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The beauty of a grandmother’s bedtime tale is supreme. They are never simplistic with black-and-white narratives. Layered and often seeped in mythological references, these are highly imaginative stories that let the children fall asleep with a mind full of questions and images. Jithin Laal’s A.R.M (Ajayante Randam Moshanam) kicks off as one such ‘muthassi katha’ (grandmother’s tale) set in a fictitious village named Chyothikavu.
A young Lakshmi (Baby Anvi) is enamored by the valorous Kunjikelu’s (Tovino Thomas) quest to bring a priced lamp made from meteoroid crystals. In a story that exposes society’s persistent caste divides, Kunjikelu dies due to smallpox, a king’s betrayal, and the grief of separation from his ladylove Chyothi (Aishwarya Rajesh). The grandmother (Maala Parvathi) briefly pauses the story at Lakshmi’s query whether Chyothi (a lower-caste woman) was pregnant when she fled from the village.
Kunjikelu’s descendant is a notorious burglar named Maniyan (Tovino, again). He discovers a giant secret about the lamp before facing a heroic end. Two generations later, we meet M V Ajayan (Tovino, in his third role), a hardworking electrician whose ancestry continues to haunt him. He is working towards living a dignified life and marrying Lakshmi (Krithi Shetty) – whose aristocratic father is the villain in their story.
Jithin Laal’s film is a rare original Malayalam film in 3D. It’s a genre that deserves the luxury of the technology as the Amar Chitra Katha-like template comes wonderfully alive through Jomon T. John’s dreamy frames. A.R.M. successfully delivers the scale and Sujith Nambiar’s story is rich with clever critiques of society and fascinating mild magic-realistic tropes. However, the screenplay in the first half, makes the film feel longer than it is. The writing (with additional screenplay by Deepu Pradeep) gets repetitive in its effort to define generational parallels. If the flashback sequences are laced wonderfully, the proceedings in Ajayan’s daily life dull out the excitement in parts. Editors Shameer Muhammed gets indulgent in timing the frames even though their selection and the overall narrative structure are top-notch. The music and the original score (Dhibu Ninan Thomas) stand true to the film’s folksy nature and accentuate its personality further.
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Heavily reliant on action (with a focus on the Kalaripayattu martial art), Jithin Laal’s mastery in weaving a thrilling chronicle stands proven in A.R.M. Tovino Thomas, in what must be the finest leading act by any male actor in an already-winning 2024 for Malayalam, lives every bit of his triple roles. It’s a highly physical act into which he slips in with godly zeal and the goodness of a boy next door. Krithi Shetty is blessed with a radiant face, and she leaves a lasting impression in her Malayalam debut with a measured performance. Equally remarkable is Surabhi Lakshmi whose husky voice and rustic appeal add oodles of charm to a one-of-a-kind character. If Basil Joseph lends his characteristic goofiness to Suresh K.P., Rohini is a picture of poise as Ajayan’s mother. The lustrous supporting cast – even with limited space – gets characters that are of impact in the larger setup. Jagadish’s Kollan Naanu is a prime example as he adds his star wattage to bring a plot-mover alive. The brief heist chapter in the third act involving him and Maniyan is among the film’s most thrilling minutes. Lastly, Mohanlal throws a pleasant surprise with his measured voiceovers at two junctures.
A.R.M is tense and its size and style are unusual for an otherwise minimal Malayalam cinema. A landmark film in so many respects, Jithin Laal’s ambitions plummet to establish the industry as one that could imagine and execute a magnum opus with great flair. With a triumphant central turn, Tovino Thomas (he is no stranger to superhero themes) brightens his arc as a dependable force in Indian cinema. For the rest, the film’s minor lags and deficiencies stand concealed with the lasting shimmer of technology that its primary target audience laps up with open mouths and wide eyes.
Rating: ★★★★
