Koimoi Recommends Ayyappanum Koshiyum (Lockdown Watch): Prithviraj Sukumaran & Biju Menon’s Ego War Is A Masala Entertainer Unlike Any Other
Advertisement
Koimoi Recommends Ayyappanum Koshiyum: In the week that has gone by, we have seen two remakes of this film being announced, one Hindi and another Tamil. While, Hindi will be officially produced by John Abraham, Tamil is speculated to have Suriya and Karthi in it. So I decided to watch the film, and now I understand why everyone wants a piece of this pie. Starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Biju Menon, Ayyappanum Koshiyum is a clash of ego unlike any you might have seen before.
Koimoi Recommends Ayyappanum Koshiyum (Lockdown Watch): Prithviraj Sukumaran & Biju Menon’s Ego War Is A Masala Entertainer Unlike Any Other
Ayyappanum Koshiyum is a story about a police officer Ayyapan Nair and his enemy/man Friday, Havildar Koshi. Koshi is caught with alcohol in a village that has a ban on it. Further, when investigated, he hits an on-duty police officer. Later we get to know Koshi’s influence and how he misuses it. Events that follow pitch Ayyappan and Koshi against each other and the ego clash is a grown-up Tom & Jerry treat we deserve!
So, Ayyappanum Koshiyum is about the ego clash. What happens when a man under the law clashes with one above it. If you go by the characters, spoiled alcoholic Koshi follows no law, to the point where he is evil enough to get Ayyappan suspended wrongly. On the other hand, Ayyappan abides by the law. To an extent where he is about to get a medal for his honesty. In this case, clearly, Ayyappan is a good guy and Koshi is the bad one.
But no, writer-director Sachy flips the board and takes you on a tour of both the worlds. Corrupts with all the luxury in the world and Sane ones striving hard to make the end meets. Ayyappan and Koshi are two pieces of the same puzzle gradually. What begins as a revenge game for a spoilt brat, turns out to be a life mission for the officer who has to take off his uniform due to the said brat.
What I loved about the writing is, Sachy doesn’t term either of the two villains. Their descent has a reason. In this Tom and Jerry chase both the men try to keep it just between them. When Koshi’s corrupt father tries to bring down Ayyappan’s family, Koshi confronts him. You realise, there is a beating heart in this rather spoilt brat as well.
Both the men at a point forget right and wrong and are just functioning on rage. You see them demolish houses single handily. Burning cars, beating goons. But nothing, trust me nothing looks extra even for once.
Sachy is known for pitching men against each other, and he seems to have cracked the formula with Ayyappanum Koshiyum. The director cleverly puts his political commentary around these two men who as they say “have no law that can stop them”. Did I tell you Ayyappan becomes a man on a mission (with no law stopping him), to destroy Koshi after taking off the uniform? Well, he does. With this Sachy takes a dig at a man’s gradual descend into a self that he doesn’t want to be. The sequence that a uniform tames an unleashed lion defines a crucial plot point.
Koimoi Recommends Ayyappanum Koshiyum (Lockdown Watch): Prithviraj Sukumaran & Biju Menon’s Ego War Is A Masala Entertainer Unlike Any Other
With Ayyappanum Koshiyum, Sachy also addresses the shades of women and their place on various levels of society. While Koshi is rich educated and elite, his household is the most patriarchal. Women here don’t have a voice. On the other hand Ayyappan’s wife, a tribal woman, even after being not so literate has her opinion. She fights for her community and even slaps a government officer for her rights. A scene with her walking amid a group of police officers shot in a green mountain area gave me goose bumps.
Acting performances by Prithviraj Sukumaran and Biju Menon are for the lack of words, pitch-perfect. The two men almost seem like indulging into a ‘Jugalbandi’. I would love to watch their preparation for these parts. Special mention to Gauri Nanda who plays her role with fire in her eyes and conveys it with perfection. Background music and cinematography by Jakes Bejoy and Sudeep Elamon respectively makes this experience even richer.
What I did not agree with was the end. It was rather too safe. But the journey to it is what has impressed me the most. Yes, the almost 3 hours long ride seems to be stretched a little, but there is nothing as too much of Prithviraj Sukumaran and Biju Menon on screen.
Watch Ayyappanum Koshiyum see how a normal masala entertainer plot can be presented in a different way. Watch the two egos clash and descend in their own rage. Watch it because you deserve this piece of content. I recommend you this one completely!
Ayyappanum Koshiyum Star Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Three and A Half Star)
Android & IOS users, download our mobile app for faster than ever Bollywood & Box Office updates!
