Anjaam Pathiraa is a 2020 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film written and directed by Midhun Manuel Thomas. The film stars Kunchacko Boban, Sharaf U Dheen, Unnimaya Prasad, Jinu Joseph, and Sreenath Bhasi in substantial roles. Sushin Shyam composed the music, while Shyju Khalid was the cinematographer. The plot follows a squad of police sleuths assisted by a consultant criminologist, Anwar Hussain, as they attempt to unveil the identity of a faceless killer who employs brutal tactics to slay his victims. Principal photography began on 1 August 2019. The film was released in Kerala on 10 January 2020. The film received widely positive reviews from critics and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year. Anjaam Pathiraa is the highest TRP rated Malayalam film of the year across all channels as well as Surya Tv's all-time biggest rated film ever.
Plot
Anwar Hussain is a psychologist who works as a consulting criminologist in Kochi City Police on the special recommendation of his friend ACP Anil Madhavan. One night, DYSP Abraham Koshi is abducted and his corpse is left in a gypsum field with eyes and heart eviscerated. The investigation is headed by DCP Catherine. The autopsy report shows zolpidem presence in the body, but no signs of coercion. In a few days, a second police officer goes missing, his body is found in the backyard of the police station, along with a Lady Justicefigurine. Anwar finds a similar artifact in the previous crime scene from the forensic photos. Autopsy results are same as previous. The station's CCTV footage has been tampered, indicating the killer is also a security hacker. Anwar employs hacker Andrew for cyber investigation. Catherine implements a plan to lure the killer in which two officers should pair and patrol the nights in 100 meter distance. During duty, Catherine's driver Paulson is kidnapped. His scooter's camera footage shows a wolf-masked man and another man's voice, indicating they work as a team. Paulson's body is delivered to Anwar's house in a refrigerator box. Fingerprint of a cocaine dealer, Shameer, is found. They track him to a cottage where they find his mummified corpse. It was a decoy. Anwar accidentally discovers a signature imprinted on the figurine, which turns out to be that of its sculptor, Sudhakar Devalokam. On questioning, Sudhakar explains that he made five such figurines for two men, who blinded him after he delivered it. From that, Anwar deducts there will be two more murders. On another day, CI Sharathchandran is abducted after a struggle at his home, where in addition to the figurine, they also find a fidget spinner. His body is dropped in a Kochi Metro train by a woman. With that, Catherine is replaced with ACP Prakash Seetharam. Sharathchandran had regularly taken a prescription drug named Tenormin. Anwar theorises that the killers inject hypnotic drug Zolpidem in victim's body somehow before kidnapping and hypnotize them for taking away; Tenormin is a counter-drug against Zolpidem, so Sharathchandran's hypnosis was unsuccessful, hence the struggle. Anwar recalls seeing a photo of a similar spinner in the police file for a homicidal psychopath and hacker named Simon. While Simon is recorded dead during an explosion in prison, Anwar is not convinced. Andrew recognises Simon as the one who cross-dressed as the woman on the train. Anwar reports his findings, but is informed that Simon and his crime partner Aravindan's bodies were found that morning with a suicide note confessing to the murders left along with the last figurine. Anwar is unconvinced and believes it is a decoy to stop the investigation. Anwar is called by Sudhakar after a man comes to his workshop for a sixth figurine. He has made a facial composite. Anwar identifies him as psychologist Dr. Benjamin Louis. From Benjamin's foster parent Sudhevan, Anwar learns that when Benjamin was a teenager, his sister Rebecca was impregnated by a priest named Bennet Franko. When their father Louis reported the crime, Anil and Sharathchandran framed him after taking bribe from Bennet. Rebecca was placed in a distant convent, and their father committed suicide in prison. Later, Benjamin went to the United States for higher studies and came back. Anwar deducts that the first three murders were random and the actual targets are Sharathchandran and Anil. He goes to warn Anil but finds only his deserted car. From a nearby quadcopter, Anwar finds footage of Benjamin's van, Andrew traces it to a pig farm. Anwar and two officers intercepts Benjamin before he can kill Anil. Benjamin knocks them down and chokes Anwar, but is saved by Catherine and Benjamin is arrested. On questioning, Benjamin does not disclose his motive. Anwar deducts that the burned corpse misidentified in prison as Simon's was actually Bennet's. While in transit for presenting him in court, his escort officers kill Benjamin in a fake encounter. At the same time, a woman visits Anil at his apartment. Anwar enters when she leaves and finds Anil dead. Through the window, Anwar calls out the name Rebecca, to which she turns back and looks at him.
On 24 June 2019, it was reported that Kunchacko Boban would star in Midhun Manuel Thomas' next directorial and filming was said to begin by late July. Sharaf U Dheen, Unnimaya Prasad, Sreenath Bhasi, Jinu Joseph, Jaffar Idukki and Assim Jamal were also confirmed in the cast, and Sushin Shyam and Shyju Khalid will be the composer and cinematographer, respectively. Midhun said that the film is entirely different from his previous films. The film was formally launched with a pooja ceremony on 17 July 2019. Principal photography began on 1 August 2019, also revealing the title.
Soundtrack
The original soundtrack is composed, programmed, and arranged by Sushin Shyam.
Sajin Shrijith of The New Indian Express rated 4 out of 5 and called it "an efficient, well-crafted mystery" and said that it is "director Midhun Manuel Thomas' brillant work so far from his work which is highly focus on content and making." Litty Simon of Malayala Manorama rated 3.5 out of 5 stars calling it "a crafty thriller from Kunchacko & Co." and "Anjaam Pathiraa will definitely make you restless. It is an excellent theatrical experience.In the film which villain is so complicated and line is multilayered from usual genre which thrills you always." Deepa Soman of The Times of India awarded 4 out of 5 and wrote that it was "a decently engaging crime thriller." and appreciated Kunchacko Boban's performance stating that he "gives the right demeanour to Anwar Hussain.Every member of the crew make their better presence in their work which leads to high quality work." Writing for The News Minute, Cris called it "a neatly-packed thriller" and added that "the film moves fast, not wasting time on a song or even a line too many, with noticeable performances and negligible flaws." Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion South wrote "In the end, Anjaam Pathiraa turns out to be one of those films that takes a hot-button issue and expects us to care simply because it takes that issue up. The drama is undernourished, the thrills are feeble".
Box office
In the overseas opening weekend, the film grossed US$713,243 from 78 screens in the United Arab Emirates, US$48,487 from 30 screens in the United States, US$6,081 from 2 screens in Canada, and A$28,605 from 3 screens in Australia. It earned US$19,857 in Canada in two weeks, £28,714 in the United Kingdom in three weeks, A$85,285 in Australia in four weeks, and US$116,759 in the US in five weeks.
