Irul Review: A Competent Mystery-Thriller!

Naseef Yusuf Izuddins’s Irul, the 2021 Malayalam film on Netflix India is a psychological thriller that showcases the events of an extra-ordinary night Alex and Archana have to confront and their attempts to survive the difficult situation. Produced by Anto Joseph, Jomon T John and Shameer Muhammed, actors Fahadh Faasil, Soubin Shahir, and Darshana Rajendran play the roles which share an equal amount of screentime. With a runtime of 91 minutes, the film keeps us glued to our screens with well-paced thrilling elements crafted transparently.

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The storyline of Irul on Netflix India revolves around Alex Parayil (Soubin Shahir), a writer who just kick-started his writing career, and Archana Pillai (Darshana Rajendran), an advocate who invests all her time in her profession. With a cute little relationship brewing between them, they plan for a weekend outing to take a break from their busy schedules and cut down their communication needs. En-route, they encounter a difficult situation, and they set out to seek help, which lands up in meeting a stranger (played by Fahadh Faasil). What unravels is a mysterious tale entangled with the life of Alex and a high-priority crime.

Sunil Yadav’s original screenplay of Irul is impressive and is supported well with an engaging narrative. The writing team that includes director Naseef Yusuf Izuddin worked well to deliver an entertainer with clean dialogues and kept up with the movie’s pace. In the final quarter of the film, the script lost its decent pace but managed to close out on a high note. The production design by Ajayan Chalissery mastered the art of crafting a mysterious house, around which the entire plot of the movie turns around.

The cinematography by Jomon T John managed to capture the more ominous shades of a film set at night in the true sense, and Shameer Muhammed had blended the visuals well without spoiling the mood of the movie. The original background score by Sreerag Saji matched the mood and the sound department team headed by had blended it well.

A remarkable performance by Darshana Rajendran was the highlight of the movie that had fine moments of panic and poignancies, along with a sterling performance by Soubin Shahir. Fahadh Faasil once again stole the show with his performances that are composed of intricacies. At times, it reminded me of his performance from ‘Thondimuthalum Drisksakshiyum.’

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Overall, Irul on Netflix India starring Fahadh Faasil in a feature role is a well-executed mystery thriller with all-around exquisite performances. A thriller that possesses all the thrill and fun that you expect. Watch ‘Irul’ on Netflix India here.

Rating – 3.5/5 | Grade – B+

Images via Anto Joseph Film Company