User reviews

Bunch of Talented actors and still had to drag to finish.

Dont get me wrong. It was okay but being a thriller which had so much potential it lacked the omphs which usual thriller of this sort have.

All actors were like under performing of their usual calibre. Felt like FAFA too.

Disappearance of girls were the highlight and investigation rolled out, we were moving along the story. The story should have paced up a bit in my opinion then only we could feel the thrill it was meant to be.

The main twist was fed to us just like that which no extra drama that it deserved. All for what? Somethings is missing. Anyways one time watch.

Had a great expectations after the trailer , and saw FAHAD in it and AMAL NEERAD the director ... But this turned out disappointing thriller sans any proper logic and the crux was not at all clear and was hurried at the end ... Though the initial buildup to story was slow burning and looked interesting... Acting was best level from the leads but FAHAD role was a damp squib and not sure why he accepted such a role unless he owes a movie to the director .... While the main was to take a thriller u cannot do any nonsense and something which does not make any sense showing some 20% and leaving 80% for audience imagination which is illogical... Overall a highly boring thriller movie from a good crew.

When Amal Neerad announced a new movie with Fahadh Faasil, I was excited to see what they'd have in store for us. Their combination in Iyobinte Pusthakam and Varathan produced some cinematic fireworks. This time they teamed up in a new psychological thriller Bougainvillea. Bougainvillea is thriller involving David Koshy, played by Fahadh Faasil, who is sets out to investigate missing girls and women from a town in Kerala where Reethu, played by Jyothirmayi, and her husband Dr. Royce Thomas, played by Kunchacko Boban live. Reethu and Royce meet with a car accident 8 years ago and as a result Reethu loses her memory. How is she related to the missing girls and why is David Koshy investigating Reethu despite her memory loss forms the rest of the story.

In typical Amal Neerad style, the movie is packed with technical brilliance. Be it the screenplay, cinematography, editing or sound. Amal leaves us enough breadcrumbs throughout the plot for us to guess what might be going on and we will be able to. As this is a psychological thriller and not a suspense thriller. The thrill comes from the "howdunnit?" instead of the "whodunnit?" aspect. I must say that Amal was successful in generating that interest till the climax.

This story is based on a novel called "Ruthinte Lokam" (Ruth's World) written by Lijo Jose, who co-wrote this movie with Amal Neerad. Jyothirmayi delivers a solid performance as ailing Reethu who is struggling to make sense of the happenings around her. So was Kunchacko Boban as Royce Thomas who stands support to her wife. Fahadh Faasil delivers an ok performance in a character that had barely any scope to perform.

While the movie keeps you engaging, it needed a better act 3 and climax to deliver that thrill. But unfortunately, this ended up being an average and unsatisfying watch.

The film Bougainvillea, directed by Amal Neerad, can be classified as a cinematic work belonging to the crime thriller action drama genres.

The narrative is focused on the family of Reethu and Dr. Royce, with Reethu, a character afflicted with retrograde amnesia, experiencing frequent memory loss. She also encounters hallucinations and other psychological disturbances. Her husband is depicted as providing her with excellent care, and she has a domestic servant named Rema who assists her. Reethu creates a world of her own through her possessions and engages in painting Bougainvillea flowers regularly. She also had two children, who appeared in her hallucinations. The film then transitions to a police officer named David Koshy, who arrives to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. During the time of disappearance, Reethu was present there, and the police questioned her on several occasions. She exhibited some unclear memories regarding the girl, but she was uncertain. The police suspected that Reethu might have connections with the disappearance. Royce's persistent efforts to extricate her from this predicament are noteworthy. As the film reaches its culmination, a significant twist emerges: Royce is revealed to be the perpetrator of the girl's abduction and subsequent murder. This revelation is further compounded by the fact that Royce had previously kidnapped several other girls. He manipulates Reethu's forgetfulness as a strategic advantage, creating a facade of reality that obscures her true surroundings. As Reethu's memory gradually returns, she comes to understand the full extent of Royce's transgressions. In the culminating act, a confrontation ensues between Reethu, Rema and a criminologist, ultimately leading to the vanquishing of Royce.

The narrative was of mediocre quality, exhibiting significant pacing issues, which rendered it challenging to establish a connection with the preceding narrative. In the culminating scenes, a women's empowerment programme appeared to be manipulated, seemingly unnecessarily. The performances were commendable, though not universally so. The inclusion of Fahad Fazil and Sharfuddin in their respective roles appeared superfluous, as their absence would not have significantly impacted the narrative. The direction was consistent with Amal Neerad's typical style, and the musical scores were noteworthy. In conclusion, this film stands as a notable example of Amal Neerad's directorial style, though it is perhaps his least successful work. It is recommended for one time watching, albeit with the caveat that it is not his most essential cinematic work.

