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Purusha Pretham
Purusha Pretham
from Wikipedia

Purusha Pretham
Poster
Directed byKrishand
Written by
  • Ajith Haridas
  • Manu Thodupuzha
Produced by
  • Dijo Augustine
  • Jomon Jacob
  • Einstin Zac Paul
  • Vishnu Rajan
  • Sajin Raj
  • Prasanth Alexander
Starring
CinematographyKrishand
Distributed bySonyLIV
Release date
  • 24 March 2023 (2023-03-24)
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Purusha Pretham (transl. Male Ghost) is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language police procedural film directed by Krishand and produced under the banners of Mankind cinemas and Einstein Media by Jomom Jacob, Dijo Augustine and Einstein Zac Paul. The film features Alexander Prasanth, Darshana Rajendran, Jagadish, Maala Parvathi, Rahul Rajagopal and Geethi Sangeetha in prominent roles. The screenplay Ajith Haridas, Vysakh Reetha is the chief associate director for the movie.[1] The film is a police procedural story. The film was released on 24 March 2023 via SonyLIV.[2]

Synopsis

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SI Super Sebastian is a police officer known for his exaggerated tales of heroism. He thrives on the attention he receives from recounting his adventures, though the reality is often far from his dramatic retellings. Corrupt like many of his peers, he still knows his job well. His loyal subordinate, Dileep, follows orders despite his own experience, trusting Sebastian to have his back. Dileep shelters his daughter and son-in-law in police quarters, despite the growing tension over why he must always be at Sebastian's service.

One day, a dead body is found floating in the water, causing a jurisdictional dispute. Neither Sebastian's team nor the police from the opposite side of the river want to claim it. A handyman named Kesavan is bribed to push the body into Sebastian's jurisdiction, forcing them to handle it. Kesavan steals a ring from the body, later confessing to Dileep, who takes it but keeps it hidden. Torn between submitting it as evidence or selling it, Dileep is unaware of the consequences this decision will bring.

Sebastian and his team reluctantly take up the case, prioritizing closing it quickly over a proper investigation. Days later, with the mortuary full, Dileep suggests burying the body in a public cemetery. Sebastian assigns him the task, and Dileep passes it to a gravedigger. Meanwhile, Sebastian flirts with Sujatha, a woman searching for her missing husband, enjoying the casual relationship they share.

Just as the case seems closed, Susanna, a woman from another city, arrives claiming the buried body is her husband's. She demands exhumation, but Sebastian refuses, citing discrepancies in her description. Susanna files a habeas corpus, forcing the police to exhume the body—only to discover it's missing. Chaos ensues as blame is passed around. Dileep confesses he never supervised the burial, further implicating both himself and Sebastian. Susanna accuses the police of selling the body to a medical college, leading to Sebastian and Dileep's suspension.

Determined to clear their names, they track down Gopalan, the drunk gravedigger, who helps them recover the body. DNA results confirm Susanna's claim, pushing them further into trouble. Dileep finally reveals he has the stolen ring, which contradicts Susanna's version of events. Sebastian keeps it, hoping for a way out.

As he falls into despair, Sujatha helps care for his mother, and they develop real feelings for each other. One day, she finds the ring and recognizes it as her missing husband's. This revelation proves the buried body was hers, not Susanna's. Sebastian confronts Susanna before she leaves for America. She admits to bribing officials for closure but denies killing her husband—though she does confess to orchestrating his murder.

Susanna's brother attacks Sebastian and leaves him for dead in a well. However, Dileep, suspecting trouble, finds and rescues him. Later, Sebastian embellishes the story, portraying himself as the hero once again. Despite everything, he remains the star of his own show, content as long as people believe his tales.

Cast

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Release

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The film was released on 24 March 2023 on the OTT platform SonyLIV.

