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Kurup Movie Review : A compelling tale of an unending hunt

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Kurup - Official Malayalam Trailer

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Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

Hasvini 893 days ago

Shovon bhattacharjee dip 926 days ago.

The storyline of this movie is just amazing and The acting is also very good, This Movie has a very different kind of story, I think no one watched this kind of story before. Overall very good movie and I enjoyed it a lot.

Sagar S Krishna murthy 945 days ago

It is one of the best entertainers in recent times. The role has been handled very well by our hero. Overall a good watch. The audience can be on the edge until very end.

User 945 days ago

Superb awesome performance by Dulquer Salman

Siva Raman 949 days ago

I dont know how this movie is getting positive reviews. The storyline is very average and simple no complete explanation is given of his misdeeds... Sometimes you feel rushed.... Only saving grace is Dulqar.

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'Kurup' movie review: Dulquer Salmaan leads a stunningly designed, globe-trotting crime epic

Im not giving anything away when I say that at one point in Kurup, Sudhakara Kurup (Dulquer Salmaan) assumes a name shared by an iconic character played by Mammootty in the 90s. So, in my mind, Kurup fulfilled two of my wishes. One, seeing the story of ‘India’s most wanted fugitive’ realised on the big screen, on the grandest scale imaginable. Two, seeing Dulquer do a sequel/reboot of his father’s film, even though Kurup has nothing to do with that one. But, hey, that’s how my mind works.

I’ve been drawn to true crime stories right from my childhood, and the Sukumara Kurup episode—Kerala police’s most embarrassing case —has found a permanent fixture in my head. And I’m not alone. Everyone familiar with the case’s elementary aspects has been curious about the devious brain that orchestrated a chilling murder in 1984 and has been absconding ever since. What were the impulses that drove the man? How does his family feel about the whole thing? How does his victim’s family feel about it? I can only imagine.

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One of my favourite films about real-life con artists is Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. I would say Kurup created in me a similar impact. The only difference is, Frank Abagnale Jr. did not kill anyone. But like him, Sudhakara Kurup indulges in his share of fraudulent activity. Does the film do justice to the actual events? Yes. Do I believe everything shown in it? Not really. But that’s not really a problem. Since the makers haven’t used the real names here, they can take the story to whichever place they want to as long as it stays true to the actual case, which it does. As for what happened later, the film branches off into a parallel universe. Whatever you see may or may not have happened.  

Sukumara Kurup becomes Sudhakara Kurup; the victim, Chacko, becomes Charlie (a top Malayalam star in a cameo); the cop, Haridas, becomes Krishnadas (Indrajith Sukumaran); and Sarasamma becomes Sharada Kurup. I can imagine many of us wondering whether Sukumara Kurup was as stylish or daring as Sudhakara Kurup in real-life. Again, parallel universe. Considering that the real Kurup was said to be wealthy and flamboyant with connections in high places, there is much space for creative liberties and making some plot developments seem plausible. I liked how the film plays around with story structure instead of the textbook ‘biopic’ approach. It goes back and forth between multiple time periods, beginning with the 60s. In some places, it omits certain plot developments only to explore them later. There were also instances where the writers go for a mini-recap of scenes that we already saw, which makes sense from a storyteller’s point of view.

Dulquer plays Kurup as an arrogant, ambitious man who began exhibiting deviant behaviour from his younger days. But what is the strong trigger that compels him to commit a heinous crime in his adult life? Was it his mistreatment during his time in the armed forces? Or was it something else? Where did he find the confidence to know that he could evade capture? In the film, Sudhakara Kurup goes into a ‘phase’ now and then— indicated by him touching his right eyebrow. His adventures are fascinating, but at no point did I see Dulquer’s portrayal as a glorification. It is, undoubtedly, one of Dulquer’s most nuanced performances. I was glad to see no one clapping for Sudhakara Kurup in a packed theatre. I have to admit, though, that I wished for Dulquer’s wardrobe.

Every frame in this film looks like a million bucks. Its top-notch production value is on par with anything seen in Hollywood. Every penny spent is there for everyone to see. One might argue that this ‘manufactured’ look is not what cinematography is all about, but I say, why does it have to be? Cinema is, ultimately, meant to provide escapism, which Kurup pulls off with elan. It scores in every department, from the art department (Banglan, who previously worked wonders in Kammara Sambhavam) to the opulent imagery (Nimish Ravi creating magic with amber lighting and a brown-dominated colour palette).

But one thing that bothered me is why Sharada became forgotten after a certain point. I was curious to see how a criminal’s wife felt after he abandoned her. I wished to see Sobhita Dhulipala essay a fully-fleshed out character rather than simply a woman confused by her husband’s behaviour. We never get to see her life after her husband goes into hiding. In a film that is otherwise emotionally detached, which is apt given the subject matter, it would’ve benefitted from an extra emotional layering, aside from giving us a sense of the situation of Charlie’s wife.

The real star of the film is Shine Tom Chacko as Kurup’s accomplice, Bhasi Pillai. If you thought you saw all the dimensions of the actor before, wait till you see this one. He manages to surprise yet again with a performance that registers a high reading on the creep-o-meter. If I saw him coming from a mile away, I would try to stay as far away from him as possible. He is the personification of a loose cannon. There was a point where I imagined a Malayalam version of Goodfellas or Casino with Shine taking on the characters immortalised by Joe Pesci. I don’t know if Bhasi’s real-life version was this way, but Shine firing on all cylinders is such a delight to see.

I’m still a bit conflicted about the ending. One half of my brain says it should’ve ended one way, and the other half is okay with how the film ended. I don’t think one viewing is enough to absorb all its details. I’ve already made up my mind to see it again.

