A.R.M (Ajayante Randam Moshanam) is a 2024 Malayalam language action-adventure drama film directed by Jithin Laal and written by Sujith Nambiar. The film has Tovino Thomas & Krithi Shetty playing the lead roles while Rohini, Aishwarya Rajesh, Surabhi Lakshmi, Basil Joseph, Nisthar Sait, Harish Uthaman, Jagadish, Pramod Shetty, Aju Varghese, Sudheesh, Madhupal, Biju Kuttan, Jitin P, Maala Parvathi, Kabir Dulhan, Pramod & others are seen in important supporting roles. The music is composed by Dhibu Ninan Thomas while the film is produced by Listin Stephen & Zachariah Thomas under Magic Frames banner.
Story:
Ajay (Tovino Thomas), an electrician from Kerala, struggles with the tainted legacy of his grandfather, Maniyan (Tovino Thomas), who once stole a valuable temple lamp. Blackmailed by the cunning Sudhev (Harish Uttaman), Ajay sets out on a dangerous quest to find the hidden treasure, uncovering dark family secrets along the way. As tensions rise, he learns the true motives behind the lamp’s theft and Sudhev’s involvement. Amidst the chaos, Ajay’s love for Laxmi (Krithi Shetty) is put to the test as he fights for both the treasure and their future.
What about on-screen performances?
Tovino Thomas does an extraordinary job in three distinct characters. As the warrior who rescues the king, he looks regal and makes a strong impression. Playing the robber Maniyan, he displayed a range of emotions and made a powerful impact. In his role as Ajay, he adapted well to different situations, portraying a loving partner, a son enduring societal insults quietly, and a brave individual facing challenges.
Krithi Shetty delivers a solid performance in her role, making the most of the opportunities she has in her limited scenes.
Surabhi Laxmi makes a memorable impression as Maniyan’s wife, showcasing her talent effectively despite her brief screen time. Her performance adds significant depth to the role.
Aishwarya Rajesh is fine in her only scene at the start of the film.
Harish Uthaman does well in his negative shaded role while Rohini Molleti and Basil Joseph also contribute well in their respective scenes.
Nisthar Sait, Jagadish, Pramod Shetty, Aju Varghese, Sudheesh, Madhupal, Biju Kuttan, Jitin P, Maala Parvathi, Kabir Dulhan, Pramod & others are okay.
What about off-screen talents?
The story by Sujith Nambiar is interesting and has the potential to be a good adventure drama but his screenplay is not up to the mark. The pacing of the film is dead slow with uninteresting scenes that lack proper depth in the writing. Except for a couple of engaging episodes at places, there is nothing much to talk about in the writing. A more well-crafted screenplay could have substantially boosted the film’s overall result.
Director Jithin Lal does a pretty decent job with his visual presentation but his execution majorly with the writing falls flat. The director overlooked chances to incorporate more captivating elements, like delving into Muniyan’s intentions for the treasure, which could have heightened the intrigue. The Telugu dialogues by Vinay Yalamarthy are fine.
The camerawork by Joman T Johan elevates the film’s visual depth and appeal with his framing & lighting.
The songs by Dhibu Ninan Thomas are not up to the mark in Telugu but his background score is pretty decent. But the score could’ve been a bit better in a few scenes too.
Shameer Muhammed’s editing is sufficient but could benefit from a sharper touch, improving the overall pacing.
The production values by Magic Frames are grand.
What’s Hot?
* Tovino Thomas’s Performance
* Krithi Shetty’s Performance
* Pre Interval Portions
* Treasure Hunt Scenes In Second Half
* Cinematography & Production Values
What’s Not?
* Weak Screenplay
* Slow Paced Narrative
* Unimpressive Songs
* Half Baked Scenes
* Underdeveloped Female Characters
Verdict: Overall, A.R.M (Ajayante Randam Moshanam) is a below-par action-adventure drama that had the potential with the plot but could not get pass marks due to the weak writing and underwhelming scenes.
Telugubulletin.com Rating: 2/5