The recollection of the ‘College Kumari Case 1984’: “Anweshippin Kandethum” Stole the Heartbeats of the Audience

Once again, an investigative thriller movie is catching the attention of Malayalees who have watched many movies of the same genre. The debutant director Darwin Kuriakkose’s movie “Anweshippin Kandethum,” starring Tovino Thomas, is an investigative drama mentioned in the title. Darwin and scriptwriter Jinu V Abraham has presented a distinctive thriller for Malayalees through this film

The script’s lack of loopholes and the director’s skill make this movie an excellent visual experience. The setting where the incidents in the movie take place recalls the Jolly Mathew Murder Case of 1984, popularly known as the College Kumari Case. Jolly’s corpse was found on April 23rd, 1984, in the useless well of Badhani Convent in Kurichi Kottayam. An orthodox priest, Fr. George Cheriyan, also known as Ravi Achan, was arrested after a detailed investigation. Raviachan was sentenced to life imprisonment, while his co-accused Kunju Kunju and Krishnankutty were each sentenced to seven years in prison.

The scriptwriter himself asserts that there is no connection between this incident and the story of the movie “Anweshippin Kandethum.” However, the geographical settings (Chingavanam and Kurichi) specified in the film, which are narrated as happening in the 1990s, vividly remind us of the notorious Jolly Murder case in a compelling manner. Whatever it is the scriptwriter and director have succeeded in presenting two different incidents from two different periods in a way that connects them to each other, leading to a thrilling narrative.

This movie resonates with the idea of how police handled such criminal cases in a period where technological advancements have not fully unfolded, especially without the aid of mobile tower locations or CCTV footage.

With Tovino Thomas leading the cast, along with the diverse roles played by other actors, the direction, and the screenplay, everything elevates this movie to a must-watch status. Gautham Shankar’s cinematography, Santosh Narayanan’s music, background score, Dilip Nath’s art, and Saju Sreedhar’s editing all contribute to the overall mood of the film. The inclusion of fresh, unseen locations, not often seen in other Malayalam movies, adds to the film’s fresh feel.