Devadath Shaji’s Dheeran, a Malayalam film, proves to be a challenging experience. It suffers from significant flaws, showcasing a multitude of characters that feel disconnected. While each character seems to have a purpose, the film struggles to create a sense of relevance, leaving the audience overwhelmed by the sheer number of eccentric personalities.
The film struggles to allow viewers to truly connect with any of the characters. The narrative quickly introduces various quirks and eccentricities. We know them through the writer’s intentions rather than through organic development. There’s a character who enjoys Hindi music. Another character’s wife runs off with a younger man, and upon meeting him, he exhibits a surprisingly tender side. Amidst the chaos, there are some insightful moments.
The characters, reflecting diverse perspectives, fail to unite within the overarching plot. They exist as isolated elements, neither significantly contributing to nor detracting from the main story.
The central figure of this story is Eldhose (Rajesh Madhavan), known for his comedic roles. The film places him in situations that are potentially funny but often become horrific. A particularly gruesome scene depicts a man being squeezed into a drum and burned alive.
The film addresses the migrant issue directly as Eldhose leaves Kerala to work for a gangster in Tamil Nadu, who also sells perfume (Vineeth). This duality could have opened doors for satire, but the director doesn’t take full advantage of this opportunity.
The tone shifts between stark realism and satire, never quite establishing a consistent identity. The film struggles to find its footing. When news of Eldhose’s death reaches his village, a group sets out to retrieve his body, taking the narrative into a road movie format.
However, this isn’t a typical road movie or a black comedy. A significant part of the film focuses on a gangster’s conflict with Eldhose. This section of the plot is weak and erratic. The attempt to merge a road movie with a gangster narrative falls short, marked by clumsy violence.
Despite its flaws, Dheeran possesses potential as a crime drama, although the plot is overstuffed.