Nunakuzhi movie review: Jeethu Joseph and Basil Joseph hit a home run with this comedy of errors

While Jeethu Joseph cannot be labelled as a filmmaker who consistently delivers, whenever he does, it exceeds all expectations — as seen in films like My Boss (2012), Memories (2013), Drishyam (2013), Life of Josutty (2015), Drishyam 2 (2021) and Kooman (2022, except for its problematic climax). Here, he ventures into a territory he previously never explored and emerges with flying colours, delivering a well-crafted comedy of errors that offers equal parts laughter and edge-of-the-seat moments, all neatly tied together by a good script penned by KR Krishna Kumar. Unlike his family dramas like Mummy & Me (2010) and Life of Josutty or the romantic slapstick comedy My Boss, in Nunakuzhi, Jeethu, with Krishna Kumar’s help, blends realistic situations with humour while adding his signature thriller elements, keeping the audience engaged throughout without giving them a moment to reflect or even catch their breath.

If it was Georgekutty (Mohanlal) that he used in Drishyam to mislead both other characters and the audience until the very end, in Nunakuzhi, Jeethu keeps the audience in the loop throughout while toying with the characters, leading them into increasingly troublesome situations through a series of lies they tell each other for various reasons, all the while extracting as much comedy as possible — like a master puppeteer. Nunakuzhi’s treatment is such that it could even remind one of the humour in chaos in old Priyadarshan-Mohanlal movies such as such as Poochakkoru Mookkuthi (1984), Boeing Boeing (1985), Aram + Aram = Kinnaram (1985), Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu (1986), Hello My Dear Wrong Number (1986), Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988), Vandanam (1989) and Kilukkam (1991).

Watch Nunakuzhi trailer here:

While Nunakuzhi also employs a parallel narrative structure to a good extent, Krishna Kumar skillfully interlinks the stories to ensure that the audience remains engaged without feeling abruptly switched between stories or noticing any gaps in the subplots. However, if the makers had focused more on the dialogues, the script might have been even better and humorous, as it often seemed like the actors were doing all the heavy lifting.

Basil Joseph is as impressive as it can get as the spoiled, narcissistic and egoistic, yet stupid, rich man and he seldom holds back in packing punches. Especially since the character is almost tailor-made for him, Basil fully embraces Eby without disappointing anywhere. Even when the role calls for exaggerated and caricatured traits, Basil manages to avoid turning it into something cringeworthy, finding the right balance from the outset. At those times when his dialogue lacks punch, Basil adds an extra touch to his lines, ensuring to elicit laughter.

While the one-liners work best when delivered by Baiju Santhosh, each humorous moment is enhanced by a cast of performers who clearly know their craft. Grace Antony, Siddique, Aju Varghese, Azees Nedumangad, Manoj K Jayan, Binu Pappu and Althaf Salim all significantly contribute to the comedic chaos, making the best use of their physical fluidity, dialogue delivery and mannerisms. Even while ensuring that the viewers are well aware of the mounting tension their respective characters are feeling at any juncture, none of the actors compromise on timing, ensuring that the comedy lands effectively. Despite their crucial roles, Nikhila Vimal and Lena are given insufficient space and screen time to make a meaningful impact due to weak character development.

Composer Vishnu Shyam’s background score and title track, which could remind one of “Kalikkalam Ithu Kalikkalam” from Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), greatly enhance the film’s appeal, supported by the effective work of lyricist Vinayak Sasikumar. At the same time, DOP Satheesh Kurup and editor Vinayak VS also deserve praise for their contributions. The costume design by Linta Jeethu and the make-up by Ratheesh Vijayan are also noteworthy.

For those who prefer only subtle situational comedy, Nunakuzhi may seem loud, over-the-top and even grating. But for those who enjoy comedy that unfolds through a chain reaction of events, eventually spiralling into complete chaos, this Jeethu Joseph film could be just what you need this week.

Nunakuzhi movie cast: Basil Joseph, Grace Antony, Nikhila Vimal, Siddique
Nunakuzhi movie director: Jeethu Joseph
Nunakuzhi movie rating: 3 stars