Kurup Srinath Rajendran Dulquer Salmaan, Sobhita Dhulipala, Shine Tom Chacko, Indrajith Sukumaran

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Kurup movie review: Dulquer Salmaan’s film is a compelling crime drama about an elusive fugitive

Kurup movie review: dulquer salmaan plays the elusive fugitive with swag and sincerity in this srinath rajendran film..

The story of Sukumara Kurup– one of the most wanted Indian fugitives who faked his own death by taking the life of a lookalike for life insurance– is one of the most spine-chilling crime stories to have come out of India. The fact that he managed to pull off the crime and not get caught till date makes this story even more exciting. Dulquer Salman ’s Kurup, a compelling crime drama, attempts to narrate this story of the notorious, elusive criminal in the most realistic fashion while taking certain cinematic liberties. Spanning over three decades, Kurup manages to impress, especially in recreating the mood of the times.

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Kurup opens in the year 2005 at the retirement ceremony of deputy superintendent of police Krishnadas (Indrajith Sukumaran). As Krishnadas gets his office cleaned, his subordinate stumbles upon a diary named Kurup, and through it, we’re introduced to Gopi Krishna aka GK (Dulquer Salmaan) who later becomes Sudhakara Kurup. GK is introduced as a wayward youngster who has always lived life on his own terms. He joins the Indian Air Force after his parents and uncle feel it’s the perfect place to discipline him. GK is the kind of guy who always has a trick up his sleeve. He knows ways to earn a few bucks quickly, and he soon turns into an expatriate, and later, a fugitive. GK goes on to acquire the identity of Sudhakara Kurup, and the rest of the story is about how he fooled the entire Kerala police department and led them on a never-ending hunt for his whereabouts.

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It’s heartening to know that Srinath Rajendran doesn’t try to humanize this story of a fugitive, who almost became a heroic figure among people. The film presents Kurup with all his flaws and enables us to see him as this man with no ethics whatsoever. As the central character, Dulquer Salman plays Kurup with unmatchable swag and effortlessness. Most of the first half is spent on building the character and thankfully there’s no explaining behind what made Kurup so flawed. The film does take the mainstream route to somewhat stylishly showcase Kurup’s character and it’s understandable that these things are needed when it comes to commercial cinema. Thankfully, it doesn’t go overboard. The recreation of the period portion – the 70s, 80s and 90s - aids beautifully in storytelling and setting up the mood of the film. The narrative is also strongly elevated by the brilliant score by Sushin Shyam.

Kurup does feel long drawn at times but the suspense behind the huntkeeps the film largely engaging. Indrajith Sukumaran is aptly cast as the investigating police officer and as much as you’d feel that his characters doesn’t get its due, it’s well justified in the end.

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Home » Review » Kurup movie review: With an engaging narrative style, Dulquer Salmaan’s conman saga is thoroughly entertaining »

Kurup movie review: With an engaging narrative style, Dulquer Salmaan’s conman saga is thoroughly entertaining

The structure of the film is almost like a puzzle, where each chapter is a jigsaw piece and the audience has to assemble it from the information provided to finally figure out the mind of the man.

• Sanjith Sidhardhan

Last Updated: 12.10 PM, Nov 12, 2021

Story: Born as Gopikrishnan, a young airman fakes his own death and assumes a new identity, first to desert the Indian Air Force. Later, he tries to pull off the same stunt with a group of men to get his insurance money. Only the second time, it doesn’t go quite as planned and the cops led by DYSP Krishnadas are on his tail as he flees from state to state, in this retelling of the life of one of India’s most wanted fugitives, Sukumara Kurup.

Review: It’s not often that another character’s deeds get cheered for in a movie where a superstar plays a role with grey shades. On that level of storytelling itself, director Srinath Rajendran succeeds in partially answering the perennial question he has been plagued with - whether Kurup “glorifies” the murder-accused fugitive Sukumara Kurup. Amid all its surprises, shocks, period detailing, star cast and style, it’s the narrative structure of Kurup that stands tall and almost makes it one of the better thrillers about con men to release in Indian cinema. To even narrow the film’s genre to just a thriller is a crime, Srinath’s movie is more than that – based on the chapters it unravels.

The film is the director’s take on the life of Sukumara Kurup, told through the accounts of Kurup’s friend during his airman days, his accomplice in the crime, the investigative officer handling the Chacko murder case and, we even get Kurup’s version where most of the fictional elements are in play, to provide closure to the largely-entertaining film. To show that Kurup is only inspired by true incidents, the names of the characters are all changed – Sukumara Kurup is Sudhakara Kurup, his wife Sarasamma is Sharada, his brother-in-law Bhaskara Pillai is Bhasi Pillai, Chacko is Charlie and so on. However, the core incident of that made Kurup’s story an urban legend – of how his plan of faking his death through a body that resembles his takes shape and how the heinous crime is committed – is still intact.

Being that the story is widely known to the public in Kerala, the task that the scriptwriters – Daniell Sayooj Nair and KS Aravind – and the director had was to sculpt an engaging tale that would keep them on the edge of their seats. They succeed to a large extent by showing the different sides of Kurup, his world and his people. This also allows the audience to frame their opinion on whether he was a mastermind or someone with a mindless plan. The structure of the film is almost like a puzzle, where each chapter is a jigsaw piece and the audience has to assemble it from the information provided to finally figure out the mind of the man.

