It’s that time of the year again. We have four films competing for the Onam 2025 winner tag. The first 2 entrants into the ring are Dominic Arun’s sophomore venture Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, and the much hyped Sathyan Anthikad-Mohanlal combo’s Hridayapoorvam. The second set includes Althaf Salim’s second directorial Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira, and the small-scale Hriday Haroon and Preity Mukundan starter Maine Pyaar Kiya. In this article, I will break down each of the releases and my pick for the ‘Onam winner’.
| However, before we proceed, I would like to extend my apologies to the team behind Maine Pyaar Kiya, as I will be excluding the film from this list. I live in Hyderabad, and there are no shows. |
So, from the other 3, in no particular order, here are my two cents on how these fared for me.
Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra
Written and directed by Dominic Arun, in his sophomore venture after Tharangam, with additional screenplay by Santhy Balachandran, Lokah has to be one of the most visually aesthetic and stunning films to come out of Malayalam cinema in quite a long time.
A rooted female superhero story, Lokah has all the elements for being a perfect entertainer. Backed by Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, Lokah tells the story of Chandra, played by Kalyani Priyadarshan.
It is superbly crafted with rich visuals by Nimish Ravi. Every frame is pleasing to the eye, and Chaman Chakko’s seamless editing adds grace to the film. There are some mind-blowing transition scenes in the film, which literally make you go “wow”.
Dominic Arun’s vision is absolutely commendable. The idea of giving a dystopianesque setting to a pretty familiar city like Bangalore exudes so much intrigue for the viewers. The performances of the cast and the organic storytelling make Lokah an absolute winner. Kalyani as Chandra is superb in a role which was almost tailor-made for her. The stoic expression and the body language she carries work so well for the character. Naslen, Chandu and Arun are great too. Sandy, as the ruthless antagonist, gives some fierce competition to Kalyani in the film. The much-anticipated cameos blend in seamlessly with the storytelling and don’t feel forced.
What adds more grace to the film is Jakes Bejoy’s outstanding music work. It’s high time we all unanimously agree that Jakes is one of the finest musical talents in the country. The brilliant fight choreography by Yanick Ben, production design by Banglan and the overall presentation of the film are all just perfect.
Reportedly made on a budget of 30 crores, Lokah is a worthy equivalent to Hollywood superhero films. An absolutely engaging and entertaining film, which is meant for the big screens. It is experimental, but has the ability to grasp you within its initial minutes and hence, Lokah becomes a film which cinephiles and family audiences would love alike. I’m absolutely excited to see what more this universe has in store for us. This one is surely a winner this season. Do not miss out on this!
P.S. Do make sure to stick in even after the end credits roll, as you have mid and post-credit scenes.
Also read: What Minnal Murali Gets Wrong About Being A ‘Superhero’
Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira
After the highly successful Njandugalude Naatil Oruidavela, Althaf Salim gets back to the director’s chair with Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira. The fans of Njandugal loved the way in which humour was given a different treatment in the film. Althaf tries to bring in the same to this film as well, but it was majorly a hit and miss.
When Aby, played by Fahadh, gets ditched by Nidhi, played by Kalyani Priyadarshan, right before their marriage, things go haywire for Aby. How he grasps life is what forms the main plot. The film has a very eccentric treatment, which attracts the approval of a niche audience. The comedy swings between plain stupidity to absolutely hilarious.
On the face of it, many may dismiss this film as an eccentric wannabe comedy film. And that is mainly due to its wobbly second half, where the script lost its clarity in telling the tale. Althaf tries to showcase depression as a problem by injecting his deadpan style of humour. But this might not resonate well with viewers who would want to have an entertaining time at the theatre.
Fahadh seems to ham his way through the film, with just a few sequences showcasing his hold of the comedy genre. The film relies heavily on Lal, who is absolutely fantastic in this film. The pop culture references, callbacks to old films and the eccentric nature of the whole film are quite a lot to digest for viewers who want plain entertainment.
Lal giving call-backs to One Man Show and taking a dig at the trolls who mock his clarity in speaking are absolute gold. Vinay Forrt, Suresh Krishna, Revathy Pillai, Anuraj OB, and some surprising castings do well in trying to keep this film afloat.
But at the end, Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira is a film that would appeal only to a niche audience, and so crashes out of the race for the ‘Onam 2025 winner’ tag. Personally speaking, it was an average film for me, with the comedy working well in some instances. The plot felt wafer-thin, with the screenplay dumbing it down, especially in the second half. Justin Varghese’s music is good, as is the editing pattern of Nidhin Arol Raj and the visuals by Jinto George. Overall, this film isn’t for everyone. But if you like eccentric comedies, you might want to give it a try.
P.S. Wes Anderson style aan enn okke chela reviews il kandu, pakshe njn Wes Anderson cinemakal kaanatha kaarnam veruthe angane aan cinema enn ezhuti buddhijeevi chamayunilla.
You might also like: Decoding the ‘Absurdity’ of Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham
Hridayapoorvam
Mohanlal-Sathyan Anthikad combo is one of the most trusted actor-filmmaker combos from Malayalam cinema, and arguably Indian cinema. Whenever they join hands, they are bound to create magic. Their latest collaboration is this Sonu TP written brainchild of Akhil Sathyan.
When a recent heart recipient Sandeep, played by Mohanlal, travels to Pune for his donor’s daughter’s engagement, life takes a different turn. The story is very simple and has no complications. The film maintains a vibe of ease and simplicity throughout its runtime. With some fun comical moments to some emotionally vulnerable instances, the film has the perfect dosage of all elements to become the complete family entertainer one would expect from a Sathyan Anthikad film.
Mohanlal looks his most glowing and charming self in Hridayapoorvam, and his chemistry with Sangeeth Prathap is absolutely magical. Malavika Mohanan as Haritha is brilliant in her role too. The “weak Malayalam” she speaks just works perfectly for the character. Siddique and Lalu Alex add the requisite dose of comedy with their superb performances. Hridayapoorvam too has some unexpected cameos that fit in perfectly.
Akhil Sathyan’s story brings in a lot of similar vibes like his directorial venture, Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum, which was also an easy-going film. Hridayapoorvam will definitely cater to those who want to just sit back and lose themselves in a world that makes them feel at ease and keeps them smiling. This one is definitely going to see a lot of the family audience rush into the theatres as it has all the elements of a complete family entertainer.
Beautiful visuals by Anu Moothedath, soulful music by Justin Prabhakaran, a well-crafted screenplay by Sonu TP and the ever dependable Sathyan Athikad at the helm of matters ensure that Mohanlal’s magic is truly back. Hridayapoorvam cements the fact that the legend is out of his dud and here to stay.
Also read: 8 Reasons Why You Should Watch Aaraattu
The Onam Winner
And that’s a wrap of the 3 major Onam releases of 2025. Analysing the market trends, the battle for the Onam 2025 winner from a commercial perspective will be a battle between Lokah and Hridayapoorvam, as Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira received mainly negative reviews from the general public. Personally, my Onam 2025 winner is Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra, with Hridayapoorvam finishing in a close second and Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira in the third place. Do let us know which film is your Onam 2025 winner.
