The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang review: Krishand delivers a wacky series stamped with his signature style

The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang review: Krishand's Malayalam series is a heady concoction of crime, comedy and companionship. A must-watch if you are looking for distinct entertainment.

Sanju Sivram in The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang

The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang

The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang plot: The latest Malayalam web series revolves around Arikuttan (Sanju Sivram) and his gang of friends from the slum area of Thiruvanchipuram in Kerala, who dream of conducting a temple festival one day. After they fail to make any headway in studies, the plus-two students take the dark route of crime, which sees them dabbling in various illegal activities, all at the behest of the local SI Suresh sir (Rahul Rajagopal).

The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang review: Krishand, who just saw the release of the film Sangarsha Ghadana earlier this month, is back with another riveting tale which checks almost all the boxes that the Malayalam filmmaker is known for. A wacky story, distinctive narration and making, with oddball characters who are convincing enough. Maybe also name it such that Param Sundaris of the world find it hard to read, forget even properly pronounce - Sambhavavivaranam Nalara Sangham or The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang.

This is Krishand’s world, so a local gangster from the fictitious land of Thiruvanchipuram heading to Pune to get his biography written by author Mayitherayan is not just probable but feels real as well. That’s how we meet Arikuttan as he recounts their first step into the criminal world, that ends with a cliff-hanging first episode which packs in a twist that not many would have seen coming.

From the gangster Bruce Lee and his sidekick Peylakuttan to Kanji, Althaf, Maniyan and Moonga in Arikuttan’s gang and his father in jail, many characters come our way. Probably anticipating viewers’ thoughts, Mayitherayan asks why we are deviating from the main story to follow the side characters’ tales. But Krishand picks up various threads, and travels quite a distance with it before somehow tying it to the lead story. But one inadvertent fallout is that this makes the episodes too long at nearly 50 minutes, with the last sixth episode going beyond 1 hour.

But these episodes maintain a good pace and are packed with enough happening situations with a lavish dose of comedy, that it is not hard to sit through. The meta references are also fun to spot with Maithreyan describing the class differences in the gangsta world as A-class and B-class, who indulge in smuggling and quotations, while C-class goes after the meagre milk and flower mafia, which are explored in detail as Arikuttan finally announces his arrival.

Not just Sanju Sivram’s Arikuttan, almost all other (male) actors get their own character arcs, but which is sadly not the case with the women as actresses like Zarin Shihab, who proved her mettle with the National Award-winning Aattam, is served the short end of the stick. (Maybe she will have more space in season 2?)

Santhy Balachandran, who has also turned screenwriter with the latest film Lokah, too is limited to playing the coy love interest of Arikuttan. The scenes are fun, but we expect more from Krishand. Darshana Rajendran, who makes an appearance much later, still walks away with a better part.

Through the series, Krishand narrates the dreams and struggles of the underprivileged lads, even while showcasing the underbelly of our cities that work with an incredulous precision. The making and presentation are splendid, buoyed by the performances.

Jagadish as Maitreyan seems to be having fun in his role, while Rahul Rajagopal, Niranj Maniyanpilla Raju, Vishnu Agasthya, Alexander Prasanth, and Darshana Rajendran, (regulars in Krishand’s projects) are also equally good in their parts, irrespective of the screentime.

Sasikumar and his team at the editing table, DOP Vishnu Prabhakar also deserve credit for the finesse in series which is created by Krishand, who has also contributed the story, screenplay and dialogues.

The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang verdict: At its heart, the series is about a bunch of lads who dreamt of conducting the temple festival. But their ‘simple enough’ dream takes them on a chaotic journey in the series, which is a heady concoction of crime, comedy and companionship. If you are looking for something different yet entertaining, Krishand’s Malayalam series is a must-watch this festive weekend.

Also read: Hridayapoorvam review: A light-hearted Mohanlal entertainer with delightful moments and genuine laughs

FAQs

Q. When will Sambhavavivaranam Nalara Sangham or The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang release?

A: Sambhavavivaranam Nalara Sangham or The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang released on Sony LIV and OTTplay Premium on August 28.

Q: Which are the films directed by Krishand?

A: The director is well-known for his earlier films, including Purusha Pretham and Aavasavyuham which are also available for streaming on Sony LIV and OTTplay Premium

Q. Which is the best Malayalam web series?

A. Kerala Crime Files Season 2 and The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang are among the best Malayalam web series.

Also read: Lokah Chapter 1 – Chandra Review: Kalyani Priyadarshan-Naslen's film cleverly revives Malayalam's iconic fable

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