In that regard, most of the movie also has an authentic feel to it, that also helps majorly in believing that it’s based on true incidents. That’s also why Kurup’s version of events – which is supposed to gel the other chapters – sticks out. Probably the makers wanted to go for a pacy, entertaining finish that also played to the masses – which it does – but it takes away from the efficient storytelling that keeps many invested till then. The stylised elements and flair that Kurup gets could remind some of movies such as Lord of War or Blow in certain portions where he is involved in arms smuggling, but it’s a huge step up in believability from the rest of the movie. Another grouse is that the start of certain chapters does slow down. This is because the preceding episode often ends on a high, and this causes an imbalance in the pace of storytelling.

Kurup is almost a role that was tailor-made for Dulquer; the actor carries off the swagger and but also gently toes the line between a mastermind and someone who just miscalculated the whole situation. In a particular scene where he absconds to Bombay to meet his aunt, who ask him if he is capable of killing somebody, Kurup summarises what had happened – even getting the audience to believe his bluff. While there are enough ‘mass’ scenes in the film with Dulquer pulling off all sorts of disguises as the fugitive on the run, where he truly shines are his combination sequences with Shine Tom Chacko. There’s a sense of foreboding in those scenes that he ably brings to the surface and it’s a marked difference from the earlier versions or the ones you seen in the latter half.

Shine is on top form as Bhasi Pillai – a constantly inebriated and jarring individual – and it’s easily one of his best performances yet. Indrajith as Krishnadas lends the right balance as the cop focused on hunting down a man who destroyed the lives of not just Charlie but his family too. Sobhita and Sunny Wayne play their parts effectively in the film that predominantly focuses on the incident in 1984. The film also has a few surprises in store.

The production team, led by Banglan, deserves special mention for authentically recreating the bygone era from the 60s to the 80s – complete with evolving fashion, cars and modalities. Cinematographer Nimish Ravi’s visuals are taut and delightful, straddling between the cityscapes during Kurup’s romantic chapters, the grim interiors of a car where the criminals hatch their plan, the pacy chase scenes and the lavish life in the Middle East – all the while ensuring that the intensity doesn’t wane. Sushin Shyam’s music gives Kurup the verve that a film about a conman requires. To cap it off, this film is definitely meant for theatre viewing.

Verdict: Srinath Rajendran and Dulquer succeed in pulling off a movie about an infamous fugitive through effective storytelling and engaging narrative, all the while ensuring that they do justice to the true accounts and use cinematic elements that a big movie with a star require. Kurup is a must watch and one of the better films about a conman on the run.

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'Kurup' review: An engaging crime thriller with some interesting revelations

Dulquer Salmaan as Kurup is a delight to watch

It is not easy for a movie maker to keep the audience on the edge of the seat if the plot is already known or the story of the person or incident the film is based on is widely covered on the media. But Srinath Rajendran’s Kurup is an exception.

The story of Sukumara Kurup, one of the most wanted criminals from Kerala, who faked his death by murdering a man who resembled him for the insurance money, has fascinated people from the state for decades. What awaits you in theatres is not just how the crime unfolds, but plenty of twists and suspenseful moments that are highly entertaining.

Kurup is a slow burner, but the brilliant performance of Shine Tom Chacko as Bhaskara Pillai compensates for the lag in the initial proceedings. The movie begins to be much more engaging in the second half. Even though Pillai’s character gets a negative portrayal, the speculations that the character of Kurup would be glorified in the movie have been proved wrong. The movie also throws light into a few areas of Kurup's life that are relatively unknown, and the climax will throw at you a few surprises.

Dulquer Salmaan as Kurup is a delight to watch. His looks, swag and smirk lend credence to the wily character that he is portraying. Dulquer manages to effortlessly assume new styles and identities as Kurup goes on the run. The stylist too deserves a cheer for transforming the actor as he sheds identities and assumes new ones. There is also a Dulquer and Sunny Wayne combo moment, if you are a fan of the two.

Director Srinath Rajendran manages to craft a realistic and engaging thriller. The screenplay and dialogues does not overpower the narration with 'mass' moments.

The other actors, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith, Surabhi Lakshmi, Anupama and Sobhita, too have come up with credible performances.

The only drawback is the juggling narration that lagged in the first half. At a run-time of two hours and 30 minutes, the movie would have benefitted some more if edited tighter.

If you are still debating on watching this movie on the big scree, I recommend you to grab a ticket at the earliest. The BGM, songs and setting of the movie is perfect for viewing on the big screen.

Movie: Kurup

Director: Srinath Rajendran

Starring: Dulquer Salmaan, Sobhita Dhulipala, Tovino Thomas, Shine Tom Chacko, Indrajith Sukumaran, Sunny Wayne

Rating: 3.5\5

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Release Date : November 12,2021

123telugu.com Rating : 2.5/5

Starring: Dulquer Salmaan, Sobhita Dhulipala , Indrajith Sukumaran, Shine Tom Chacko, Sunny Wayne, Bharath Niwas

Director: Srinath Rajendran

Producers: Wayfarer Films & M-Star Entertainments

Music Director: Sushin Shyam

Cinematography : Nimish Ravi

Editor: Vivek Harshan

Along with two Telugu films, a dubbed Malayalam film in the form of Kurup has been released today. Starring Dulquer Salman, this film is out today, and let’s see how it is.

Gopi Krishnan(Dulquer Salman) is a small-time thief whose crimes get bigger. In this process, he also falls in love with Saradamba(Shobita Dhulipala). As time passes by, Gopi Krishna plans this one big crime to settle down and makes everyone believe that he is dead. He then takes an avatar of Sudhakar Kurup and becomes India’s most wanted fugitive. Who is this Kurup and what’s his life story and how he evades the cops is the story.

