Kurup Movie Review- Telugu (2021)

Movie: Kurup (2021)- కురుప్ 

Director: Srinath Rajendran

Producer: Dulquer Salmaan & M- Star Entertainments

Screenplay: K. S. Aravind

Story: Jithin K Jose

Editor: Vivek Harshan

Music: Sushin Shyam

Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Shobhitha Dulipaalla, Indrajith, Sunny Wayne, Tovino Thomas, Shine Tom Chako, P. Balachandran & Others

"Kurup" is the 2021 Crime-Thriller-Suspense Malayalam film being able to reach across languages attaining a Pan- Indian status. Watched the film recently at PVR cinemas (the Telugu version) & decided to review it. So, continue to read to know about the film & my opinion on it.

'KURUP' chokes through part-way!!

2.5/5

Kurup is not a character or a story that we are listening about or watching for the first ever time. We have read about this fugitive's story, watched quite films directly or indirectly in citation with the story that this criminal has fostered with his sly actions & thoughts. So after NH47 or some other Malayalam films & another Hindi film on Kurup, Dulquer Salmaan tries to introduce the better-known fugitive's story to a new set of audience!

I cannot say the film has come out with flying colors out, but has tried to explore the new side of Kurup, but the makers didn't realize that is where the film chocked terribly through the half-way! Come on - let's move in, analyze & fare the film. 

01. What DQ's 'Kurup' is trying to convey?

This version of Kurup tries to explore the other part of Kurup rather than concentrating on the incident alone. This version of film actually goes into past, figures why Kurup was in Indian- Air force, what all he has been through & how he became rich, went to Persia, why he literally got his hands dig deep into a cold-blooded murder of an innocent called "Chako" & why still he has been underground!! 

But did the film really try to explore & answer all the questions perfectly? Probably no!!

02. What all is in DQ's Kurup?

The film starts with a police officer "Indrajith" (as DYSP Krishnadas) getting felicitated for his service, almost like a retirement ceremony, then another inspector who comes into his cabin unknowingly gets a diary of Kurup & he continues to read it, that's where the film begins. Basically, in my opinion Kurup is a long narrative by adding dialogues & BGM turned into a film, with lot of questions un-answered & lacks clarity.

Legendary P. Balachandran gets a worthy screen time, but is wasted in Telugu version, neither the dubbing nor the way he acted will impress the Telugu audience in particular, all his parts were over dramatic & the person who dubbed for him, literally oozes the interest of audience, in the first few minutes of the film itself. Later goes film on establishing the characters & believe me till the end of the film, the makers try establishing the character- Kurup & few others & nothing else, truly nothing else! Sunny Wayne (As Peter) who dreams of being a Rockstar but ends up in Air-Force in due with the pressures from home & there he meets DQ (As Kurup aka Gopi Krishnan aka Alexendar) & rest of the story is what all made Dulquer (Gopi Krishna) commit such heinous crime & does he repent for it? To know the answer, watch the film!

03. How's DQ's character as Kurup aka Gopi Krishnan aka Alexender filmed?

In my opinion DQ is not the hero of Kurup, at least for this film. No criminal or negative shade character can be a hero, no it is wrong even to assume like that!! Because a superstar portraying a negative shade cannot be pre-assumed as positive character always, to some extent protagonist can have grey shades, but to an extent!  Hero is always the man with lot of positivity in the film. So, in that view, DQ is just the lead in the film. That's it!

Talking about the character, he has got different names- Kurup, Gopi Krishnan & Alexender. That is enough to prove that he's a man of disguises & can go to any extent to bring him out of any situation, either fake his death, plan a cold-blooded murder for the sake of life insurance or turn the tables to win & win & win at any cost!! Basically Gopi Krishnan is a character with lot of grey in him. 

Some scenes in the beginning of the film will give a complete profile about him, all the  assumptions for him at the first time will eventually turn true absolutely right as the film progresses. GK in the first scene pranks his fellow classmates in the first day of training itself, by punishing them in a disguise as a higher officer & however later gets punished for that notorious behavior. GK isn't punctual, disciplined or well- mannered & what not, he's not a fit for Indian Air- Force. He's a chain smoker, alcoholic, notorious, greedy & any other grey shade is Kurup!!

