When I sat down to watch the Malayalam dark comedy crime thriller Pravinkoodu Shappu, which was released in theaters on January 16, 2025 and has been streaming on Sony Liv since April 11, 2025, the unique plot of its trailer and the Basil Joseph and Soubin Shahir combo attracted me. Directed by Sriraj Srinivasan, the film stars Basil Joseph, Soubin Shahir, Chemban Vinod Jose, Chandini Sridharan, Sivajith, and Shabarish Varma in the lead roles. Did this story revolving around a murder in a thong shop thrill me, make me laugh, or disappoint me? Let me tell you about my feelings, the film's highlights, and some of its shortcomings in this review!
What is the story?
The story revolves around a murder in a thuddy shop in a village called Pravinkoodu in Thrissur. The shop owner Komban Babu (Sivajith) dies under mysterious circumstances one night. After the shop closes that night due to heavy rain, 11 customers stay inside, drinking and playing cards. When Babu's body is found, it is revealed that the murderer is among these 11. SI Santosh (Basil Joseph) steps in to solve the case. Santosh is not an ordinary cop, but an officer who solves cases with his intelligence and scientific methods. He interrogates Kannan (Soubin Shahir), his wife Merinda (Chandni Sridharan), Suni (Chemban Vinod Jose), and other suspects, who work in the shop. In this investigation, Babu's past, his relations in the village, and the secrets of the suspects are revealed one by one. The story progresses in a non-linear format, with dark comedy and suspense. Did Santosh catch the murderer? What happened in the climax? You will know after watching the movie.
My Feelings: First half thrilling, second half dragging
As soon as the movie starts, along with a disturbing murder scene and Ilayaraja's classic "Thumbi Vaa" song playing in the background, I felt like, "What, they opened it so creatively!". In the first half, the setting of the toddy shop, the fights between the customers, and the dark comedy scenes at the police station made me laugh out loud. In particular, in one scene, the scene where two old men quarrel and fight loudly made me laugh. The way Santosh investigates the case and the style of questioning the suspects reminded me of a Hercules Poirot vibe. “This movie will give Malayalam cinema another gem!” I felt. The scenes between Kannan and Merinda, and the flashbacks about his relationship with Suni added depth to the story.
However, the story felt a bit off in the second half. Although the script had potential, the climax felt dull due to poor execution. Some twists were expected, while others felt forced. “Hey, why did you end it like this after setting it up so well?” I felt. It would have been better if Chandni’s character had been given more depth, her performance felt a bit bland. If the screenplay had been tight, the climax would have been more impactful. Overall, the film is engaging, but the expected kick is missing.
Technical aspects, acting
Shaiju Khalid's cinematography is the biggest asset of the film. He has captured the rural Kerala atmosphere, the Thoddi shop location, and the rainy scenes wonderfully. If you look at the visuals, you get a rustic feel and a native vibe. Vishnu Vijay's background score elevates the suspense and comedy scenes well, but the songs are not that memorable. Although Shafiq Mohammed Ali's editing supports the non-linear narration, some scenes in the second half feel stretched. Gokul Das' production design, Sameera Saneesh's costumes, and Vishnu Govind's sound design give the film an authentic feel. Anwar Rashid's production values are decent.
Basil Joseph scored as Santosh in the acting. His natural charm as a narcissistic cop, his comedic timing, and his subtle expressions in serious scenes made me think, “This guy can fit into any role!” Soubin Shahir played his character’s insecurities and anger convincingly as Kannan. Chemban Vinod Jose overshadowed Soubin in some scenes as Suni, his rough look and dialogue delivery were superb. Chandni Sreedharan was decent as Merinda, but her role didn’t create much of an impact. Shivajith, Shabarish Varma, Revathi, and Niyas did well in supporting roles.
Likes and Dislikes
Likes:
Basil, Soubin, and Chemban’s performances—all three excelled in their roles.
Dark comedy—The Thoddi shop and police station scenes were funny.
Cinematography—Shiju Khalid's visuals gave a rustic Kerala feel.
Non-linear narration—The story was engaging in the first half.
BGM—Vishnu Vijay's score elevated the suspense.
Dislikes:
Weak climax—The second half was drawn out, the twists were predictable.
Script flaws—The multi-layered story could not be executed properly.
Chandni's character—Merinda's character lacked depth and her performance lacked impact.
Drawn out scenes—Some scenes in the second half were boring.
Songs—The songs were not that memorable.
Songs—Songs are not that memorable.
Who can watch it?
Pravinkoodu Shappu is a decent watch for those who like dark comedies, crime thrillers, and whodunit style movies. Fans of Basil Joseph, Soubin Shahir, and Chemban Vinod may like it for their performances. With an ‘A’ certificate, some scenes have dark humor and psychological elements, so it will suit the youth audience, but the family audience may not like it much. It is available with Telugu dubbing on Sony Liv, so those who want a light thrill on the weekend can try it. But, those who are expecting a strong climax and tight script may be a little disappointed.
Rating: 2.5/5
Pravinkoodu Shappu is a fresh dark comedy crime thriller, with performances by Basil Joseph, Soubin Shahir, Chemban Vinod, visuals by Shaiju Khalid, and BGM by Vishnu Vijay. The cheesy shop setting, dark comedy scenes, and non-linear narration gave a thrill in the first half. But, the weak climax, the drawn-out second half, and script errors stopped the movie halfway. Those who want to enjoy it lightly can watch it on Sony Liv, but don't expect a blockbuster experience
Release Date: January 16, 2025 (Theaters), April 11, 2025 (Sony Liv)
Streaming: Sony Liv (Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada)
Director: Sriraj Srinivasan
Cast: Basil Joseph, Soubin Shahir, Chemban Vinod Jose, Chandini Sridharan, Sivajith, Shabarish Varma
Music: Vishnu Vijay
Cinematography: Shaiju Khalid