Plus Points:

Dulquer Salman is a crazy actor and does the best in this film. The film showcases his rise and the various aspects in this regard have been acted so well by Dulquer. Be it his looks, body language, or screen presence, Dulquer is a one-man show.

Shobitha Dhulipala is amazing as the heroine and is gorgeous in her homely looks. Indrajit Sukumaran plays his supporting role well and so were the supporting cast. The story of the film is quite interesting and the manner in which Duluqer’s life graph has been showcased is also good.

Minus Points:

Gopi Krishna’s character is ended and Dulquer Salman gets a new name in the film. All the scenes which relate to this aspect are not that effective and do not create much impact.

The film has decent thrills in the second half but gets bogged down in the first half. The so-called suspense-filled scenes are not that great and create a dull effect. Also, the film takes its own sweet time to enter the main plot.

Technical Aspects:

Production values of the film are top-notch and even better is the camera work. The way crime scenes are showcased looks good on screen. The BGM and costume design for Dulquer is also amazing. Coming to the director Srinath, he has done a passable job with the film. Though he showcased Dulquer and his character, well, the conflict point is not handled well in between. But the film has a decent climax.

On the whole, Kurup is a crime drama that has a stellar performance by Dulquer Salman. The film has decent thrills but goes down in the emotional department. Also, the pace is slow and confrontation scenes are dull. All those who love Dulquer Salman will lap up this film but the rest can have their options open.

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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Srinath Rajendran

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'Kurup' review: Fairly engaging despite flaws

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Malayalam (Theatres)

Director: Srinath Rajendran

Cast: Dulquer Slamaan, Indrajith, Sobhitha Dulipala, Shine Tom Chacko

Rating: 3/5

The unsolved mystery of Sukumara Kurup is one of the most spectacular failures of the Kerala police. Kurup became a dreaded criminal when he was accused of faking his own death in 1984 in Alappuzha, Kerala. Investigation concluded that his intention was insurance fraud. The high profile case has thrown up mouthwatering and crazy theories about the man absconding for 37 years.

The meaty story notwithstanding, Srinath Rajendran's 'Kurup' , starring Dulquer Salmaan, comes across underwhelming in the first-half. It does a plain retelling of a legendary murder. Perhaps the film didn't want to romanticise the murder but the crime and the build up to it lack the much-needed tension. Shine Tom Chako plays Bhaskaran Pillai, plays the main accomplice of Kurup (Dulquer) and his performance is a problem. He struggles to get the alcoholic act right and it doesn't help that he gets a large share of screen space in the first-half.

Rajendran's shortcoming as a director is evident in the poorly staged portions of Kurup's life at the Indian Air Force (in reality, Kurup was with the Indian Army). It does a half-baked job of portraying the first signs of his greedy nature, which fuels his downfall later. The slow pace is bothersome as the film wastes the screenplay on Kurup's friendship with Peter that is eventually irrelevant to the story. Kurup's intense love story with Sharada (Sobhita Dhulipala) and Sushin Shyam's music saves the first-half from becoming a drab fest.

The movie finds its act together in the second-half. It zips along nicely as we see Kurup play the cat and mouse game with the police. He is everywhere yet nowhere and how he manages to thrive in multiple ambitious illegal businesses despite being a fugitive is interesting. Fact or fiction, the movie is pulpy and engaging when Kurup is on the run.

'Kurup' defends the Kerala police albeit with an unconvincing reason. This is a rich film that authentically recreates different eras. Full marks to the director for not glorifying the criminal. Dulquer and Indrajith do well expectedly but they aren't extraordinary. 'Kurup' works well in parts but should have been better as a whole.

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'Kurup' Film Review: Dulquer Salmaan Shines In This Compelling Thriller

Our review of dulquer salmaan's new film 'kurup' based on the life of india's longest wanted fugitive., 'kurup' film review: dulquer salmaan shines in this compelling thriller.

Kurup is a film set in a stunningly evoked Indian past. But it can also be viewed as a mad ride into the dreams of an ultra criminal. Obviously a tightrope walk for its makers for many reasons. First being Dulquer Salmaan cast as the protagonist, hence the aspect of glorifying a criminal. Also, almost everyone in Kerala is aware of this case. There have even been films made on it before, even so, a good script with a unique cinematic style makes Kurup stand a shade taller than most others in the crime/conman genre of films made. Kurup stops a whisper short of glorifying the criminal, and here it could also be attributed to the on-point portrayal by Dulquer Salmaan.

The first half of Kurup will leave you a bit dissatisfied and you’d be forgiven if at interval, you feel that you could give the scriptwriters a lesson or two on closing gaps. But the cheeky second half will convince you why Jithin K Jose, Daniell Sayooj Nair and KS Aravind got the job. The film picks up speed and blazes on, bridging all the gaps, doubts and unanswered points the viewer had.

Kurup chronicles the life of conman turned fugitive Sudhakara Kurup, and Kerala police’s unending chase to find him. It's based on the real life case of Sukumara Kurup, who is till today untraceable after strangling and burning to death KJ Chacko in an effort to stage his own death.

Dulquer Salmaan in  Kurup.

Kurup is director Srinath Rajendran’s version of how he sees the case and what happened. The names of all characters have been changed, yet the narrative has stuck to the facts of the case which are in the public domain. Kurup’s version of the truth is where the director takes his creative license. The entire film has an air of authenticity that must be applauded.

The brilliant music and background score by Sushin Shyam, the limber camerawork and nostalgic charm of Nimish Ravi’s cinematography, the stellar character parts played, the unusual, interesting style of cinema… all add up to a fantastic theatrical experience.

