Aavasavyuham, a Malayalam ecological thriller film, saw its release on SonyLiv on 4th August 2022. It was shot as a mockumentary by Krishand and stars Rahul Rajagopal, Nielsen Sandra, Shreenath Babu, Zhinz Shan and Sarup Padaveedan in titular roles. It lasts for about 2 hours, giving the audience a flurry of emotions ranging from introspection, guilt and impending danger that awaits us all.
SonyLIV describes the movie as:
A metamorphosis of an individual is directly tied to the ecological eventualities caused by humans.
-Aavasavyuham Review does not contain any spoilers-
Based on human-nature relationships, the movie kickstarts with a heavy quote, “What is normal for a spider is chaos for the fly”, by Mortician Adams, with an even heavier backdrop of animals and babies preserved for inspection. The story begins to unveil via a man who possesses a magical entanglement with nature, in a Rashomon-style dichotomy. With the concept of art house cinema and mainstream sensibilities, it’s evident why Aavasavyuham bagged the FIPRESCI and NETPAC Awards for Best Malayalam Film.
The first few shots of the amphibians might make you question why flying jets is more crucial than frogs, but it’s a question we’ve asked a little too late. A wicked sense of humour in the most absurd moments of intimacy is played out throughout the movie (the introduction of priests chanting). A montage of animals cuts right through the sad retellings of someone. Maybe, this is the director’s way of asking the audience to invest as much emotion and outcry into animals as human beings.
Also Read: Wedding Season Review: Pallavi Sharda, Suraj Sharma Are Delightful in a Formula Film
Joy, someone connected with nature to the extent of his disconnection with humans, is shrouded in mystery. As the movie travels through the interviews with people who knew Joy, many would still be unable to point out a single statement about the character. The character and the essence of this movie reminded me of the 2017 Oscar winner, The Shape of Water, which yet again boasted of an astounding message.
One of my favourite shots in the movie is when the goons are searching for the protagonist (Joy), and a flash of light surges for a millisecond onto the frog, followed by a shot of Joy. The narrative is fused with metaphors and puns. Another favourite is when the scientist is describing the intricacies of eels juxtaposed with shots of a heinous crime taking place. A cunning tactic adopted to represent that life has various forms; you cannot value one more than the other.
“There is no point in calling ourselves men if we don’t confront him” is a line thrown around multiple times in the entirety of the film, depicting that toxic masculinity is far from over. From discussing the geopolitical reality of Puthuvype or the installation of an Indian Oil Plant, there are subplots that have been given adherence to, without overpowering the plot of the movie.
Also Read: Adamas Episode 4 Preview: When, Where and How to Watch!
Final Verdict: Aavasavyuham
Nature fan or not, you will get engrossed in the movie from the first minute itself, which sadly turns into a slow-paced affair in its precedence. The background music by Ajmal Hasbulla elevates the cinematography, and in one instance, the tune is of a melodic frog.
The movie ends with the phrase, “Why does the princess want to kiss a frog? Kissing the frog to turn him into a prince is a waste of a frog,” stressing the point that animals are far more valuable than human beings today, who are ready to dig their own grave for a few seconds of joyousness.
Aavasavyuham is streaming now on SonyLIV.