 As the film progresses establishing him as a student at Indian Air Force, he encounters Shobhitha Dullipaalla (as Sharadamma)- the daughter of a maid working at GK's house. He literally seduces & tantalizes her at the first meeting, he tries kissing, holding her tight with a cigarette in his hands, that's where one can easily make assumptions & can judge about his character & that is where everything in the rest of the film becomes predictive. 

Rest of the story is why he murdered Tovino Thomas (as Charlie) & what Indrajith (as Officer Krishnadas) has to do with film & how DQ hides himself in several masks.

04. What is Kurup upto?

The first half tries exploring & establishing the character named Gopi Krishnan & his encounters with Peter & slowly inclining towards a romantic track with Sharadamma & suddenly flipping coins towards Persia & another set of new introductions in the cast- like Shine Tom, Shivajith etc.  is lot of confusion written all over. Literally first half is a commotion of series of happenings that get a weak or no explanation in the second half. Entire first half is absolutely slowed & lagged unnecessarily, the last 20-30 mins will literally piques the audience with boredom. 

Second half neither will help the film, just the first 20 minutes of post interval & again the lag scenes and un-wanted discussions flare up, with a very bad editing. No scene is interconnected, entire film is just a raw cut of different scenes put together. There, there the film completely lacks an aim & that's where it starts choking terribly. 

05. Is Kurup worth that hype?

Absolutely no!! It could be a straight Malayalam film & later would have been dubbed across languages. But making it Pan- Indian, releasing across languages, getting it premiered in Dubai etc etc loses a point. It no where feels like a pan-Indian film for me,  except 20-30mins in the film, rest other is just like a typical 90's Malayalam film. It is needlessly dubbed into languages. Rather it is better to read a novel or watch a documentary to know about Sukumaran Kurup.

06. How are the performances?

Before mentioning anything, I would like to give a standing ovation to Shine for his brilliant act in the film. He's the real superstar in the film, though his character is needlessly lagged without a proper plan, he just excels in his character. DQ as usual, the heart throbe keeps proving time & again, that he is the best!! Give him any character & he's into the skin. All the characters with several disguises & masks were perfectly executed by the star hero. If not for Dulquer, this film is a total waste. His dubbing improved a lot, his recent film KKK had issues with his diction  in telugu, but now, that's no where a concern, he sounds brilliant. Others' to aced their parts, the female lead looks stunning, she's like the Jayaparadha or Sridevi in past & looks class & her performance to out-shines. Tovino & Anupama get a cameo, they too ace in their parts. All the performances do fine, no issues with that.

07. Why Kurup chokes? What is the music & other technical aspect too?

As I already said, the film lacks a chronology, plan & execution issues!! Right from the beginning, the establishments taking time & unwanted dialogues or screenplay lacks the clarity! Looks like the makers are'nt aware of a commercial film limitations  & it's boundaries, in a short span of 2hrs 30mins- it is impossible to cover up so many issues addressed & rose. So, many questions were left un- answered or lacking a clear explanations. In and all the film lacks clarity!!

Music by Sushin Shyam does really well,  that romantic track is the savior, loved his music. His BGM & music should be lauded. "Dingari Dingalee" is  truly a waste of space & time. Cinematography is top notch, no doubt, but editing lacks clarity again. Screenplay is'nt good. What happens to Sunny Wayne, Shobhitha is un-answered. Why he turns Alexander inspite of predicting the danger, is something cringe of response that the makers give!! Too many flaws, will definitely not help the film!

08. Then why watch Kurup?

Fan of Dulquer Salmaan?- then go for it, but no guarantee that he's gonna impress you thoroughly, cause he barely gets space for him, there is lot of much going in film & you don't understand why a particular scene is happening, like scenes involving Shine Tom are completely lagged & truly unwanted, irrespective of his performance. Music is something again, that makes you long for the rest of the film. 

But if youre' truly looking for a story about Kurup, go read some novels. This is fictional, most of it is fictional here, altered for matching the superstar's stardom & added commercial aspects, dunno if it really has proofs!! That's what I have to tell you all!! watch it with reservations.