A pulpy mystery thriller with the typical Amal Neerad visual flair, nothing more, nothing less. Excluding the finer details, most of it was predictable but still engaging enough. The cast did well but didn't feel anyone did anything extraordinary. Can't believe Fahadh is doing such an insignificant cop role. The climax could've been choreographed better for more impact. The three-against-one scene could've been utilized better. With Amal Neerad's style, the film's problem is that it's neither grounded nor really stylish enough. A lot of the twists and turns ended up very flat. The flashback portions didn't feel really convincing. I expected a bit more than that, so I ended up feeling underwhelming. Still, the whole thing is stylish and atmospheric enough to be an okay watch.

The movie for me was filled with a lot of expectations when the first half ended but the second half was predictable and it made movie boring and not mysterious film. I felt Fahad Fazil as an actor was wasted in the movie because he could have conveyed better emotions and been a better policeman. Two actors I liked were Jyothirmayi and Kunchako who did their roles well even through the movies story was pretty predictable. The bgm and songs by Sushin Shyam were the third saving grace in the movie and I personally think that he should move to other industries as he can be an asset to Indian film especially the pop and new generation songs.

Overall, a one time watchable film with wasted Fahad.

Good acting by all the stars.

Dark story which might not appeal to many. Not for kids.

Good performance by Jyothirmayi. Even good camera work.

First half is quite good and supports the suspense build up. You might guess the suspect at some point and then onwards it becomes a let down towards the end as nothing to keep you thinking after the movie.

Nothing type of role by Fahad. So as a fan we were disappointed.

Recently there have been some very good thrillers from the Malayalam Industry, so we went with high expectations. Maybe that's why it felt a bit of a let down.

And not the usual Amal Neerad movie.

I normally enjoy watching Amal Neerad's movies, even his Varathan, which despite being a copy of Straw Dogs, was eminently watchable. So I sat down to watch Bougainvillea with great expectations, but it turned out to be a massive letdown!

Amal is famous for his stylised movies, and thats what catches your eye in the beginning... and then as time passes, you realise that this movie is all style and no content!

Despite being a movie with 2.5 hours of run-time, Amal spends a lot of time laying the foundation of a mystery, introducing the characters, so much so that the movie drags on and on before he seems to realise that the time is almost up and he needs to wind up.

Amal and Fahad's ACP don't do any proper investigations, there are no clues to be found, no suspicious characters lurking about, no background check about anyone, no nothing.

Deeply saddened to see Fahad being wasted in an extended cameo playing the role of an ACP investigating the crime. Since Fahad is here, his role could have been built into a full-fledged meaty role - of an ACP who finally cracks the mystery. But Amal fails here too. Fahad's ACP does not detect anything... Amal's story and screenplay fails in this regard too.

Then who solves the actual mystery? Well, nobody! And maybe thats why the villain decides to come out and disclose the mystery himself - he must have got tired waiting for the police to catch him?

Amal too probably realised that the mystery has to be resolved, and we all need to go home, right? And he winds up in an almighty hurry!

Similar was the case with Sharfuddeen, another talent wasted as a taxi driver (!), with practically no dialogues to speak!

My rating is 4 stars out of 10. A movie with great expectations that tanked!

I watched the movie on its release day, and the first half was absolutely gripping. It's a slow-burner, but if you're invested, you'll feel the anticipation and excitement building as the story unfolds. The film keeps you on the edge of your seat, with a narrative path reminiscent of movies like The Sixth Sense or The Prestige-constantly surprising you with twists you can't predict.

However, the second half didn't quite live up to the expectations set by the first. The suspense, while intriguing, missed the mark it was aiming for. Still, it's a great watch overall. The cinematography, background score, music, and acting are all top-notch. I just wish the second half had delivered more impact. Nevertheless, it's definitely a must-see.

Bougainvillea

A psychological thriller that crawls initially takes a paradigm shift towards the latter half.

The plot of the story is about a couple leading a secluded life,the husband who is a medico and his wife who has been diagnosed with retrograde Amnesia since few years after an untoward incident in their life and the police investigation in the backdrop on few missing cases forms the nutshell of the story.

