mother-son bond, it also has all the urgency of a chase where we are not privy to who the chasers are. There is also an excellent no frills cameo from a superstar here, again unimaginable in any other Indian industry. When the inevitable twist at the end comes, it is as unexpected a gutpunch as one could expect. A must watch.