Kurup though belongs to Dulquer. His rangy swagger, undisputed star power and lopsided grin was tailor-made to play a larger-than-life conman. He tiptoes around playing Kurup as a selfish villain and someone who becomes a victim of circumstance. The audience I saw the film with were waiting for his slightest gesture to cheer him on… not really his fault if his onscreen charisma kind of overshadowed the criminality of the character he played. Without giving away much, there’s a particular scene where his aunt wonders aloud how he could actually murder anyone, his deft answer will have you believing his lie too.

Shine Tom Chacko as the perennially inebriated lout about town does well too. Though his introduction scene was one clumsy mess - a bit drawn out and forced, yet, it’s easily one of his best performances yet.

Indrajith as Krishnadas effortlessly plays the cop who is focused on hunting down a man with the zeal of a bloodhound. Sunny Wayne is pretty good too. Kurup has some surprising cameo appearances as well, designed to thrill the audience.

The film though could have done with a tighter first half. Most of the problems lay there. The long drawn sequences at the Air Force dragged the pace down. Also, when will we start playing anti-heroes without making them chain smokers?

Yet another major drawback is how unidimensional all the characters are. Kurup himself is never explored. Why is he who he is? Why is he so audaciously criminal? Did he feel guilty about what he’s put people through? His wife, though ably essayed by Sobhita Dhulipala, has virtually no reason to be in the film. Does she know and approve of his criminality? We get to know nothing. If it was just a mad caper that the makers intended, it seems adequate, but the film in its entirety didn’t seem to be just that.

Sobhita Dhulipala and Dulquer Salmaan in  Kurup.

According to leading man Dulquer Salmaan, the makers said no to an OTT deal worth crores because they passionately believed this film was made for the big screen - and this is most certainly true. The crowds outside the theatre (in Bangalore) and the audience's response inside to this slow-burn thriller prove it was a good call.

'Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham' Film Review: A Pointless and Disappointing Comedy

Kurup is a good effort at interesting cinema using facts and weaving possibilities to create a taut thrill of a ride for the audience. It will make you wonder where Kurup could have disappeared, could the film’s version be plausible? You could have theories of your own using the facts. Lots of maybes. My guess though is considering how he smoked in the film, he died a rasping lung cancer death unknown and miserable somewhere. Karma. However, judging by the film’s end, I’d bet Team Kurup is itching for a sequel.

Rating: 3.5 Quints out of 5

(Sangita Nambiar is a writer, active theatre person and deep sea diving enthusiast you can connect with on Twitter @Sanginamby)

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Kurup Movie Review: This Dulquer Salmaan Starrer Is An Engrossing Slow-Burn Thriller!

Kurup , the crime thriller that features Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role, has finally hit the theatres today. The Srinath Rajendran directorial has got a record release in the history of Malayalam cinema, with around 2500 shows on its day 1. Kurup , which features Dulquer Salmaan as India's longest-wanted fugitive Sukumara Kurup, is bankrolled by the actor's home banner Wayfarer Films and M-Star Entertainments.

*No Spoilers Ahead*

What's Yay:

Performances

Background Music

Technical Aspects

What's Nay:

The slow-paced first half

Krishna Das (Indrajith Sukumaran), a senior police officer retires from the force after a praiseworthy service that lasted for over 3 decades. His junior officer (Saiju Kurup) goes through Krishna Das's diary, which narrates the story of India's longest wanted fugitive Gopi Krishnan aka Sudhakara Kurup (Dulquer Salmaan). What happened in Kurup 's life forms the crux of the film.

Script & Direction

Director Srinath Rajendran and writers trio Jithin K Jose, Daniell Sayooj Nair, and KS Aravind have crafted an engrossing slow-burn thriller that emerges as an enjoyable theatre experience. Kurup narrates the real-life tale of India's longest-wanted fugitive with an ample dose of cinematic liberties. The narrative unfolds with a slow-paced first half that takes its own sweet time to establish the premise and characters. The non-linear way of storytelling seemed messy in the first half, but all the loose ends were connected in the highly engaging second half.

The biggest positive factor of Kurup is that it does not celebrate or glorify the absconded criminal. The Srinath Rajendran directorial also doesn't restrict itself as a mere spectator of Kerala's most-discussed crime story. Instead, what the movie puts forward is a mix of the story which is known to all and the fictional world where Kurup's journey as an individual was set in.

Kurup is going to be a bumpy ride for the viewers who watch it expecting a thorough entertainer with some 'mass' moments. But, for those who are willing to surrender themselves completely to the film without prejudice, Kurup is going to be a fascinating movie experience that unfolds rather slowly.

Dulquer Salmaan sheds his boy-next-door image and delivers one of the most powerful performances of his career as Kurup. The actor deserves special applause for choosing a negative role without inhibitions and letting his co-stars take the center stage when it is needed. What a brave career choice..!!

Indrajith Sukumaran amazes with the exceptional underplay, and once again proves his expertise in playing cop roles in the role of DYSP Krishna Das. But it is Shine Tom Chacko as Bhasi who steals the show with his performance, which is one of the best we have seen in Malayalam cinema in recent times.

Shobita Dhulipala impresses with her subtle portrayal of Kurup's wife Sharada. The rest of the star cast, including Sunny Wayne, Bharath, late P Balachandran, Vijayaraghavan, Saiju Kurup, Hareesh Kanaran, Sudeesh, MR Gopakumar, Surabhi Lakshmi, Maya Menon, Vijayakumar, Shivajith Padmanabhan, and others have played their parts well. The special cameos definitely worked well too.