The script is an adaptation from Lajo Jose's novel and the joint effort of Amal & Lajo is evident in the script with the detailed characterisation given to the central characters and the eerie atmosphere brings curiousness and suspicion in the minds of the viewers. The first half of the movie highlights on the background formation of the lead characters and the audience may feel monotonous to an extent until few developments happen before the interval.

The second half of the movie gives spellbound moments to the audience followed by an engaging climax sequences and tail end.

Great comeback by Jyothirmayi after 11 years and Amal has given her a good Avenue for proving her mettle as an actor in this movie. She has given a subtle performance of her characters in varied layers.

Fahadh Faasil in his extended cameo role has given a convincing performance as an investigating officer. Kunchacko Boban has also given an impressive character portrayal in distinct shades in the movie. Good performance by Srinda,Veena Nandakumar,Sharafudheen,Shobi Thilakan,Jinu Joseph,Nisthar Sait & Naveena.

Altogether Amal has given a good entertaining thriller bolstered by Sushin's BGM's,perfect placement of the songs & Anend C Chandran's spectacular Frames. Special mention to Srik Varier for the colour toning and grading. Please watch the movie in theatres if you want to experience the real Amal's magic and technical perfection without giving ears to unnecessary rumours in the air about the story.

The psycho thriller except for the monotonous factor in the first half is a good watchable entertainer.

Rating - 3.5/5.

The story was lacking in all regards. Unless an original plot is present for an investigation thriller movie, directors should stay away scripts. I can name 10 movies with the usual plot from the back of my head quite easily. I assure you 80 per cent of the audience who have not even watched the movie knows who the killer is or has doubts about that particular character being the killer.

Talking about the unnecessary scenes and slow motions , they degrade the movie in a whole new level. Unnecessary characters are being added. Actors who have great talent are left with roles which are not demanding enough.

People usually want to see talented actors given enough space to perform. Fahad Fazil's role in this movie can be done by any actor. Even if his character is absent throughout the movie, the story will move on.

Moving on to the music, apart from the first song, even the BGM is bad.

Talking about the cinematography. The usual style nothing special. Don't get why people are trying to hype up the movie when there is nothing good to it.

If you are trying to show a woman empowered movie, make it so that the main women characters have depth in it. Adding cheesy lines like "This is all it takes sister" doesn't do any good.

I felt like watching this movie after I saw the trailer . The story was predictable after the interval and I felt the culprit could have acted more innocently than giving those cunning smiles to keep the suspense till the end. Jyothirmai gave one of her best performances . Others also did their roles pretty well . In fact you can say Fahad Fasil role is an extended cameo and for his stardom , he shouldn't have signed up this movie for such a small role. The location, BGM etc were good enough to keep the suspenseful environment. Overall I feel this movie is just one time watchable and could have been directed better .

A psychological Mystery Drama presented with Unique style of Amal Neerad Making!!!

The mystery unfolding in a slow paced way with impressive sound mixing and Cinematography aligned with intriguing background Score by Sushin Syam is one of the strength here !!

Performance vice both Jyothirmayi & Kunchacko Boban excelled in their roles ; Especially a very different and bold role for Chakochan !!

Fahad has nothing much to do & veena nandakumar done her role pretty well !!

Don't go to theatre expecting usual Amal Neerad stuffs, Go to theatre if you want to Experience a mystery with Grand Making style !!

The movie was clearly inspired by *Before I Go to Sleep*, which was itself an average thriller. Unfortunately, this remake doesn't improve upon the original and is riddled with plot holes that make the story less believable. While the acting is commendable, with the cast delivering strong performances, the screenplay lacks depth and coherence. The music and cinematography are well-executed, creating a tense atmosphere, but they are not enough to save the weak narrative. The pacing feels uneven, and the lack of logical consistency prevents the film from being truly gripping. Overall, a style over substance movie.

We all malayalees were a big fan of amal neerad as a brilliant director with his range of angles in camera and what he is observing from his mind of view we all applauded with such all his ideas. But here everything is reversed.nothing you can find okay in this movie even he lost his sense of selection by selecting such a crack story where it can make any sense anyway.poor script with weak content.making this movie really.not saying that every movie need to convey a message to the society but atleast need to be pleasant or ok ok feel or like ok he ll put atleast a try behind this.which is absent.

In the very first scene we realise something is not quite right with the cute family of four - Dr. Joyce, his wife Reethu and their two lovely children. While Reethu is hovering on the brink of sanity, her charming husband remains her best support. When a missing girl's case throws their carefully maintained life off balance we are throwing mental daggers at the insensitive police officer played by Fahad Fazil.

