Mura Review: A Gripping Thriller of Deception and Intense Violence

The premise is old, a group of friends lured into crime by necessity. Anand, Shaji, Manu, and Manav, portrayed by Hridu Haroon, Jobin Das, Yedu Krishna, and Anujith respectively, find themselves entrenched in a high-risk mission. Their association with local gangster Ane (Suraj Venjaramoodu) and his formidable boss Ramadevi (Mala Parvathi) steers them towards Madurai for a heist involving hidden black money. Predictably, trust dissolves quicker than sugar in hot tea, leaving the friends to navigate a spiraling web of deception.

It’s not just a story, it’s a cautionary tale served on a platter of blood-soaked drama, with a side of Shakespearean betrayal. And yes, by the end, you might feel the urge to double-check your bank account for any suspicious Madurai deposits.

The cast delivers a masterclass in raw, unfiltered acting. Hridhu Haroon channels Anand’s turmoil with palpable vulnerability, while

Suraj Venjaramoodu as Ane exudes menace that could curdle milk. P L Thenappan as Ratnam, Siby joseph as Kumar, Anujith Kannan as Manaf, Yedhu Krishna as Manu, Vigneshwar Suresh as Sitru, Kannan Nayar as Suni add depth, grounding the story in a harsh reality. Meanwhile, the quartet of friends, particularly Jobin Das as Shaji, brings an authenticity that lifts the film above its otherwise straightforward storyline.

Kani Kusruti and Maala Parvathi bring additional dimensions to this violent thriller.

Even the supporting actors deserve applause for blending into the narrative so seamlessly that you forget they aren’t part of your local tea shop gossip circle.

Here’s where Mura flexes its muscles. Fazil Nazar’s cinematography is a visual feast, especially in the action sequences that might have you clutching your couch cushions. Christy Joby’s background score complements the intensity well, with a theme so haunting it could rival your neighborhood ghost stories. Editor Chaman Chacko keeps things sharp, trimming the fat to maintain a relentless pace.

However, the crown jewel is the color grading. It’s as if someone spilled a palette of emotions across the screen, elevating the narrative to an almost poetic level.

The new wave of on-screen violence has brought us Animal, Kill, and now Mura. This film delves into the lives of a group of henchmen working under a powerful gangster. It explores how youth are often misguided into criminal pathways. The central theme revolves around deception, as one by one, the four best friends are betrayed by the very gangster they work for during a high-risk money heist. The narrative keeps the audience guessing about who will betray whom and how. The depiction of violence in Mura is so intense and realistic that it might even leave an unconscious impact on some viewers. Ego clashes escalate into grand, murderous plots, making the story akin to a

Shakespearean tragedy.

The realistic portrayals and nuanced acting of the cast bring the film to life, compensating for the relatively simple storyline.

The screenplay is thoroughly engaging, holding the audience’s attention throughout. Some scenes are designed with distinct color gradients, which enhance the visual appeal and mood of the film.

At its core, the story is simple, which is a group of amateur boys involved in a significant money heist. However, as the narrative unfolds, it takes the audience into unexpected territories. The raw violence and the intensity of each actor’s performance make the film more believable and worthwhile.