Kolla movie review: This Rajisha Vijayan-Priya Varrier starrer will make you yell at the screen for conspicuously missing good opportunities

Annie (Rajisha Vijayan) and Shilpa (Priya Varrier) recently moved to the locality with a seemingly innocent plan to establish a well-equipped beauty parlour. However, beneath the surface, their true motive becomes apparent — the beauty parlour serves as a clever cover for their scheme to rob the bank upstairs. Assisted by a retired thief named Stephen (Alencier), who was a friend of Annie’s father, and a local pickup truck driver named Basil (Shebin Benson), the duo successfully carries out the heist and loots all the safe deposit lockers in the bank. They entrust Stephen with the responsibility of hiding and selling the stolen loot, consisting of cash and gold. Aware that their sudden disappearance would arouse suspicion, Annie and Shilpa decide to remain in the neighbourhood and manipulate the police into believing that the crime was committed by unidentified criminals.

Meanwhile, the local police, led by CI Farooq Rahman (Vinay Forrt) and aided by SI Victor Sebastian (Jeo Baby), form an investigation team and begin probing the incident. However, a challenge arises as the stolen items belong to various individuals, making it difficult for the police to determine the exact extent of the losses. Through CCTV footage, they discover Stephen’s presence in the area during the time of the crime. They apprehend him, but unfortunately, he passes away while in custody due to a heart attack. This puts Annie, Shilpa, and Basil in a difficult position as they are unsure of the whereabouts of the hidden loot. As the police investigation continues, incriminating evidence against the trio gradually surfaces. The remainder of the film revolves around Annie and Shilpa’s attempts to evade capture while Farooq strives to apprehend them.

Despite having an intriguing plot, Kolla is the kind of film that would compel viewers to yell at the screen, frustrated by the numerous missed chances the filmmakers had to create a much more captivating experience. Right from the start, the film provides a sense that things won’t turn out well, and as the narrative unfolds, one can almost pat themselves on the back for anticipating the impending disappointment.

In a departure from the usual crime thrillers and heist movies, Kolla boldly places two women in the lead roles, which could have been a praiseworthy decision considering the male-dominated nature of such films. Regrettably, Kolla falls short as Annie and Shilpa, despite being the masterminds behind the crime, often appear helpless and uncertain. The entire film maintains a consistent tone and squanders multiple opportunities that the filmmakers could have utilised to empower the female characters.

In fact, the majority of the characters in the film come across as half-baked, serving little purpose to the overall storyline despite the potential for greater relevance. Like many mediocre productions, characters appear and disappear here too without leaving a lasting impact. Additionally, numerous scenes in the movie feel incomplete, with events happening in succession without a natural flow, leaving viewers with many queries on what just happened. Consequently, the writing as a whole feels rushed.

Although Suraj Varma has managed to bring the written script to life decently, the overall project ends up being mediocre due to the lack of a natural and seamless progression in the scenes.

While Rajisha Vijayan once again demonstrates her ability to take on more substantial roles, the shallow and lacklustre nature of her character diminishes the value of her efforts. The same can be said for Vinay Forrt, who delivers a solid performance as a composed police officer. Shebin Benson and Priya Varrier also give decent performances, highlighting their potential for more significant roles if given the opportunity.

Meanwhile, DOP Rajavel Mohan cleverly captures the diverse elements of the rural area in Kottayam, adding some depth to the film. However, this achievement ultimately becomes inconsequential as the narrative lacks direction. It is worth mentioning the commendable work by Rakhil’s art department, Melwy J’s costume design, and Ronnex Xavier’s makeup crew, as they succeed in injecting some much-needed flavour into an otherwise unremarkable flick. On the other hand, Shaan Rahman’s music evokes a mixed response. While it manages to intrigue in certain moments, it becomes jarring and unpleasant in others.

In short, Kolla is the result of a series of missed chances, where clever and captivating opportunities are squandered due to the absence of a compelling and enthralling script.

Kolla movie cast: Rajisha Vijayan, Priya Prakash Varrier, Vinay Forrt, Alencier, Shebin Benson, Jeo Baby
Kolla movie director: Suraj Varma
Kolla movie rating: 2 stars