Nimish Ravi's excellent visualisation and Banglan's fantastic production design have played a major role in building the universe of Kurup with absolute conviction. Vivek Harshan scores with his editing skills, which has enhanced the non-linear narrative.

But it is Sushin Shyam, the music composer who emerges as an absolute star. The young musician once again astonishes with the haunting background score, which has played a major role in bringing life to the universe of Kurup . The songs are good, except 'Dingiri Dingale' which looked rather unnecessary.

Kurup is an engrossing slow-burn thriller that stays true to its genre. Exceptional casting, brilliant making, and technical aspects make this Dulquer Salmaan starrer a fantastic theatre experience.

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'Kurup': An investigative thriller that fails to impress

Director Srinath Rajendran's 'Kurup', which looks to narrate the story of Sudhakara Kurup, a man believed to be Kerala's most elusive criminal, is a lavishly made, slow-moving investigative thriller that ends up leaving you with more questions than answers.

Kurup's story is told through the jottings in the diary of a police officer Krishnadas (Played by Indrajith Sukumaran), who has just retired.

We are introduced to Gopikrishnan Pillai (played by Dulquer Salmaan), a street-smart opportunist with swag and a wicked sense of humour. The picaresque hero from a little known place in Kerala makes his way into the Indian Air Force and is stationed at Chennai in the 1960s, where he sees an opportunity to make money by selling alcohol, meant for Indian Air Force personnel, in black.

When he gets to understand how much he can make through the backdoor, he widens his scope and begins selling other items, including footwear meant for air force personnel to those outside the force.

The station head, who understands Gopikrishnan's crooked nature well, has him transferred to Bombay in the hope that the strict in-charge there will set him straight. In Bombay, the man is made a store assistant, more as a punishment than anything else.

However, Gopikrishnan Pillai sees an opportunity here as well and in place of alcohol, starts selling arms and ammunition. At one point, when the entries in the registry don't add up, Gopikrishanan is hauled up and asked to explain. That puts him in a spot. The smart cookie that he is, Gopikrishnan Pillai goes on sick leave for a month and heads back to his native place in Kerala, where he stages his own death to fool the IAF.

Having done that, he assumes a new name, Sudhakara Kurup, and gets down to do dirty work. What he does then is what primarily gets him into trouble and makes him a fugitive...

The story of Sudhakara Kurup is narrated in a non-linear fashion, which is to say the story's developments aren't told to us in a sequence. The story moves back and forth, shifting focus to different events at different points in Kurup's life and narrated from different perspectives.

The first half of the film progresses at a gentle pace, showcasing a mischevious and bold individual who even has one or two good traits.

For instance, Kurup does not ditch Sharadha, the girl who falls in love with him. Unmindful of the pressing and difficult circumstances he finds himself in, he makes his way back to Bombay to find her and take her abroad.

The first half is so slow that by the time it ends, you begin to wonder why is a man who is wanted in just one murder case considered such a big criminal.

The answer to that question lies in the second half, which, however, seems to narrate events in a rush. What the first half lacks, the second has in excess.

It's almost like a student who has been writing an exam at a gentle, steady pace, suddenly realising that he has a lot of questions to answer and very little time to finish.

In the process, what we have are sequences that narrate the story in a hurry. As a result, you end up with a number of unanswered questions, giving you a sense of dissatisfaction.

To be fair to 'Kurup', the film has its share of pluses as well.

Dulquer Salmaan as Gopikrishnan Pillai a.k.a. Sudhakara Kurup is just brilliant. From the moment he appears on screen, Dulquer commands your attention, easily slipping into the skin of the character. Be it crime or comedy or for that matter, romance, the guy is equally at ease.

Equally impressive is Indrajith Sukumaran, who plays police officer Krishnadas. Two other people whose performances stand out are Shine Tom Chacko and Bharath.

Nimish Ravi's visuals are a delight to watch. The lighting, the tone and the angles set for the shots are all just brilliant.

Recreating a different era is no joke and the team of 'Kurup' seems to have done an outstanding job in this regard too. Be it the mid-sixties, when the story starts, or the seventies or for that matter, 2005, every era is just perfectly showcased. Be it the mannerisms of people, buildings, dressing styles or vehicles used, everything seems to be in place.

There is so much effort that seems to have gone into this project that 'Kurup' ends up coming across as a film that so desperately wants to meet our huge expectations. However, sadly, it falls short of doing so.

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Kurup Movie Review: Dulquer Salmaan leads a stunningly designed, globe-trotting crime epic

Rating: ( 4 / 5).

I'm not giving anything away when I say that at one point in Kurup , Sudhakara Kurup (Dulquer Salmaan) assumes a name shared by an iconic character played by Mammootty in the 90s. So, in my mind, Kurup fulfilled two of my wishes. One, seeing the story of 'India's most wanted fugitive' realised on the big screen, on the grandest scale imaginable. Two, seeing Dulquer do a sequel/reboot of his father's film, even though Kurup has nothing to do with that one. But, hey, that's how my mind works.  

ALSO READ: Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham Movie Review - Nivin Pauly and gang excel in this deftly-staged comic caper

I've been drawn to true crime stories right from my childhood, and the Sukumara Kurup episode—Kerala police's most embarrassing case—has found a permanent fixture in my head. And I'm not alone. Everyone familiar with the case's elementary aspects has been curious about the devious brain that orchestrated a chilling murder in 1984 and has been absconding ever since. What were the impulses that drove the man? How does his family feel about the whole thing? How does his victim's family feel about it? I can only imagine.