Reception

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A critic from The Hindu wrote that "The humorous narrative of ‘Purusha Pretham’ packs a punch as it holds a mirror to the discrimination and red-tapism in the hierarchical police force and in society at large".[4] A critic from The Times of India wrote that "A surprising and refreshing movie, Purusha Pretham, shows the humour in the grim lives of people in various sections of society and in terrible situations in life".[5] A critic from The Indian Express wrote that "If Aavasavyuham was an arbit documentation of an amphibian hunt, Purusha Pretham, starring Darshana Rajendran and Prasanth Alexander, is an arbit documentation of a comedy of errors".[6][7][8][9][10][11]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
(transl. Male Ghost) is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language written by Ajith Haridas and Manu , and directed by Krishand, who also served as . The film centers on Sebastian and his team of underperforming officers as they navigate the mishandling of an unidentified male corpse discovered in a lake, leading to a series of procedural errors, legal entanglements, and unexpected personal revelations amid bureaucratic inefficiencies. Featuring an including as Sebastian's wife, Prasanth Alexander in the lead role, , and Maala Parvathi, it blends investigative tension with dark humor to critique the absurdities of police work and human behavior in dire circumstances. Released on 24 March 2023, Purusha Pretham garnered praise for its original narrative, unconventional framing to emphasize character isolation, and refreshing take on genre conventions, earning an rating of 7.2/10 despite modest performance typical of independent .

Production

Development

Krishand, an IIT Bombay alumnus with a master's in visual communication, directed Purusha Pretham as his third feature film following Aavasavyuham (2022) and his debut Vrithakrithiyilulla Chathuram. The project marked Krishand's continued exploration of procedural narratives, positioning it as a thematic successor to his earlier works that blend realism with unconventional storytelling. The script centered on the procedural challenges arising from an unidentified male corpse, emphasizing bureaucratic red-tapism and investigative hurdles rather than dramatic sensationalism. Krishand crafted the story to depict authentic police workflows, drawing from empirical observations of institutional inefficiencies in handling unclaimed bodies, which informed the film's focus on causal sequences of events like body identification protocols. This approach introduced a police procedural genre unprecedented in Malayalam cinema, prioritizing gritty, character-driven realism over action-oriented tropes. Produced under the Mankind banner, pre-production decisions leaned toward a contained, intimate scale to accommodate constraints, enabling a black comedy-infused examination of frontline dynamics without expansive sets or effects. The director incorporated research into handling of unidentified cadavers, ensuring depictions aligned with real-world protocols such as documentation delays and jurisdictional overlaps, to maintain procedural fidelity.

Casting

Director Krishand cast Prasanth Alexander in the lead role of Sebastian, marking Alexander's first central character after more than 20 years in the industry, primarily in supporting roles in films such as (2002) and (2021). This selection stemmed from their prior collaboration on Vrithakrithiyilulla (2019), with Alexander's portrayal emphasizing a boastful yet vulnerable officer, drawing on his Central dialect for authenticity. Darshana Rajendran was chosen as Susanna, the character who claims the unidentified male body as her husband's, joining after an initial actor withdrew from the project. Her role facilitated tense, absurd confrontations with Sebastian, underscoring the film's focus on procedural and personal entanglements without relying on glamorous archetypes. The supporting ensemble, including as and as Sumathi, was assembled to depict a disorganized team, prioritizing actors who could convey everyday incompetence and human frailty over heroic ideals. This approach aligned with the film's intent to humanize flawed institutional figures through non-star-driven choices, enhancing narrative realism.

Filming and technical aspects

Principal photography for Purusha Pretham was conducted in , utilizing authentic rural and institutional locales to mirror the mundane realities of local police operations and investigative tedium. This choice facilitated empirical depictions of procedural , including station-house routines and environmental hazards like marshy terrains encountered during corpse recovery sequences. The production adhered to a modest , emphasizing practical on-set execution over extensive digital intervention to convey the causal progression of decay in the central unidentified motif—depicted through visceral, worm-infested states and olfactory nuisances treated as routine occupational hazards. Cinematographer employed innovative framing to underscore character isolation, positioning figures in frame corners amid vast empty spaces and using "frames within frames" to evoke cognitive disorientation akin to observational puzzles. Technical choices included deliberate breaches of the , with the camera orbiting conversational axes to sustain spatial coherence via Gestalt perceptual principles while amplifying emotional mazes and interpersonal detachment. Director Krishand avoided graphic gore, relying instead on stylized visual cues inspired by graphic novels—such as partial occlusions and exaggerated props—to infuse comedic into grim scenarios without undermining the rigor of investigative . Shooting concluded prior to the film's on March 24, 2023, allowing for streamlined focused on naturalistic grit rather than augmentation.

