Karam movie review: Vineeth Sreenivasan’s thriller disappoints with its generic treatment

Karam movie review: This Noble Babu Thomas-starrer struggles to match the intensity of Vineeth Sreenivasan’s earlier work Thira and ends up delivering a routine thriller that never grips

Noble Babu Thomas in Karam

Karam story: Former army officer Dev Mahendran, while vacationing with his family in Lenarco, crosses paths with his ex-girlfriend, now trapped in a human trafficking ring. Determined to save her, he risks not only his life but also the safety of his family.

Karam review: Director Vineeth Sreenivasan’s latest movie Karam despite minimal promotions, had fans hoping it would showcase a different side of his filmmaking, akin to his 2013 thriller Thira. The latter, despite receiving mixed reactions at the box office, has since become a cult hit, so it’s only natural that expectations for Karam were high. But does the film live up to them? Not quite.

If you appreciated Thira’s urgency, the grit of its protagonists, and its tight thriller structure, you are bound to be disappointed with Karam which leans heavily on a generic action-thriller formula revolving around a lone saviour figure, essayed by its writer Noble Babu Thomas as former army officer Dev Mahendran. The predictable turns, largely following the formula seen in films like Taken or Man on Fire — minus the action, intensity and high stakes — weigh down Karam rather than elevate it.

Also read: Karam: Vineeth Sreenivasan reveals he wasn’t the first choice to direct it, ‘wanted to return to thrillers’ | Exclusive

Midway through the movie, Karam hints at being a redemption tale for its hero and for ordinary people caught in extraordinary situations that compel them to rise above their perceived limits. However, weak writing prevents this arc from fully forming, and it leaves barely any impact by the end.

The action scenes feel stripped down, possibly due to the challenges of shooting abroad. While there are some standout moments — such as the fight scene where Dev infiltrates a house holding trafficked women and children — a film of this genre needs either relentless pace or consistently impactful set pieces. Karam falters on both counts.

Baburaj’s comic relief is hit-and-miss and adds little to energise the proceedings, something composer Shaan Rahman tries to compensate for with the score. Vishnu G. Varrier, last seen in Officer on Duty makes an impact as a member of the trafficking ring, but the same cannot be said for Ivan Vukomanović, who lacks the presence needed to convincingly play the ‘big villain.’ Audrey Miriam Henest, Manoj K Jayan, Kalabhavan Shajohn and Reshma Sebastian do justice to their limited parts.

While Noble does his best as Dev, the weak writing keeps his heroism from truly resonating. Even as Dev’s personal stakes rise, the audience never quite feels the urgency or emotions — something rare in a Vineeth Sreenivasan film.

Karam verdict: This Vineeth Sreenivasan thriller fails to rise above its formulaic trappings.

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