Ajay (Tovino Thomas) lives in Chiyothikavi, Kerala, with his mother. He studies well but works as a part-time teacher and electrician until he finds a good job. He loves Laxmi (Krithi Shetty), the daughter of the local landlord. However, because of his grandfather Maniyan (Tovino Thomas), who was a robber, Ajay faces many problems as the villagers brand him a thief and accuse him of every small or petty theft that happens in their houses. Sudev (Harish Utthaman) comes to the village as a researcher, but he has evil intentions, and he coerces Ajay to search and get the hidden treasure. Why does Ajay accept to find the treasure? What connection does Maniyan have with the hidden treasure, and how does Ajay discover it? Answers to these questions form the rest of the story.
Tovino Thomas has done triple action in his 50th movie. His performance as Maniyan was superb, while Ajay’s character was a cakewalk for him. Krithi Shetty has a limited character, and she was okay and looked gorgeous in some scenes. Rohini Molleti was natural, while Surabhi Laxmi was excellent, adding value to her character with her perfect portrayal. Basil Joseph was good in the supporting character and provided a few laughs. Harish Utthaman was fine.
Director Jithin Laal had an exciting setup for the film. He designed an interesting character called Maniyan and linked it well to the major story and other characters. He also convincingly conceived a few important scenes and action episodes in the second half. Furthermore, he was successful in extracting good performances from the lead cast along with proper technical output. However, as a director he was successful only in parts and left a lot to be desired with his inconsistent narration and weak handling of the concept.
Tovino Thomas’s performance should be the first one to appear in the positives of this film. Apart from that, stunning visuals at some places and the crucial two action sequences in the second half work well for the film. Also, the buildup towards the climax was good.
Though the film’s story is interesting, the screenplay was not as effective as it should have been. The first half of the film is used to establish the core point, but it is stretched and feels lethargic. The second half has some better engaging portions, but even it also cannot take the impact to the next level. The director did not etch the characters properly, including the lead role, which affected the emotional quotient of the film.
Las Line: ARM: An ambitious attempt with a few enjoyable moments