Narrative and themes

Plot summary

The film centers on Sebastian (Prasanth Alexander), a seasoned but beleaguered , and his team of underperforming subordinates who are tasked with handling an unidentified male corpse recovered from a local water body. The body, preserved in the station's morgue, becomes the focal point of routine procedural duties under Sebastian's oversight, amid the team's general reluctance and inefficiency in managing such cases. Tensions escalate when the corpse vanishes from custody, triggering an internal inquiry and exposing lapses in protocol that implicate Sebastian personally. A woman named () soon approaches the station, asserting that the missing body belongs to her long-absent husband and providing details that demand verification through witness statements and archival checks. As Sebastian fabricates elements of the investigation to evade disciplinary action, the plot navigates bureaucratic , fruitless interrogations, and incremental disclosures about the deceased's potential identity, highlighting the procedural intricacies of unidentified corpse inquests in a small-town police setup. The narrative interweaves these elements with dark humor derived from institutional incompetence, building procedural suspense without resolving the central mystery.

Themes and stylistic elements

Purusha Pretham critiques institutional inefficiencies within , portraying police officers as prone to evasion and procedural lapses rather than embodying idealized competence. The film depicts officers prioritizing personal avoidance over diligent investigation, reflecting real-world observations of bureaucratic in handling unidentified bodies, where protocols mandate after three days if unclaimed, often expedited due to resource constraints. This approach challenges romanticized narratives of heroic in policing by emphasizing causal factors like fragile egos and systemic disinterest, grounded in the ensemble's collective reluctance to engage with routine duties. The narrative frames unidentified body management as entangled in emotional entanglements and administrative hurdles, highlighting delays from both institutional protocols and individual hesitations without attributing failures solely to external forces. It underscores societal in police among marginalized groups, who view the as unreliable yet unavoidable, thereby critiquing broader causal chains of apathy and understaffing. Stylistically, the film employs a aesthetic blended with absurd comedy-of-errors, using dark humor to dissect grim realities such as domestic strife and institutional decay. Unusual framing techniques isolate characters to emphasize loneliness and procedural isolation, while layered incorporates , dialogue-driven wit, and subtle irony to expose social issues like dynamics and male fragility. This results in a procedural that achieves realistic de-glorification of police tropes, though some analyses note potential overreach in arbitrary escalations for comedic shock, risking cynicism over nuanced realism.

Cast and crew

Principal cast

Prasanth Alexander portrays Sub-Inspector Sebastian, the central assigned to investigate an unidentified male corpse, often resorting to fabricating details to resolve cases amid bureaucratic hurdles. Alexander, entering the industry with a debut in the 2002 Nammal, had accumulated credits in over two decades of primarily supporting roles prior to this lead performance. Darshana Rajendran plays Susanna, the complainant who reports the incident, navigating institutional inefficiencies in her pursuit of resolution. appears as CPO Dileep, Sebastian's subordinate involved in the station's operational routines. Supporting officers, including those played by Sreejith Babu and others in the ensemble, depict the interpersonal frictions and collective shortcomings of the precinct team during the procedural entanglement.

Crew

Krishand directed Purusha Pretham, his third feature film, conceptualizing it as an unprecedented in that integrates investigative thriller dynamics with meticulous bureaucratic processes. As both director and , Krishand employed unconventional framing to emphasize character isolation amid vast settings, enhancing the portrayal of procedural drudgery and emotional undercurrents without relying on stylized action. The was penned by Ajith Haridas, adapting a story by Manu Thodupuzha, which centers on the forensic and administrative intricacies of handling an unidentified corpse, diverging from formulaic crime prevalent in regional cinema. Production was overseen by Jomon , Einstin Zac Paul, and Rajan, operating under banners such as Mankind Cinemas, Einstin Media, and Symmetry Cinemas, which facilitated a focused execution emphasizing authenticity over . Suhail Backer handled editing for the film, his debut in the role, ensuring sustained engagement through precise cuts that balance the repetitive investigative routines with escalating personal stakes.

