Kammattam review: Sudev Nair’s thriller series takes up a twisted case, but does not quite crack it

Kammattam plot: The probe into Samuel Umman’s death leads police inspector Antonio George on a tricky trail that has him following several leads, which eventually expose a cooperative bank-linked fraud. The how and why are depicted in the series, which is inspired by true incidents from Kerala.

Kammattam review: Before the release of Zee5’s first original Malayalam series, Kammattam made headlines after director Shan Thulasidharan revealed that they completed shooting the entire show in just 11 days! But while watching the series, the one thing that kept plaguing my mind was - why though! ‘Series shot in 11 days’ does make for a good headline, but does the end product justify this? Let’s check out!

Kammattam opens with a shot of Samuel Umman (actor-filmmaker Jeo Baby) riding his scooter and meeting with an accident. Actor Sudev Nair soon makes an entry as inspector Antonio George and, within minutes, deduces that this is not an accident. Quick seems to be the go-to word as the series is fast-paced, and ironically, this works both in favour and against Kammattam.

The police team, led by Antonio, springs into action mode, following every lead and interrogating each suspect, ensuring that viewers do not have much time to dwell on any lapses. But the quick pace of the series also means that some of the plot points come across as abrupt and not convincing.

The series doesn’t take many deviations either and sticks to the story at hand. Unlike the recently released Kerala Crime Files Season 2, which also dealt with an investigative thriller, we do not get to know more about the cops other than that they are men in uniform, out to crack a case. The makers have said that Kammattam is inspired by true incidents that happened in Thrissur. A financial fraud at a cooperative bank that leads to several cold-blooded murders does make for a gripping story, but the plot twists in the narrative do not fit the puzzle properly. This makes one wonder if more time at hand would have led to a better execution? 

Also read: Kammattam star Sudev Nair on shooting the series in record 11 days: ‘It is possible only in Malayalam’ | Exclusive

DOP Prakash Velayudhan’s frames and Ratheesh Mohanan’s crisp editing keep the happenings real and brisk. The 4 Musics’ background score also adds to the thrilling tone of the series, but goes up a notch higher at times.

Coming to the performances, Sudev Nair, Jeo Baby, Ajay Vasudev, Jins Baskar and Akhil Kavalayoor, who makes a switch to serious roles from his comedy characters, are convincing in their roles. But the same cannot be said for some of the supporting cast, and though their presence was short, it does not sit well with the whole series.

Also read: Director Shan Thulasidharan: 'Kammattam is based on a real incident that took place in Thrissur but...'| Exclusive 

Kammattam verdict: If you find crime thrillers, especially those inspired by true events, intriguing, then Kammattam would not be a disappointing watch. But the bar of crime thrillers in Malayalam has been set quite high that Kammattam doesn’t quite reach there.

FAQs

Q. What is kammattam?

A. Kammattam is a Zee5 Original Malayalam series, starring actor Sudev Nair in the lead role of a cop.

Q. Where to watch Kammattam on OTT?

A. You can watch Kammattam on Zee5 via OTTplay Premium from September 4, 2025.

Q. Which are the best Malayalam web series?

A. Kerala Crime Files Season 2 and The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang are among the best Malayalam series of 2025 that are available to stream on OTTplay Premium.