One of my favourite films about real-life con artists is Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can . I would say Kurup created in me a similar impact. The only difference is, Frank Abagnale Jr. did not kill anyone. But like him, Sudhakara Kurup indulges in his share of fraudulent activity. Does the film do justice to the actual events? Yes. Do I believe everything shown in it? Not really. But that's not really a problem. Since the makers haven't used the real names here, they can take the story to whichever place they want to as long as it stays true to the actual case, which it does. As for what happened later, the film branches off into a parallel universe. Whatever you see may or may not have happened. 

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Sukumara Kurup becomes Sudhakara Kurup; the victim, Chacko, becomes Charlie (a top Malayalam star in a cameo); the cop, Haridas, becomes Krishnadas (Indrajith Sukumaran); and Sarasamma becomes Sharada Kurup. I can see many of us wondering whether Sukumara Kurup was as stylish or daring as Sudhakara Kurup in real-life. Again, parallel universe. Considering that the real Kurup was said to be wealthy and flamboyant with connections in high places, there is much space for creative liberties and making some plot developments seem plausible. I liked how the film plays around with story structure instead of the textbook 'biopic' approach. It goes back and forth between multiple time periods, beginning with the 60s. In some places, it omits certain plot developments only to explore them later. There were also instances where the writers go for a mini-recap of scenes that we already saw, which makes sense from a storyteller's point of view.

Dulquer plays Kurup as an arrogant, ambitious man who began exhibiting deviant behaviour from his younger days. But what is the strong trigger that compels him to commit a heinous crime in his adult life? Was it his mistreatment during his time in the armed forces? Or was it something else? Where did he find the confidence to know that he could evade capture? In the film, Sudhakara Kurup goes into a 'phase' now and then -- indicated by him touching his right eyebrow. His adventures are fascinating, but at no point did I see Dulquer's portrayal as a glorification. It is, undoubtedly, one of Dulquer's most nuanced performances. I was glad to see no one clapping for Sudhakara Kurup in a packed theatre. I have to admit, though, that I wished for Dulquer's wardrobe.

Every frame in this film looks like a million bucks. Its top-notch production value is on par with anything seen in Hollywood. Every penny spent is there for everyone to see. One might argue that this 'manufactured' look is not what cinematography is all about, but I say, why does it have to be? Cinema is, ultimately, meant to provide escapism, which Kurup pulls off with elan. It scores in every department, from the art department (Banglan, who previously worked wonders in Kammara Sambhavam ) to the opulent imagery (Nimish Ravi creating magic with amber lighting and a brown-dominated colour palette).

But one thing that bothered me is why Sharada became forgotten after a certain point. I was curious to see how a criminal's wife felt after he abandoned her. I wished to see Sobhita Dhulipala essay a fully-fleshed out character rather than simply a woman confused by her husband's behaviour. We never get to see her life after her husband goes into hiding. In a film that is otherwise emotionally detached, which is apt given the subject matter, it would've benefitted from an extra emotional layering, aside from giving us a sense of the situation of Charlie's wife.

The real star of the film is Shine Tom Chacko as Kurup's accomplice, Bhasi Pillai. If you thought you saw all the dimensions of the actor before, wait till you see this one. He manages to surprise yet again with a performance that registers a high reading on the 'creep-o-meter'. If I saw him coming from a mile away, I would try to stay as far away from him as possible. He is the personification of a loose cannon. There was a point where I imagined a Malayalam version of Goodfellas or Casino with Shine taking on the characters immortalised by Joe Pesci. I don't know if Bhasi's real-life version was this way, but Shine firing on all cylinders is such a delight to see.

I'm still a bit conflicted about the ending. One half of my brain says it should've ended one way, and the other half is okay with how the film ended. I don't think one viewing is enough to absorb all its details. I've already made up my mind to see it again. 

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Kurup movie review: Takes too long to get to the point, but stays interesting once it gets there. Plus there’s DQ!

Dulquer Salmaan uses his looks and charm not to make us like the lead, but to establish him as a deceptively likeable and restless rascal, a smooth operator who can worm his way into anyone’s affections.

Language: Malayalam  

It goes without saying that Kurup is speculative. This biopic of one of India’s most wanted criminals, Sukumara Kurup , winds its way through chapters of the man’s life about which there is little or no public record. The crime that put him on the map took place in 1984, but director Srinath Rajendran travels back to a time well before that in the 1960s when the protagonist in his youth began showing early signs of his penchant for deception, and stays with him much after, making sensational, even amusingly outlandish, assumptions about his deeds while on the run.

The real Sukumara Kurup is accused of having murdered a man and faked his own death to claim insurance in the 1980s. The scenes in Kurup covering the horrific actions that got him on the police’s radar are neatly handled. This was not a dreaded gangster, but a regular chap who did something terrible. That is perhaps why he has captured the imagination of both the public and filmmakers, the last one being none other than Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner Adoor Gopalakrishnan whose Pinneyum (Malayalam, 2016) was loosely inspired by Sukumara Kurup’s story.

Pinneyum worked in parts, but Kurup has greater clarity in its assessment of the protagonist’s character. The casting of the hero contributes considerably to that clarity. Dulquer Salmaan – also the film’s producer – is blessed with more handsomeness than any single human being should be allowed to monopolise in a just world. He uses his looks and charm not to make us like the lead, but to establish him as a deceptively likeable and restless rascal, a smooth operator who can worm his way into anyone’s affections, tell a bare-faced lie without a flicker of an eyelid, reveal little about himself to most people and change colours in an instant. This would explain why so many people risked so much to help him escape the law.

He is not all black and white, but a fellow with shades of gray, as we realise when we see him try to exert his class and caste privilege over a young woman (Sobhita Dhulipala), but back off when she challenges him. The question before the newspaper-reading public in real life is: is Sukumara Kurup dead or alive?

