2018 is a Malayalam-language survival thriller film directed by Jude Anthany Joseph which is dubbed into Telugu and released with the same title. The film has Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Aparna Balamurali, Asif Ali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Lal, Narain, Tanvi Ram, Sudheesh, Aju Varghese, Sshivada, Gauthami Nair & others in important key roles. The music is composed by Nobin Paul and the film is produced by Venu Kunnappilly, CK.Padma Kumar & Anto Joseph under Kavya Film Company & PK Prime Production banners. The Telugu version is presented by Bunny Vas under GA2 Pictures.
Story:
The film is based on actual events during the 2018 Kerala floods. It shows how people from all walks of life in Kerala and the nearby villages face catastrophic consequences during devastating floods in 2018 and how they worked together to survive the natural calamity.
What about on-screen performances?
Tovino Thomas as usual plays his role to perfection. He does especially well in the airlift scene and his last scene where he saves the blind man. He surely deserves credit for accepting a script like this where he largely plays a supporting kind of a role.
Aparna Balamurali is good in her limited role as the TV journalist. But it would have been even good if there were more scenes of her and her role had a proper arc in the film.
Lal is pretty decent as the fisherman while Narain & Asif Ali shine in their respective parts as Lal’s younger son & elder son.
Kunchacko Boban, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Aju Varghese, Sudheesh, Tanvi Ram, Sshivada, Gauthami Nair, Indrans, Nileen Sandra, Vinitha Koshy, Gilu Joseph, Kalaiyarasan, Joy Mathew, Pauly Valsan & others are good in their given supporting roles.
What about off-screen talents?
The story by Jude Anthany Joseph & Akhil P. Dharmajan is very thrilling and has all the required moments for an engaging survival drama.
The screenplay in the first half is a bit confusing as there are too many characters that are being brought out on screen and it is a bit difficult to know which subplot is being shown. But as things go through the half stage, things get better and the second half gives a clear picture of each and every character in the film.
Director Jude Anthany Joseph’s work in the film is outstanding. He presents the entire film in a very realistic manner. His slice-of-life storytelling and immersive characterizations are impressive. The way he handled the entire second half with some heart-touching emotions is highly appreciable.
The Telugu dubbed songs by Nobin Paul are not up to the mark. But his background score is a winner as he creates a tense atmosphere with the proceedings.
The cinematography by Akhil George is brilliant. He just takes us on a visual tour all around the flooded villages with his excellent camera work and perfect framing.
Huge shout out to the production designer Mohandas and his entire team for creating a village set that looks very real. The edit by Chaman Chakko is on point.
The production values are first rate and the film is filled with good technical finesse. The Telugu dubbing too is neatly done.
What’s Hot?
* All Ensemble Cast Performances
* Thrilling Second Half
* Few Whistle Worthy Heroic Scenes
* Cinematography & Art Work
* Background Score & Sound Effects
* Good Direction
What’s Not?
* Bit Lag In Ending Portions
* Few Half Baked Sub Plots
* Confusing First Half
Verdict: Overall, 2018 is a visually striking film on the Kerala floods that will keep you glued to your seats with its realistic presentation, good performances, and excellent technical finesse. The intention of the film is very genuine and promotes humanity in the right way. A must-watch film on big screens!!
Telugubulletin.com Rating: 3/5