Kalamkaval is based on the story of Cyanide Mohan ; a notorious serial killer who had killed about 20 women during the period of 2005 – 2009. His genius was targeting women who had trouble getting married (a larger taboo then), promising them a life together. By getting married in small temples, he avoided CCTV and public notice.
He would provide the said women with contraceptive pills laced with cyanide, advising them to consume the first dose in the bathroom, in the event they developed nausea. The unsuspecting women would die within seconds of consuming the tablet and Cyanide Mohan would move onto the next target, having made away with their gold and belongings.
Kalamkaval reads like a slow burn novel. What’s more difficult than remakes? Retelling stories that everyone is familiar with. The audience is aware of the story – given that Sonakshi Sinha and Vijay Verma played cop and killer in the limited series called Dahaad
Kalamkaval spins a slow burn tale bordering heavily on the psychological layering rather than plot pushing moments. Sound is used sparingly but effectively. Written and directed by debutant Jithin K. Jose , the movie stars Mammootty as the character based on Cyanide Mohan and Vinayakan is the investigating officer.
There are many changes from the original story line of Cyanide Mohan Kumar. The serial killer is a police officer himself and even ingratiates himself to be part of the investigation against him. We get psychological insights into Stanley Das (the character played by Mammootty) as he maintains a sketch book of his victims – starting with animals, categorized possibly with ink – one color for the targets he missed and another for the ones who became his victims.
Mammukka (combining Mammootty + Ikka/elder brother) is brilliant- there are no two things about it. Despite being physical charismatic, he underplays without the use makeup. He blends into the crowd, not standing out, not someone you would pick out of a line up. A role, we heard he chose despite being offered the investigating officer’s role, Mammukka does a job par excellence with a masterclass in how subtlety can speak louder.
The film is a bit of a drag, there are no sharp confrontational peaks until the last act which should have not worked given the climate but the fact that this movie turned out to be one of the highest grossing malayalam movies of all time proves that audience is all about the movie and the actors rather than a cookie cutter template.
Serial killers seems a far fetched fantasy. Lores, documentaries that you watch of people you can never relate to, podcasts that tell gory stories of women in lands so far away. How did Cyanide Mohan get away with so many murders for many years? It’s not just the lack of technology. This was yet another man discovering the most advantageous loophole within the intricate web of patriarchy. He targeted introverted women who were outcasts. Women caught in the worst tangle of unfortunate circumstances – chastised for being a women who required a dowry to be married off, criticised for adding the financial burden of the family despite many of the victim being working women, marginalised for not having secured a groom.
These women were frustrated with their lives, tired of men dictating their every move and telling them they needed to be prettier or richer to be accepted. The film barely touches this perspective, shining stage light bright on Mammooka. Iam not complaining, that’s what sells. ls. A film addressing the struggles of such women would likely be labelled a drag, critics probably calling the “second half a bore”.
Despite its impressive acting, lighting, sound, direction, editing, and composition, Kalamkaval remains a film about a male serial killer. It’s set in a patriarchal society where shifting perspective towards the victim would be seen as preachy or an “art film.”