Every movie directed by a cinematographer will have a special visual beauty and when renowned cinematographer-director Venu returns with 'Carbon' after the 2014 Mammootty starrer 'Munnariyippu', you should prepare yourself to be amused by the picturesque grace of the rain forests of Kerala.
Sibi, the protagonist is a young man persistent on taking the shorter route to richdom. He is always trying hard to seal a deal on anything that ranges from barn owls to diamonds. He is asked to go to a palace in the middle of a forest and re-establish it as a tourist destination. The plot thickens when he learns about a Thalakkani, a place in the forest where gold that belonged to an ancient king has been hidden for a long time.
Cinematography and performances are the brightest parts of the movie that send a message most treasure hunt movies broadcast. Written by the director himself, the film begins by establishing the character of the protagonist and slowly weaves a connection that brings him to the palace. Even though the screenplay lacks novelty, the realistic treatment brings a freshness to it.
Fahadh Faasil gives a splendid performance and is as always, a treat to watch. Mamta plays the role of a 'Jungle Junkie' to perfection. Manikandan Achari and Chetan are tailor-made for their respective roles. Vijayaraghavan, Nedumudi Venu, and Kochupreman do justice to their parts.
The frames kept by K U Mohanan are capable of captivating the audience and casting a spell on them that will pull them to the magnificent misty mountains. The background score and the music by Vishal Bharadwaj are of top quality but a set of the audience would feel, the song 'Doore Doore' have pronouncing concerns and would have sounded better if sung by a Malayali.
If the screenplay was tighter, had surprises and told a not-so-ventured story, the brilliant cinematography and strong performances would have taken it to levels of high perfection.