By the time the first half ends, the director has the audience exactly where he wanted them to be. In a no man's land, one leg in reality, the other mid-air.

As the drama picks up pace I found myself totally sucked up into Reethu's world. I could feel the ominous presence of the bougainvillaea, the sense of distrust, the encompassing fear, all thanks to the sheer brilliance of the director.

But, my dear Amal Neerad, why is it always necessary to be so graphic? There are so many frames that were superfluous. Trust us, we know how a psycho works. This would have been a perfect movie if the editor's scissors had snipped away a little more.

Even so this is a brilliant work of art with breath-taking cinematography, solid acting and music that hits the ball out of the park.

After you watch, before you go to bed, draw a cross and go to sleep because this is a movie that is going to haunt you forever.

It was a good entertainer and the story was gripping throught. The director kept the mystery element active till the final part but he could have executed it in a much better way. Moreover I don't think casting Fahadh Faazil as a supporting actor was a wise choice.

The screenplay lost it's grip in the final parts of the movie and I didn't like the way Amal executed the last part.

All the technical departments executed their roles well. Sushin Syam's music is one of the main highlights of this film. Anend C Chandran, the cinematographer has also done a good job.

The production design was also perfect.

First, let me start by appreciating Amal Neerad and his cinematography skills. He is a top notch cinematographer with unmatched skills, using lenses to portray his vision. But as a director, he is below average.

Jyothirmai (his wife) was the weakest link in this movie. Before going on exile, she was just an item dancer and side role type of girl. But trying to bring her back as a main lead was absolutely horrible. In all the scenes she was part of, she was blant and expressionless. OFC her grey hair and thick glasses were meant to be appreciated but cmon, in this day and age, it felt so try hard. When all the other characters were costumed and styled normal, she stood out like a wannabe gen z which was cringe.

The story had lot of loop holes and I was yawning before even half way through the movie. Still Kunchackos slow mo scenes and creepy scene at the end was excellent. Altogether I would say this a failed attempt and I hope Amal learns that Jyothirmai was cast out for a reason and it still stands. Just make Bilal 2 and stop doubting yourself.

Movie Review: Bougainville ( Malayalam film screening in cinema halls near you!!.. English subtitles available!! )

Based on a novel Ruthinte Lokam by Lajo Jose , directed by Amal Neerad & starring Kunchako Boban, Jyothirmayi & FaFa( Fahad Fasil) , this film is an absolute mind-bender!!

Synopsis: Bougainville is the story Reethu ( Jyothirmayi), a painter who suffers from retrograde amnesia after an accident living with a loving husband Dr. Royce ( Kunchako Boban) . Their monotonous life takes a turn for the worse when she is identified as a suspect by the police & linked to the disappearance of multiple girls in Kerala.

How can this even be possible? Inconceivable rt ? See the film for answers and u will be baffled by the twists involved in the story.

The first half is laid back and shows the monotonous lives of the couple. Things however change with the entry of FaFa, the officer in charge who feels that Reethu is hiding something knowingly or otherwise.

This is when the mind games actually begin, culminating in a brilliantly conceived climax.

This film is all about the two pivotal characters Jyothirmayi and Kunchako .. absolutely brilliant 👌. Fahad Fasil has unfortunately been wasted and is in the film primarily for his brand value . Any lesser known actor cudve played his part 😞

A perfect balance of strong content, great casting , brilliant direction and a good BGM to support the narrative🙂.... Highly recommended.. don't miss it !!

Going with 4/5 for this one ... Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzclicks #sanjuzzreviews #bougainvilleamovie #fahadfazil #kunchakoboban #jyothirmayi #amalneerad #moviewreview #filmreview.

After reading 'Ruthinte Logham', I eagerly anticipated the movie adaptation, but unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The book's gripping narrative, replete with unexpected twists at the end of each chapter, kept me on the edge of my seat. The novel's emotional resonance and expertly crafted plot made certain characters' actions both predictably unpredictable and intriguing. I wondered how the film could possibly replicate the book's suspenseful pace and intricate details. Sadly, my doubts were confirmed - the movie felt rushed, with scenes hastily stitched together. The chemistry between Jyothirmayi and Kunchacko fell flat, rendering the plot predictable. The film's attempts to create suspense by misdirecting the audience lacked conviction. However, the cinematography and music were notable highlights.