Mura: Suraj Venjaramoodu-Hridhu Haroon starrer is a pure revenge thriller backed by authentic performances | Movie Review

Four friends share a deep bond, and how far will they go for each other when chaos ensues? What does revenge look like in their case? Mura, directed by Musthafa, starring Suraj Venjaramoodu, Hridhu Haroon and Maala Parvathi in lead roles, is built around this premise.
The highlight of the film is how real and raw the performances feel, which really add depth to the powerful tale of revenge.
Malayalam cinema is more towards violent stories and Mura is no different as it follows the same path with its intense, risky drama.

While Hridhu Haroon, Anujith, Jobin Das and Yedhukrishnan G play the young characters, Suraj Venjaramoodu plays the role of Ani, a powerful gang leader. Suraj’s portrayal of Ani is notable as it marks a break from the roles he has been known for in recent times. Ani is a complex character with shades of gray, making it difficult to label her as entirely good or bad. The story primarily tells how these young characters navigate their youth, how they get caught up in the world of ‘goondagiri’, their interactions with Ani and her team, and the chaotic events that ensue.

Musthafa wastes no time in getting to the point and jumping right into the story where events unfold in rapid succession. While the film is largely based on themes of revenge and violence, it also contains many exciting moments that keep the audience engaged from start to finish.

Although the themes of young blood, hoodlums and local ringleaders are familiar tropes in Malayalam cinema, as mentioned earlier, what sets Mura apart from others is the originality of his performances. The young cast, mostly newcomers, adds to the rawness and realism of the film. They all give impressive performances. Their friendship is explored beautifully; There’s playful banter, intense moments, and even violent conflict. Suraj once again gives a great and solid performance, adding his usual depth to the character. Maala Parvathi’s character Rama is also quite intriguing. She plays a female ringleader in the film and commands the screen with her powerful presence, without relying on clichéd mass dialogues or typical tropes.

The first half of the movie really elevates the experience; The intermission builds to a point that leaves you eager to find out what happens next. However, in the second half the story starts to lose some of its momentum and feels a little unfocused at times. When it comes to violence, it’s fair to say Mura is not for the faint of heart. The film’s inclusion of intense violence and bloodshed plays an important role in the narrative. The film’s premise justifies violence to a degree, but it raises the question: How much violence is too much? So if you don’t like heavy violence, this movie may not be for you.

The film is likely to be compared to Joju George’s recently released film ‘Pani’ due to its violent themes. But unlike Pani, Mura may not feel as intense or gripping. In Pani, Joju constantly makes the audience experience unexpected, triggering events, allowing the ensuing violence to create a cathartic feeling. In contrast, Mura focuses on a young protagonist who is still trying to figure things out, sometimes even confused; This gives the violence a different, less immediate impact.
Mura is an interesting film that stands out with its originality and makes it definitely worth watching on the big screen.