Low voltage Flash

Low voltage Flash: My quick take on a new Indian Superhero film “Minnal Murali” (Netflix)

When the entire world is going crazy over the latest Spiderman film (No Way Home), the last thing you'd expect to see on the big screen is an Indian superhero. The young director Basil Joseph and his team, on the other hand, had other plans. They not only created the first Malayali superhero (or should I say new Indian superhero), but they also made a decent film based on this "desi Flash."

The movie is ‘Tailor-made’ for Tovino Thomas who plays a tailor and jilted lover and someone who accidentally gains ‘Flash like’ superpowers after getting hit by lightning. If Peter Parker can spin a web after getting stung by the spider, then why can’t “Jaison” gain electric speed after getting hit by lightning, hence the name of the movie Minnal Murali (Lightening Murali). Unlike the proverb of “Lightening never strike twice”, this lightning strike twice in the same town, one creating the protagonist of the story “Jaison” while the other creating the antagonist “Shibu” (played very well by Tamil actor Guru Somasundaram)

The story is set in a small village where our hero dreams of traveling to the United States (it appears that Malayali taste and preference has shifted from the Gulf to the United States) to make a fortune and then returning to seek the hand of his childhood sweetheart. Similarly, Shibu is a Devdas because his love has married and left town, leaving him alone with a black and white photograph of her. However, his fortune changes when his love returns to town, rekindling the fire in his dying ambers. The plot then revolves around these two jilted love stories.

In contrast to the tall skyscraper-filled skylines of DC and Marvel comics, where the western superhero operates, the director chose a small Kerala village to stage this act. The cinematographer did an excellent job of capturing the rustic atmosphere. I saw the film in Hindi (an option available on Netflix), and perhaps it was because of this that I felt the dialogue lacked punch at times; second, the plot setting was too long to establish and clearly define each character.

However, each cast member delivers an outstanding performance. I applaud Malayalam filmmakers, particularly female actors who dare to appear in front of cameras without makeup. Tovino, with his chiseled persona, effortlessly slipped into the titular superhero's cape. Even the VFX used in the action scenes is of high quality (it appears that Hollywood technicians were hired for the action scenes).

I am too old to expect a Santa on Christmas day but let me tell you that the desi superhero "Minnal Murali" who runs like Flash (Mind you our superhero runs in Lungi) can become your Santa today.

Enjoy this low-voltage Flash on Netflix.