Irul, streaming on Netflix, is a mystery crime thriller, directed by Naseef Yusuf Izuddin. The film stars Fahadh Faasil, Soubin Shahir, and Darshana Rajendran in the lead roles. The film is technically brilliant with good twists.
Irul is a story about a young busy couple - Alex and Archana who decide to go on a weekend trip, leaving their mobile phones at home to spend quality time without any distractions. However, things do not go as planned when their car breaks down midway and they seek help from a stranger living in a nearby house. What happens next and how things turn topsy turvy forms the rest of the story.
Irul is a technically rich film, be it the visuals, the performances, or the BGM, it hits the right note in its making. It starts deftly, airing a sense of mystery and suspense. It lays its foundation well, but as the story unfolds, the mystery elements lose steam. Towards the end, it misses out on the gripping part, leaving the viewers wanting more of the build-up it had created initially.
With a runtime of around 90 mins, it is fast-paced, leaving no space for boredom, and has a really engaging first half. The characters are presented in a stylised and suspenseful manner. The costumes and sets, all serve to be a delicious watch. But towards the middle of the second half, the film starts going off the track, with minimal nail-biting moments.
Fahadh, Soubin, and Darshana, as always, have delivered a terrific act. All three are top-notch. Fahadh’s attitude and character transformation need no introduction as he is a master of his craft. Soubin’s character, which needs to perfectly balance the traits of the protagonist and the antagonist at the same time, to confuse the audience, has been enacted very well by him with utmost perfection. Darshana Rajendran’s portrayal of Archana is natural and authentic, without any add-on mannerisms, which, as always, is her uniqueness while delineating a character.
Where the film disappoints is its second half. The film starts really well, building great expectations, but as it unravels, things go downhill, leaving a less exciting fare.
Jomon T John’s cinematography is a treat to the eyes. Half of Irul's soul lies in its visuals. Mesmerising lighting and the setting contribute to the excellent making. The color-grading of the film is also captivating, like an icing on the cake. The technical making of Irul is just supreme, wanting you to watch it for sure.
Debutant filmmaker Naseef Yusuf Izuddin has done a decent job with this crime thriller. The climax portion, especially, could have been better, as, towards the end, things turn out to be predictable. Apart from that, the film works out well, for the most part, with its excellent making.