“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist,” said Charles Baudelaire.
But what if that trick failed?
According to Ken Ammi, “The second greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he’s the good guy.”
And if that too fell short? Enter Amal Neerad.
His third greatest trick: showing us that something is clearly amiss, yet convincing us to believe that everything is fine because it is his movie.
That’s “Bogainvillea” for you.
Amal Neerad has often struggled to close his films as tightly as he builds them. In this case instead of closing he rather finished it.The slow, atmospheric setup of “Bogainvillea” lays out a psychological thriller hinging on (selective ) memory loss, but fails to fully draw the audience into its world. The film follows in the footsteps of the recent Malayalam wave of “Nolan-esque” films, where character inconsistencies and fragmented psychological states are used as crutches to justify over twists, u-turns and my favorite “gaps” in the narrative.
While Malayalam cinema has proven time and again that it can thrive with limited budgets and bold storytelling, “Bogainvillea” highlights both the promise and challenges of this industry. Directors like Amal Neerad focus on a self styled storytelling, showcasing the grit and creativity that have made Malayalam cinema stand out. Yet, in “Bogainvillea,” the effort to deliver something groundbreaking falters.
The story centers around Reethu (Jyothirmayi), who suffers from memory loss (some kind of amnesia ) following a road accident eight years before the events of the film. Her husband, Dr. Royce (Kunchacko Boban), is her pillar of support, balancing his duties as a on the dot caregiver with his work as a doctor. While Royce’s life appears outwardly calm, the delicate rhythm is shattered when a police investigation into a missing girl brings Reethu under suspicion as the prime suspect.
Enter Fahadh Faasil as Inspector Koshy, alongside Srinda and Sharafudheen—excellent actors who feel like they owe the filmmakers a favor rather than serving the characters they play. Its almost like using Ferrari for a taxi.
On the flip side, Jinu Joseph’s character? was undercast to perfection. Fahadh Faasil could’ve nailed it, but we got the discount version who missed the memo—while the director was busy with other overcasts under performing themselves.
Fahadh Faasil’s interrogation scenes, Srinda’s involvement, and Sharafudheen’s surrender to the script felt like they were trying to achieve a universal fit—but only to a certain extent. It sticks out like a sore thumb
Amal Neerad’s trademark visual style , with vivek Harshans editing and Anad C Chandrans camera and Sushin Shyams music, Tapas Nayaks (special mention) sound design elevate the film, particularly during Reethu’s memory lapses. However, it’s Kunchacko Boban who truly carries the film, embodying the subtle frequency Neerad aims for. Jyothirmayi’s performance is commendable, capturing Reethu’s sense of helplessness, acceptance, and doubt. Still, many would argue there were stronger casting options available from the deep well of Malayalam talent.
And then there’s the elephant in the room—the “CCTV every where in the house” Why, man, why?
Where the film stumbles is in its attempt to deliver a powerful twist. The pacing, which starts slow, accelerates towards the end with a plot twist and a gratuitous increase in violence. In attempt to add depth, with additional and unnecessary backstory, the climax feels forced and leaves the audience asking, “Okay agreed, what next?” It seems Neerad anticipated this reaction when he switched gears from a slow local to a fast, stopping too long at second last stop, but finishing short of a satisfying conclusion.
“Bogainvillea” is a valiant attempt at a great story, but one that could have been better paced and cast. While it showcases why stars like Kunchacko Boban and Jyothirmayi boarded this project as producers aswell, the film ultimately leaves viewers with a sense of missed potential.
Out of 5 panzees, 1couldn’t handle the overbuilt of climax and walked out 15 minutes before the end song, other one stood at the halfopen exit door. The remaining 3 panzees stayed till the end, but they’re still not sure if it was worth the ride. So, “Bogainvillae” gets a 3 and a half panzee rating—not quite a full house, but enough to keep us guessing if the ones who left missed the best part… or dodged a bullet!
