'Kurup' review: Dulquer Salmaan slays effortlessly in the gangster flick
Dulquer Salmaan's most awaited film Kurup finally hit the big screens today. The biographical drama is a brutal and merciless gangster saga. Salmaan's character arc and the representation of Sukumara Kurup's underworld are intense. If one were to say that Kurup is the perfect way to welcome audiences back to the theaters, it would not be an understatement. Here is our review.
Salmaan had a comical and witty entry scene
After a few character establishments, we see Salmaan (Gopikrishna aka Sudhakara Kurup) making his way through an Indian Air Force training center. From afar, one would conclude this person as an unmotivated lethargic chap. But the reality is far from what one might anticipate out of this character, and that's how the film goes: How a fugitive is born out of an ordinary man?
All about the character played by the Malayalam star
Gopikrishna is someone who does not believe in living a regular life. He would sneak out of the training camp, smuggle booze, pull a Romeo out of an ordinary friend, AND fake his own death just to escape the center. He keeps smoking throughout the film, so much so that I could almost smell the nicotine and get intoxicated whenever Gopikrishna appeared!
This is the only negative in the otherwise perfect film
Sobhita Dhulipala has played the leading lady (Shraddha) in Kurup. With her limited presence, she has managed to shine brightly leaving no stone unturned to make her character flawless. However, the way she was introduced to our hero is nauseating. Someone should call the filmmakers and remind them that dinosaurs are extinct and it's NOT romantic to be harassed or sexually abused.
Kurup fakes his death, not once, but twice
Coming back to the story, Gopikrishna manages to escape the training center by faking his own death and flees to Persia with Shraddha. After a few years, he comes back to his hometown and plans to fake his death again in order to embezzle his life insurance money. However, his plan is more elaborate and not just getting the petty amount from life insurance.
Tad slow and draggy screenplay in the second half
There are guns, bombs, smuggling, and more such things in the film. Kurup's locations keep changing from Chennai, Mumbai, Persia, Kerala to the Gulf and what not. The film goes a little slow in the second half and Salmaan's presence was also limited during that time. But the intense story was enough to keep the audience glued to the screen.
Not just Salmaan, other actors have given their best, too
As far as the other actors are concerned, Tovino Thomas's fans get a "wow" element in Kurup, which I will refrain from revealing. Indrajith Sukumaran, Shine Tom Chacko, and Bharath have done true justice to the roles they have played. Though Salmaan has pulled a one-man show in the gangster flick, the other actors have a remarkable screen presence as well.
'Kurup' will keep you high even hours after its completion
Overall, Kurup is an unmissable gangster flick. Director Srinath Rajendran needs a lesson or two about his women actors though. However, the rest of the film is an absolute entertainer. Sushin Shyam's music helped with the film's screenplay, especially during the second half. Side note: The drool-worthy costumes would make us want to go back to the '80s style. Verdict: Film gets 4.5/5 stars.
