Arjunan Sakshi 2011- Prithivraj & Ranjith Sankar Review

Director Ranjith Sankar, who surprised everyone with the passenger(2009) well-made movie is back with Arjunan Saakshi. The movie starring Prithviraj and Ann Augustine speaks about the need for responsible citizenship and vigilant in this country.
Roy Mathew (Prithviraj) is an architect who has lived outside Kerala, most of his life, but has returned to his hometown to join a real estate company. Meanwhile, a reporter Anjali Menon (Ann Augustine) gets into trouble when you publish a letter from a stranger named Arjunan, which has some crucial clues in connection with the murder of former district collector Mooppan Firoze (Mukesh). Soon after, Roy begins to hog the limelight when it is confused with "Arjunan. The young man is totally shocked by the sudden events that has no real idea about the dramatic change of events and is soon the target of some bullies.

Well, we will not play spoiler and reveal much about the story as the climax of the film are some of the surprising twists in the first half. Indeed the opening scenes are really exciting and there are some nice moments that hit you immediately with their sincerity. However, the second half has less twists and turns compared with the first.

Ranjith, who has written the script besides directing it, has instilled honesty in story and has some real message to convey. The way Roy gets into the psyche of Arjunan is really interesting. But things get a little preachy and predictable, especially towards the end and the script has some loose ends that raises questions in the minds of viewers. One of the highlights of the film is the spectacular visual Ajayan Vincent. Biji Bal music is good too.

The anxiety of any "normal" citizen can not do anything more than the street about corruption and nepotism in our country, is perhaps reflected by Prithviraj's character. The hero is well and provides good performance. Ann Augustine, who shot to fame with her starring role in Enna Elsamma Aankutty, okay. The rest of the cast have also done their roles well.

No two ways about it, Arjunan Saakshi is definitely in a different league compared to the usual crop of films we see today in Malayalam. Still, one gets the feeling that the film is more inclined to social issues they are focusing instead on a thrilling, cinematic. Makes you wonder about the state of things around you, it can be an achievement in itself.

But overall movie is not upto the mark as per regular moviegoers because its not there where Passenger(2009) reached into public.