Pathirathri movie review: Navya Nair and Soubin Shahir deliver a generic crime drama

Although Ratheena’s directorial debut, Puzhu (2022), was hard-hitting, featuring an extraordinary Mammootty at its centre, one of the film’s major shortcomings was its lack of subtlety, with everything either too on-the-nose or presented as overly obvious metaphors. In Pathirathri, however, she has clearly tried to avoid similar intellectual exercises and present things as cinematically as possible. However, where the crime drama falters is in its inability to strike a chord with viewers, leaving them as mere observers rather than drawing them into the film’s world and making them feel part of its unfolding events.

While we see that both Jancy and Hareesh are in dysfunctional marriages and experience occasional emotional breakdowns as a result, Shaji Maraad’s script fails to weave their personal struggles into either the narrative or their characterisations, thus leaving these elements as mere performative additions for dramatic effect. Although Pathirathri shows Jancy growing emotionally weak whenever the topic is her husband Felix (Shabareesh Varma), who is on a “spiritual journey” detached from her, and Hareesh being dejected when thinking of his daughter, who lives with his estranged wife, the film never manages to interweave these plot devices with the core story, thus leaving them to run in parallel.

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Nonetheless, even these emotions don’t reach us, as is the case with the mounting tension, due to the lack of impactful moments and the amateurish manner in which many scenes and characters are developed. For instance, although Jancy and Hareesh initially dislike each other, once they become embroiled in the case, they have no choice but to work together to find a way out. However, at a certain point, they become each other’s emotional support. Jancy even visits him while grief-stricken and melts into his arms, but Pathirathri fails to show how they arrive at this stage. The absence of meaningful scenes depicting the gradual transformation in their arcs may have contributed to it coming across as sudden.

Although the narrative takes a turn when DySP Suresh Kumar enters, the entire case and its investigation are marred by convenient writing that relies heavily on obvious coincidences rather than smartly crafted incidents. From the manner in which the central crime is committed to how it is eventually solved by the officers and the climactic revelation, the writing is too lazy to be pardoned. At the same time, there are numerous occasions when Pathirathri evokes a sense of déjà vu, bringing to mind films like Nayattu (2021), Ronth (2025), and Thudarum (2025). This is not necessarily because Shaji Maraad has lifted from these films, but rather because his script is filled with generic elements that haven’t been meaningfully and uniquely developed.

The movie also deals with the topic of extramarital affairs. From the moment this plot device is introduced to a particular juncture, we feel that Pathirathri is trying to glorify the practice. However, the film later subjects the same idea to a peripeteia, revealing its other side. While Ratheena and Shaji may have intended to present an uncritical view before subverting it later to expose both perspectives, the attempt falls short, primarily due to a lack of organic narrative flow. Instead, these elements appear as separate segments introduced into the script at various points in time to lend weight to the case and the narrative as a whole.

Soubin Shahir once again proves that he is extraordinary when working with a director who knows how to bring out the best in him. Even though the character of Hareesh doesn’t have many layers script-wise, the actor manages to bring depth to his portrayal. While Navya Nair is spectacular when Jancy is at her most vulnerable, she falters in moments that demand greater restraint. In such scenes, she often appears bland and clueless, unsure of how to perform in accordance with the acting style in vogue, which values subtlety over overt dramatics, in contrast to the early 2000s when she made her debut. While Achyuth Kumar’s dubbing is horrendous, Pathirathri also wastes Harisree Asokan in a very basic supporting character. Although his screentime is limited, Indrans manages to leave a strong impression, thanks in particular to his talent in narration.

Soubin Shahir once again proves that he is extraordinary when working with a director who knows how to bring out the best in him.

On the technical front, composer Jakes Bijoy completely disappoints, particularly with his out-of-place and forgettable background tracks. While Shehnad Jalal’s cinematography shines at certain moments, it fails to capture the landscape’s ethos in a meaningful way, ultimately resulting in a disjointed mix of visuals. Shaji Pulpally’s makeup, along with Liji Preman and Dhanya Balakrishnan’s costumes, deserves praise.

Pathirathri movie cast: Navya Nair, Soubin Shahir, Ann Augustine, Sunny Wayne, Harisree Asokan, Achyuth Kumar, Indrans
Pathirathri movie director: Ratheena
Pathirathri movie rating: 2 stars