Overview
- Adapted from G. R. Indugopan’s novel, the film follows Mohanan, a Marayoor timber trader and sandalwood smuggler, locked in a high-stakes clash with ex-panchayat president T Bhaskaran over a rare Vilayath tree.
- Prithviraj Sukumaran anchors the narrative, with Shammi Thilakan and Priyamvada Krishnan highlighted as standout supports.
- The nearly three-hour runtime is flagged as excessive, with an overlong setup that delays the central conflict.
- Reviewers note abrupt swerves into loud commercial beats reminiscent of Telugu mass entertainers, which disrupt immersion.
- Aravind S Kashyap’s cinematography and Jakes Bejoy’s score earn plaudits, while editing stumbles and uneven VFX/CGI undercut the finish.