Music and soundtrack

Composition

The musical score for Purusha Pretham was composed by , marking a deliberate choice by director Krishand to employ unconventional sounds that align with the film's procedural absurdity and blend of tension and humor. crafted original pieces emphasizing looping hip-hop rhythms and bouncy elements, which underscore the investigative sequences' underlying suspense while amplifying comedic mishaps through playful, syncopated motifs that avoid narrative interruption. This approach prioritizes atmospheric restraint, integrating subtle cues to heighten realism in the police procedural framework rather than relying on elaborate song sequences. The , comprising five principal tracks with a total runtime of approximately 10 minutes, was released digitally on , 2023, shortly after the film's . Key compositions include "Super Sebastian," featuring MC Couper's vocals for upbeat humor, and "Sugar Lochan" with , which employs rhythmic loops to mirror the film's yet methodical tone. These elements were developed to support the story's mood without overpowering dialogue or procedural details, fostering an immersive that enhances viewer engagement in the absurdist proceedings.

Sound design

The sound design for Purusha Pretham was executed by Prasanth P. Menon, credited as both and . Anju Manayil contributed as foley recordist and sound editor, supporting the creation of practical audio layers that amplified the film's procedural . These elements focused on non-musical cues, such as ambient station noises and effects tied to the unidentified corpse's handling, to evoke sensory discomfort and bureaucratic inertia without relying on exaggeration. Critics praised the sound's restraint, describing it as noteworthy for seamlessly integrating with visuals and performances to heighten comedic revelations and errors, rather than overpowering the narrative. This approach reflected the production's independent , utilizing efficient techniques like targeted foley for authenticity in police routines and decay-related subtleties, ensuring the audio grounded the in tangible realism. Menon's work complemented the low-budget constraints by prioritizing verifiable, location-derived ambiences over elaborate , fostering a heightened awareness of the characters' confined, chaotic environment.

Release

Theatrical release

Purusha Pretham did not receive a theatrical release in cinemas and instead opted for a direct-to-digital premiere on the streaming platform on March 24, 2023. This decision aligned with the film's independent production style, produced by entities such as Einstin Media and Mankind Cinemas, bypassing traditional cinema distribution channels common in the industry. The choice reflected broader trends in regional cinema during the period, where select indie projects prioritized OTT accessibility over box-office runs amid evolving post-pandemic viewing habits. Marketing for the film focused on digital promotion to build anticipation for the streaming debut, with a teaser released on March 10, 2023, showcasing scenes of policemen observing an object in the water and debating its implications, hinting at the procedural thriller's core mystery. A full trailer followed shortly before the , emphasizing the film's satirical crime-drama elements, unidentified body plot, and comedic procedural entanglements, targeted primarily at Malayalam-speaking audiences in and the . These materials were disseminated via and news outlets, underscoring the film's unique blend of investigative twists and humor without reliance on large-scale theatrical campaigns.

Digital and streaming distribution

Purusha Pretham premiered digitally on on March 24, 2023, coinciding with its theatrical release and enabling immediate access beyond cinema halls. This strategy suited the film's modest production scale, facilitating wider exposure for its satirical noir elements to online viewers preferring home consumption over theater attendance. The streaming version includes the original audio alongside dubs in , Tamil, Telugu, and , with English subtitles, broadening appeal across 's linguistic diversity. Viewership on requires a paid subscription, consistent with the platform's for exclusive titles. Availability remains centered in , with no confirmed widespread international streaming options as of recent checks.

