Kerala Crime Files Review: Kerala Crime Files is a crime-thriller series directed by Ahammed Khabeer, produced by Rahul Riji Nair, written by Ashiq Aimar and stars Aju Varghese, Lal, Navas Vallikkunnu, Zhinz Shan and others. The series has 7 episodes, each with a runtime of around 30 minutes.
– Kerala Crime Files Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Kerala Crime Files Plot
When a woman is found dead in a seedy motel, the police are baffled when they are unable to find anything to figure out who could’ve done the heinous deed. The only thing that they have is a fake address, but will it be enough to catch the culprit?
Kerala Crime Files Review
For me, the best and most gripping TV shows are those where the cops do the job even without the media attention and the political pressure. Kerala Crime Files is truly a different and refreshing addition to the show only because the police, headed by Sub Inspector Manoj, tries their level best to solve the case simply because they should – it’s the right thing to do. Regardless of who our victim is (who, in this case, is a sex worker), we get to see an innocent woman’s death being taken seriously.
It adds a layer of intrigue and interest for the general audience as well since the audience is aware of how little these issues get actual attention in the world and in mainstream media. It’s nice to see that the police don’t really make any deal out of the victim’s background, even raise an eyebrow about it really. It’s just a fact, just like the fact that she was murdered, and the murderer is at large.
I personally loved the little bits of background about the officers themselves as they spend bits of time here and there with their families. It humanises these characters and gives us a look into their softer sides as they interact with their wives and engage in funny banter. It also gives the viewers a break from the heavy subject matter at hand that creates a web around us as the show progresses.
Talking about the web, Kerala Crime Files, thankfully, doesn’t reveal the killer’s identity in the first episode itself. It’s a well-made and thrilling ride to figuring out who the killer is. We are as clueless as the police as they try to figure out who this person can be. Their small steps towards figuring out are also where we are, and thus we are absolutely as thrilled as them to figure out the next step that might be the one to make everything clear. Thus, when a sure-shot lead turns out to be false, we are left equally frustrated and annoyed.
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The best part about Kerala Crime Files is that it’s a simple story, but the makers have given it the respect that it deserves and created a layered storytelling that breaks down the police’s process. And, as mentioned previously, we learn along with the police, which makes the experience even better. The thoroughness with which the makers break down the process and follow through with each and every lead will push the viewers to sit in anticipation with bated breath to figure out Shiju’s true identity.
The investigation is pretty straightforward as well. So viewers who are just jumping into the crime genre frenzy won’t have too much difficulty keeping up with the pace and what happens after what. On the other hand, viewers familiar with the genre will have a field day to watch this tense crime-thriller reveal itself. Of course, there are some moments of exposition, and the police aren’t without their flaws, but even with these faults, the TV show really shines through.
DOP Jithin Stanislaus does a stellar job with the show, and it looks beautiful in every frame but also creates the correct atmosphere for a crime-thriller to exist comfortably. Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music is also really good and goes well with the overall vibe of the series.
Manoj, Aju Varghese, Lal, Navas Vallikkunnu, Zhinz Shan and everyone on the show do a fantastic job with their roles. They are believable, shades of grey that border on good and are generally relatable. Aju Varghese, as Manoj, is the soft but serious sub-inspector. All the officers, actually, follow this motto thoroughly, and their hard exteriors hide their soft interiors quite well, thanks to the acting finesse of all the actors.
Kerala Crime Files Review: Final Thoughts
If it wasn’t clear by now, I really enjoyed watching Kerala Crime Files. It’s a simple story that is executed really well and keeps you engaged throughout the runtime. Who is Shiju, and why is he doing what he is doing? I guess you will have to find that out by watching the show!
Kerala Crime Files is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
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Nice series