Sumathi Valavu review: Arjun Ashokan's film struggles to do justice to an infamous haunted folktale

Sumathi Valavu Story - The spirit of Sumathi haunts a small town along its border road that bears her name. Known as the town's troublemaker, Appu's life is also significantly impacted by this ghost. The mystery of Sumathi and the sinister past of the road are revealed as he and his loved ones go through bizarre experiences. 

Sumathi Valavu Review - Vishnu Sasi Shankar and Abhilash Pillai's most recent Malayalam horror-comedy, in contrast to previous hits in this category, fails to achieve a balance between the two genres. The real-life miserable tale of Sumathi Valavu makes for an appealing backdrop, but the movie lacks jump scares. However, it does make people laugh at some key points.

Following Sumathi's tragic demise, an isolated town has a haunted curve that has been guarded for ages by the ghost of this Tamil woman. The movie then introduces the audience to Appu, the town's troublemaker and a scaredy cat who is plagued by this ghost's visions. The main questions of the film are whether Appu and his town's residents will ever be able to escape her curse and the truth behind this eerie presence.

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The movie is a mediocre one-time family entertainer that you can enjoy this weekend. If not delivered in a convincing way, the audience is not impressed by either comedy or terror. Sumathi Valavu's makers unfortunately fall short in finding a balance between the two.

The audience was excited when the backdrop of an infamous legend from Mylamoodu in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram district was introduced, although it's debatable if the expectations were met later in the film. It does contain certain clichés that are common in most horror comedies, such as a hero who is disturbed by the eerie presence but nevertheless connects with it and steps up for his people when necessary. The story does, however, have the capacity to hold viewers' attention to some extend and make them curious about what will happen next.

Arjun Ashokan does a fantastic job as Appu, giving a convincing portrayal in a character that seem easy for him. Bobby Kurian, Sshivada, Sreepath, Malavika Manoj, and Balu Varghese are among the other strong performers in this film. Others contribute less to the story and have much less screen time. Ranjin Raj's music adds some entertaining elements to the movie, while P V Shankar did capture some spectacular shots for Sumathi Valavu.

Sumathi Valavu Verdict - With a dreary storyline and predictable events, the horror comedy starring Arjun Ashokan fails to give viewers the fright it was supposed to.

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FAQs

Q: When will Sumathi Valavu release in theatres?

A: The Malayalam horror comedy released on August 1.

Q: What is Sumathi Valavu based on?

A: Previous reports claim that the film is partly based on the true story of Sumathi Valavu, which is based on a terrifying local folktale.

Q: Who are acting in Sumathi Valavu?

A: Arjun Ashokan is playing the lead in Sumathi Valavu, along with Balu Varghese, Sreepath, Bobby Kurian and Malavika Manoj in supporting parts.