The film adds a lot more to the lore surrounding Kurup.

Srinath Rajendran takes us through his leading man’s brief stint with the Indian Air Force as a youngster and an oil company in the Gulf region. In a bid to reveal information about Kurup only in increments, the script ends up taking surprisingly long – almost an hour – to get to the point. It is the director’s good fortune that he has such a charismatic cast (Dulquer, Indrajith Sukumaran playing the policeman who spent years hunting for Kurup, and a personable Sunny Wayne as the central character’s IAF colleague) to hold viewer interest through this dry first half filled with needless embellishments including one in which Dulquer metamorphoses into a stage performer – the song he sings is fun, but the scene itself is strangely conceived and feels contrived. When the film finally picks up, it becomes gripping, as new pieces are added to the puzzle and a clear picture gradually, very gradually, emerges of what exactly happened that fateful night when a man was murdered simply to assuage another man’s greed.

After that once again, the director opts for too many broad brush strokes over specifics, but not so much as to make the film entirely uninteresting.

Kurup is not a great film, but it is definitely an entertaining one with attractive visuals, music, production design and period costumes to boot. To be considered anything more than that, it needed to be more compact, fix that over-stretched opening hour along with its superfluous elements and, among other things, to better handle the multiple languages in the narrative as it travels from Kerala to Maharashtra to Madhya Pradesh and elsewhere. Instead, the mix never becomes a convincing blend. The use of English and Hindi in particular are awkward because the English lines are poorly written and the Hindi comes often from actors who are clearly not accustomed to the language but are meant to sound as if they are.

This is an ambitious, multi-strand saga with aspirations to Malik -grade grandeur and scale, but without the finesse or detailing to match up to Mahesh Narayanan’s vision. Nevertheless, it has just enough flesh to draw us into the life of an individual who has eluded the law for over three decades and cast members (including the wonderful Surabhi Lakshmi and Tovino Thomas in significant roles) who elevate the film beyond where the writing takes it.

This review was first published when   Kurup   was released in theatres on 12 November, 2021. Update on 15 December, 2021: the film is now on Netflix.  

Rating: 2.75/5

(Anna M.M. Vetticad is an award-winning journalist and author of The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic. She specialises in the intersection of cinema with feminist and other socio-political concerns. Twitter: @annavetticad, Instagram: @annammvetticad )

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‘Kurup’ movie review: Dulquer Salman’s crime biopic takes too many liberties with a real-life story

One could have taken a much kinder view of the script, which is engaging in parts, if not for the fact that it is based on an actual gruesome crime.

Updated - November 12, 2021 04:17 pm IST

Published - November 12, 2021 04:16 pm IST

A still from ‘Kurup’

Kurup begins with a long disclaimer, which like all disclaimers, is filled with half-truths and disappears in a flash. It seems to have been aimed at distancing the movie from the real-life story, on which it is clearly based. The horrific act of crime, which gave Kurup his notoriety, does not appear in the movie until well towards the midway point. But, the movie which takes a lot of creative liberties, presents this crime as one in a series of such acts by Gopikrishna Kurup (Dulquer Salman).

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The story and script, written by Jithin.K. Jose, K.S.Aravind and Daniell Sayooj Nair, spends considerable time in establishing his character with an elaborate backstory. Kurup’s crooked nature is evident right from the beginning, when he makes his parents believe that he had passed a public examination, which he had not. At the Air Force training camp too, he devises ways to get things done his way and make some money. Some of these early sequences, including one where he fools the rest of the trainees or another at a college rock festival, seem rather forced, with the point just being to underline the character’s flamboyant nature. The romance with Saradha (Sobhita Dhulipala) also seems to be there just to tick all the boxes of a mainstream movie, with the character almost disappearing fully in the latter half.

• Director: Srinath Rajendran
• Cast: Dulquer Salman, Sobhita Dhulipala, Indrajith Sukumaran

Kurup’s story is revealed to us through the recollections of his Air Force colleague Peter (Sunny Wayne), the diary entries of police officer Krishnadas (Indrajith Sukumaran) and from Kurup’s own version of the story, which fills the blanks left by the others. Charlie (another star in a surprise role), the victim of Kurup’s criminal act to claim an insurance amount, and his family, get just a couple of scenes, because this movie is all about Kurup, his wicked plans to move up the ladder and of course, his many stylish looks.

To their credit, the writers do lay bare the criminal bent of his mind, but on screen, many a time the camera worships Kurup as a hero, with the unmistakable heroic tone of the background score in sequences where he gives the police and his other adversaries a slip. Contrast this treatment of the character Kurup with that in NH 47 , made back in 1984, based on the same incident. Despite its sloppily-written scenes and low production values, it got right the characterisation of Kurup, played by T.G.Ravi, with a viewer never for once feeling like sympathising with or clapping for a scene in which he is shown. Although the makers of Kurup have included enough scenes to defend themselves against accusations of glorifying a criminal, they also seem to have been compelled to include some scenes to satisfy the star’s fans.

One of the things the film gets right is the production design, especially in scenes set in the bygone era, with tastefully-done recreations of the 1970s and 80s. One could have taken a much kinder view of the script, which is engaging in parts, if not for the fact that it is based on an actual gruesome crime. If the intention was to tell the intriguing story of a fugitive, without even remotely celebrating him, they could have taken a few lessons from David Fincher’s Zodiac . For, there is only so much ‘creative’ liberty that one can take when it comes to a real-life story, despite all the disclaimers.

Kurup is currently running in theatres

Related Topics

Malayalam cinema / reviews

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