Rekhachithram Review: Asif Ali & Anaswara Rajan's Crime-Thriller Is One-of-a-Kind Slow Burn Film That Is Worth

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Cast: Asif Ali, Anaswara Rajan, Manoj K Jayan, Zarin Shihab, Siddique, Mammootty (AI generated), Jagadish, Indrans, Saleema, and others

Rekhachithram OTT Review & Ratings: Asif Ali slowly emerged as a big player in the top league of actors in the Mollywood industry. The actor is steadily raising his bar with sober performances and choice of scripts. Asif Ali delivered another industry hit with 'Rekhachithram,' following his first biggest blockbuster and highest-grosser 'Kishkindha Kaandam.'

Jofin T. Chacko, who made his directorial debut with Mammootty's 'The Priest' in 2021 directed Rekhachithram, which became one of the all-time successful films. Rekhachithram made its theatrical debut in Malayalam worldwide on January 9 and earned Rs 57. 30 Crore against a budget of about Rs 9 Crore. After a long wait, Rekhachithram movie made its hyped and anticipated digital streaming debut on Sony LIV on March 7.

Synopsis
Vivek (Asif Ali) gets suspended for playing rummy and soon gets a punishment posting at the Malakkappara PS as a SHO. Rajendran (Siddique) who is about to die due to an incurable disease, shoots himself at a particular place and before pulling the trigger reveals through a Facebook Live that he and three others buried an unknown woman named Rekha in 1985. Back then, a young boy tells his friend about watching his father act in a movie called 'Kathodu Kathoram,' starring Mammootty.

Performance
Asif Ali, known for his controlled expression, does a fantastic job playing the character of Vivek, a determined cop with a sharp sense for solving crimes. He takes on the challenge of solving the murder case of a woman who nobody knows anything about. Anaswara Rajan gets another noteworthy character Rekha. Manoj K Jayan, Zarin Shihab, Saleema and others have neatly delivered the desired output, aligning with the film's tone and tenor.

Analysis
The film's director Jofin T. Chacko pleasantly surprised with his decision to use an AI-generated feature of Mammootty from the 1985 times, throwing a big block of nostalgia to the viewers. The anticipation around Mammootty's character was conceived well and he rightly put only a few dialogues to his role, which is an integral part of the murder mystery narrative.

The music and score by Mujeeb Majeed is right at the place and he blends it well with the genre in this slow-burn thriller. Appu Prabhakar's cinematography seamlessly aligns with the two timelines using stark contrasts that don't disturb the experience.

Shameer Muhammad once again brings his experience to the table by offering a great transcending narrative between the present investigation and the flashback. The movie was written by Ramu Sunil and the screenplay was rendered by John Manthrikal, who succeeded in churning out a remarkable yet soft murder mystery with Rekhachithram.

Positives
Story
Performances
Mammootty's AI Cameo

Negatives
Slow Narrative

Verdict
Rekhachithram is a one-of-a-kind crime-thriller which tells an interesting story of a murder mystery that is 40 years old and of an unknown woman. The movie gives a satisfying experience, albeit slow and is technically sound. The core conflict, twists, and the way things unfolded towards the end pack a good. The movie undoubtedly appeals to movie buffs and also offers various insights to budding filmmakers.