One genre that I always enjoy is the thriller where you feel like there is something suspicious going on. Often all it takes is two people talking to make me feel like there’s something being hidden. This is what drew me to Ela Veezha Poonchira. It follows two police officers who work at a remote wireless station in Kerala, after they discover something unexpected.
Initially I wasn’t sure what to expect. A lot of the film revolves around a fairly isolated area and there are only a few characters to follow. However, I was quickly drawn into the mystery, although some parts of it put me off. In this Ela Veezha Poonchira review, I want to look at what worked for me and where I felt the film could have done better.
Two officers and a quiet station
Madhu (Soubin Shahir) and Sudhi (Sudhi Koppa) work at a police wireless station in Ilaveezha Poonchira. It is located up a hill and is quite remote. They communicate with other police stations and handle incidents in the local area.
This doesn’t sound very exciting…
However, they talk, joke and do their usual jobs. I enjoyed getting to know the two and their conversations helped me learn a bit about their characters. Their interactions felt realistic. They aren’t constantly talking about something important or trying to be smart. They are just two colleagues.
I also liked how the setting was introduced. The hills are very pretty, but there is something quite odd about the setting. The heavy rain and fog mean that the station feels very isolated.
I was thinking about how awful it would be working there on a rainy night. Before the mystery really begins, we already feel a bit uneasy due to the setting.
Discovering something horrifying
When the two discover body parts near the hill, things begin to get a lot more horrifying. Their isolation becomes a problem.
I thought this was a good change. After getting to know the two and seeing them doing their usual jobs, you feel like you are really in the moment. You are wondering what is going on at the station. The setting doesn’t really give you any easy answers.
I also liked how the information was given. Everything isn’t explained and I enjoyed trying to link pieces together. I often thought I understood what was going on but then more information would come up and make me question things again.
However, there was one issue with the investigation. I felt like I wanted more from it. There were long conversations that didn’t really help with the mystery and I began to get fed up with the slow pace.
I understand they want us to get to know the characters but not every quiet scene was interesting.
Soubin Shahir
I know Soubin Shahir more for his comedic roles. I was interested to see him play Madhu. His acting was very subtle. He doesn’t make everything look like it means something. This fits the character well.
He often just looks at someone.
Sudhi Koppa also works well alongside him. Their conversations are realistic and I believe their relationship as colleagues is convincing. This is important as a lot of the film focuses on getting to know the two officers.
I was also thinking about how we become used to seeing them act normally. This can affect how we view them. How much can you really know about someone based on their normal behaviour?
I like when a thriller makes me question someone. This adds something to the film.
Great cinematography
One of the best things about this film was the cinematography. Manesh Madhavan has used the hilltop well, especially in the wide shots that show how isolated the police station is.
The fog and rain are used really well. They make it hard to see what’s going on and make you feel like the officers are very far away from any help. I don’t think this film would have the same effect if it was set somewhere more normal.
The sound was also great. Sometimes the natural sounds around the station were more tense than the music. I noticed this during the calmer parts of the film.
I like this in a thriller. It means the setting plays a role in the story. However, I don’t think the film was saved by the atmosphere. There were parts where it felt like it was too relaxed. I had already understood how isolated and unsettling the setting was, so I didn’t need another scene to remind me.
Mystery
This is where my thoughts were a bit split. I loved how the story slowly changes how we view what is going on. Some parts from earlier in the film make more sense now we know more. I love when a film makes me think again.
The limited number of characters helps with this too. There aren’t a large number of characters trying to grab our attention. The story is very focused on the two officers and the station. This makes it easy to follow the mystery.
There were some horrible moments. I liked how it wasn’t over the top. Sometimes all the information is needed and there isn’t a need for everyone to act dramatically.
The main problem I had was that I felt like the investigation wasn’t as developed. Some parts were much more engaging than others. I would have liked to have seen more development in certain areas. However, I was still engaged throughout. Considering how much of the film is focused on a small number of characters in a remote location, this is impressive.
Should I watch?
Yes! However, I would watch at the right time. If you enjoy slow-building Malayalam thrillers with unique settings and mysteries that don’t give everything away, then this is definitely worth a watch.
However, don’t expect a fast-paced police investigation. This is a much slower film.
The two things that stood out to me were Soubin Shahir’s acting and the hilltop setting. I also liked how the two officers’ normal routine made the later events more unsettling.
I would have liked to have seen more development in the investigation. Some scenes could have been shorter and the pace can be hard to justify at times. However, I would still recommend this.
There is something really uncomfortable about seeing people cope with an extraordinary situation in a place where almost nothing ever happens. I think Ela Veezha Poonchira understands this well. This is why I have given this Ela Veezha Poonchira review a positive rating.
If you enjoyed this kind of mystery, you might also like my review of Maharaja, another Indian thriller that takes a very different approach to its story. 😉
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