Ramachandra Boss and Co Movie Review: Nivin Pauly's Heist Comedy is Less 'Ocean's 11' and More 'Happy New Year'! (LatestLY Exclusive)

Ramachandra Boss and Co Movie Review: A captivating heist film thrives on meticulous details, intricate planning, and the art of astonishment. Both movies and shows should never take their audience for granted, but rather engage their intellect to the fullest. Examples of successful films like Rififi, Ocean's 11, and Logan Lucky exemplify this approach. Closer to home, movies like Aankhen and Vaaranyathil Aashanka also fit the bill. Regrettably, Ramachandra Boss and Co, written and directed by Haneef Adeni, falls short of earning its place in this exclusive league. Ramachandra Boss & Co Review: Nivin Pauly's Heist Entertainer Garners Mixed Reactions From Netizens.

The enigmatic Ramchandra 'Boss' (played by Nivin Pauly) extends a mysterious invitation to a diverse group of Malayalis from Kerala, each possessing unique skills and facing distinct life challenges, to participate in a grand heist in Persia. The coveted target is a valuable painting of a woman worth a staggering 10 million dollars, under the possession of a dangerous criminal named Amar (portrayed by Munish), residing within an impregnable palace fortress.

Unraveling the true identity of Boss, deciphering his ultimate motives, and witnessing the unconventional team execute the heist comprise the core of the film's narrative.

Watch the Trailer:

The film's strength lies in its ensemble cast, whose intriguing dynamics and connections lend certain scenes a touch of humour. While Jaffer Idukki (also serving as the narrator), Mamaitha Baiju, Vijilesh, and Sreenath Babu deliver commendable performances, it's Vinay Forrt who truly shines, delivering the film's most memorable lines with finesse. However, at one point, his kozhi humour begins to feel stale but the actor's lively performance still makes the proceedings watchable.

On the other hand, Arsha Baiju's role seems disconnected from the plot, and the film would hardly suffer if her character were omitted.

Enhanced by its comedy and overall setup, the first half of Ramachandra Boss and Co remains bearable, culminating in a gripping interval climax. However, where the film falters is in presenting itself as an astute heist movie. Despite the clever decision to situate the story in the UAE and capitalise on its locales, which contributes to the film's opulent visual appeal, the remainder of the heist thriller succumbs to subpar writing when it comes to building suspenseful surprises. Nivin adeptly navigates the comedic sequences, especially those shared with Vinay Forrt, but when Ramachandra Boss and Co transforms him into an action hero during the final act, the portrayal feels unconvincing. This issue echoes Nivin's previous collaboration with Haneef Adeni in Mikhael.

Another notable letdown is the villain. Despite an intriguing backstory, the antagonist fails to evolve into a formidable adversary capable of leaving a lasting impact on the plot. Munish's character is relegated to incessantly grinding his teeth, shouting, or overacting. The third act, in particular, descends into absurdity, while the final plot twist resembles an attempt to replicate the Lucifer formula, ultimately falling short (much like Kurup).

Final Thoughts

While Ramachandra Boss and Co demonstrates promise with its ensemble cast, intriguing setup, and humorous moments, it misses the mark of being a good heist film by miles not able to escape its unimaginative screenplay. The film's inability to sustain the aura of a clever thriller, the underutilisation of its antagonist, and occasional lapses in character coherence makes Ramachandra Boss and Co another entry in Nivin Pauly's repertoire of recent disappointments.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2023 07:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).