Once again Mammootty proves why he rules the Malayalam film industry with an iron fist through Masterpiece. The movie is indeed another feather in Mammootty’s crown.
The murder mystery movie which is set inside Maharajas campus in Ernakulam starts off paying homage to the actual college and some prominent personalities who graduated from the iconic institution.
The first half of the movie tells the story of the warring factions inside the campus and moves pretty quickly. Too quickly if you ask me. It isn’t until halfway through the first half that Mammootty makes his grand entry. He plays his role of the no-nonsense professor who unites a divided campus with aplomb. His repeated dialogue “I respect women” is expected to hit all the right spots.
The second half of the movie is gripping. The highlight of the movie is the suspense itself. The making or breaking of a suspense movie lies in the way its suspense sequence is executed. Masterpiece can lay claim to a flawless climax.
Varalakshmi Sharathkumar shines as the tough cop locking horns with Mammootty and “his children” as he calls them. Mukesh carries off his role as a disappointed father with his usual skill. Poonam Bajwa has nothing to do but provide the glam quotient. Gokul Suresh executes his short role brilliantly. Unni Mukundan is the surprise package of the movie. He carries off his role with aplomb.
Masterpiece is a movie whose heart and soul lies in the campus, hence it is likely to be a great hit with the campus crowds. The strength of the movie lies in the performances of the support cast. There is not a single person to fault in the proceedings. What I particularly enjoyed was the subtle messages given throughout the movie. Say no to drugs, be a good teacher, don’t disappoint your parents. At a time when as a society we are worried about our youngsters, I think the makers of the movie deserve a standing ovation for trying to make a responsible movie.
The major negative of the movie is its obsession with histrionics. The melodrama interferes with the storytelling and is even jarring at times. A little more time in the first half to establish the characters and their differences might have been good.
All in all, Masterpiece is a winner that has all the right ingredients for a super hit. Fight, an excellent suspense sequence, songs, mystery and of course a whole lot of Mammootty. The Christmas season has got off to a brilliant start
Rating 4.5/5