Reception and legacy

Critical reception

Purusha Pretham received generally positive reviews from critics, who commended its unconventional fusion of storytelling with , emphasizing the film's satirical examination of bureaucratic absurdities and institutional cynicism within . awarded it 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising its humorous depiction of human behavior's irrationality amid grim realism, framing it as a multifaceted infused with . Koimoi gave 4 out of 5 stars, lauding the narrative as a "wild " that delivers chaotic, unpredictable humor while subverting traditional cop heroism tropes. also rated it 4 out of 5, highlighting its "absolute dark roller coaster" quality, with standout performances, particularly Prasanth Alexander's portrayal of Super Sebastian, which drew specific acclaim for authenticity and depth. Critics frequently noted the film's innovative visuals and staging, including unique camera angles and a score that enhanced the tonal shifts between levity and procedural tedium. Film Companion described it as an "engaging police de-glorification " populated by a fascinating ensemble, appreciating how it humanizes lower-rung officers while critiquing systemic inefficiencies without romanticizing authority. OTTPlay called it a that "flips all the tropes of police procedurals," positioning it as essential viewing for its bold inversion of genre conventions. Aggregate user scores aligned with this positivity, with reporting 7.2 out of 10 from over 1,600 ratings and averaging 3.6 out of 5 from more than 3,700 logs, reflecting appreciation for the dark humor and performances. However, some reviewers critiqued the film's pacing and , pointing to an overlong runtime that diluted its strengths. Film critic observed that while it delivers "a few big laughs," the extended length fails to sustain momentum, with the narrative's arbitrariness occasionally overwhelming the on institutional flaws. acknowledged the departure from gritty cop norms but implied the levity sometimes borders on excess in portraying procedural mundanity. These reservations underscored a tension between the film's ambitious cynicism toward police mythology and the risk of sprawl, though they did not overshadow the predominant acclaim for its in .

Audience and commercial performance

Purusha Pretham achieved modest commercial success at the , reflecting its status as a low-budget independent production rather than a mainstream blockbuster. Released theatrically on March 24, 2023, the film did not register among the highest-grossing releases of the year, with no publicly reported figures exceeding typical niche experimental cinema thresholds, emphasizing its reliance on critical word-of-mouth over wide distribution. Its availability on starting March 24, 2023, facilitated broader accessibility, contributing to sustained viewer interest through streaming rather than initial theatrical runs. Audience reception has been largely positive, particularly among viewers appreciating its satirical take on bureaucratic inefficiencies and police incompetence, often highlighted in online discussions for its unexpected twists and genre-blending humor. On , the film holds a 7.2/10 rating from over 1,600 user votes, with reviewers commending the witty script, ensemble performances, and unconventional procedural narrative that keeps engagement high without resorting to formulaic tropes. communities, such as r/MalayalamMovies, describe it as underrated with potential, praising the cadaver hunt storyline for its dark and realistic depiction of inept , though some note its niche appeal may lead to forgettability for casual audiences seeking high-stakes action. Balanced against acclaim for innovative elements, a subset of feedback critiques the glorification of procedural mishaps as potentially undermining serious accountability in policing portrayals. This has fostered a dedicated following via OTT platforms, evidenced by repeated viewings and end-of-year top-list inclusions in enthusiast forums.

Accolades and influence

Purusha Pretham received two awards and five nominations across various ceremonies following its 2023 release. At the 69th in 2024, won Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male) for his performance as Inspector Induchoodan. secured the Best Actor in a Negative Role at the OTTplay Awards 2023 for her portrayal of SI Reni. Nominations included for Best Actress at the 12th (SIIMA) 2024 and the 69th (Malayalam category), as well as for SIIMA recognition. Krishand was nominated for Best Director at the 69th . The film has influenced Malayalam cinema by blending police procedural elements with black comedy, prioritizing bureaucratic satire and gritty realism over conventional action-hero tropes. Its low-budget approach, executed on a reported ₹2 crore production, demonstrated innovative storytelling that elevated ensemble casts and procedural minutiae, setting a benchmark for indie filmmakers. Alexander Prasanth's role as SI Super Sebastian marked a career breakthrough, transitioning him from supporting parts to lead acclaim after two decades in the industry. The film's depiction of police work—focusing on administrative drudgery, interpersonal dynamics, and institutional flaws—has contributed to discussions challenging romanticized cop narratives prevalent in regional cinema. Director Krishand's success with the project bolstered his profile, following prior state award wins, and underscored a shift toward experimental genres amid Malayalam's "new wave" evolution.

References

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