Aavesham movie review: Fahadh Faasil delivers ‘verithanam’ performance in this all-encompassing comedy masala

Aavesham movie review: Fahadh Faasil delivers ‘verithanam’ performance in this all-encompassing comedy masala

Rangan (Fahadh Faasil) is not a fresh and unique character. He does bear resemblance to Mammootty’s characters such as Kottayam Kunjachan from the 1990 eponymous movie, Bellary Raja from Rajamanikyam (2005), Current Bhargavan from Bhargavacharitham Moonam Khandam (a 2006 film inspired by the American mafia comedy Analyze This) and Veerendra Mallayya from Chattambinadu (2009). He also looks quite similar to Fahadh’s Rathnavelu from Maamannan (2023). However, this doesn’t detract from his captivating presence.

Jithu Madhavan’s sophomore directorial venture, after the blockbuster horror comedy Romancham (2023), the gangster comedy Aavesham is arguably Fahadh’s first all-encompassing masala film, and the actor unabashedly uses it to silence all the criticisms against him that he can’t handle mass characters.

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Set in Bengaluru, Aavesham revolves around three college students and a pompous gangster they encounter in search of a goon who can take revenge on their behalf against a bunch of seniors who have been giving them a hard time.

From the outset, Aavesham establishes its tone effectively, providing ample humour while delving into the lives of new college students. Unlike typical college films wherein the makers go overboard to show gang wars, Jithu Madhavan focuses only on the essential elements. Newbies Bibi (Midhun), Aju (Hipster) and Shanthan (Roshan Shanavas) soon become friends and noticing that the seniors are ragging the newcomers, attempt to unite first-year students for protection. However, their plan backfires, leading to their capture by Kutty and his senior gang, who subject them to severe beatings in a garage for a few days. Once out, they begin plotting revenge and start making attempts to build local support, thus encountering Rangan, who appears to be a big shot. Initially seeming to be a caricaturish figure, though they have doubts about his abilities since he “no longer directly thrashes anyone and does the job only through his men,” Bibi, Aju and Shanthan befriend Rangan due to his extensive support base. But soon, their assumptions are proven false, and the three kids find themselves in big trouble owing to Rangan’s activities and his affinity towards them. The remainder of the film chronicles their journey together.

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While the first act predominantly focuses on the kids, establishing the groundwork, the atmosphere shifts with Fahadh’s electrifying entrance. However, Jithu deviates from conventional gangster tropes and injects humour into Rangan’s initial scenes, eliciting doubts about him among viewers as much as the central trio. Nevertheless, the writer-director meticulously crafts the character and narrative, avoiding haste. With the assistance of Rangan’s confidante Amban (a spectacular Sajin Gopu), Jithu minimises the depiction of the gangster’s flashbacks, relying more on Sajin’s humorous retellings of his boss’ past, anecdotes he’s only heard about from others who “told me about the incidents with just as much impact”.

Clad in white, adorned with flashy gold chains and rings, donning a black Ray-Ban and speaking with a thick Kannada accent, Fahadh unleashes Rangan in a ‘verithanam’ manner and that too in a style unseen from him before. Excelling in both comedic and mass moments, Fahadh makes Aavesham his own, yet Jithu ensures it’s more than just a showcase for him. The kids’ characters are neatly developed, with Amban maintaining a constant presence and the chemistry between Sajin and Fahadh remains compelling. Despite its lengthy 158-minute runtime, the film stays on course, avoiding an excess of characters and focusing on those already established, depicting their various challenges and life situations in the most entertaining manner possible.

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By cleverly tiptoeing around the question of “Is Rangan an actual gangster?” and offering comedy, mass and action at regular intervals and in a measured tempo, Jithu ensures that audiences stay glued to the screen. At the same time, the film also gives Rangan emotional moments, thus fully capitalising on the acting prowess of Fahadh, and the thespian never misses the mark.

However, aside from Rangan and Amban, the character development in the film falls short, with other characters displaying inconsistent behaviour and traits. While each person’s nature undergoes growth over time, abrupt changes in characterisations without proper explanation could detract from the viewing experience and Aavesham has this problem. Additionally, some characters introduced early on, such as Kutty, Rangan’s former boss Reddy (Mansoor Ali Khan) and the trio’s college executive director (Ashish Vidyarthi) have only limited roles later in the film, leaving viewers questioning their initial prominence. Though the film maintains engagement, trimming certain repetitive segments would have enhanced its overall impact.

Nevertheless, the performances make up for the narrative flaws in Aavesham. While Fahadh brilliantly utilises his full potential, seamlessly swapping between Rangan’s various emotions and demeanour, providing indistinguishable energy to the film, even surpassing his performance in Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014) thanks to the abundance of comedy, Sajin Gopu proves to be a significant addition to Malayalam’s new list of actors, effortlessly acing comedy and action. Midhun, Hipster and Roshan also impress greatly, going overboard only when the situations demand it.

What elevates Aavesham further is undoubtedly Sushin Shyam’s tracks and background score, which give the film the mass masala vibe it demands. Without overusing any particular tune, Sushin adeptly switches between the ones he has created, providing a cohesive viewing experience. Sameer Thahir once again demonstrates his proficiency in cinematography, with the action sequences in Aavesham standing out due to his skills. Together with Vivek Harshan’s excellent editing, the film maintains visual richness throughout, avoiding reliance on excessive cuts and allowing shots to progress naturally. Chethan Dsouza’s stunts and Sandy’s dance choreography, which infuse the film with the essence of Telugu and Tamil masala films while retaining its Malayalam touch, also stand out and contribute to Aavesham’s allure. Ashwini Kale’s production design, Mashar Hamsa’s costumes and RG Wayanadan’s makeup also deserve special mention for their exemplary work.

Aavesham movie cast: Fahadh Faasil, Sajin Gopu, Midhun, Hipster, Roshan Shanavas, Mansoor Ali Khan

Aavesham movie director: Jithu Madhavan

Aavesham movie rating: 3.5 stars

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