Officer on Duty on Netflix: Kunchacko Boban's electrifying performance!

Kunchacko Boban's Malayalam movie 'Officer on Duty' is now available on Netflix! Before the OTT release, I had watched the film in a nearby theatre. Now, you can watch this Kunchacko Boban thriller on Netflix.

Note: All images in this blog are sourced from Kunchacko Boban's verified Facebook page.

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Officer on Duty on Netflix: Director, Star Cast, Music

Directed by Jithu Ashraf, the leading stars are Kunchacko Boban and Priyamani, with a solid, heart wrenching performance by Jagdish and a stellar line-up of young talent. The 'negative' roles make a chilling impact in this thriller film. Jakes Bejoy's music is refreshing, different and I found myself liking the unique vibe.

While watching Officer on Duty, one is reminded fleetingly of chilling scenes from a yesteryear superhit film - Mammootty's Johny Walker. In this film, which I remember watching in a theatre in Guruvayur, Mammootty plays the role of an elder brother, who steps in to defend his younger brother and takes on a deadly drug gang in a college campus in Bangalore. 

Way back, in those days, 'Johny Walker' pushed the envelope on showing how drugs make an impact on the campus. The songs in the film were a huge hit, especially 'Shanthamee rathriyil' and had a distinct Western vibe to it. 

Kunchacko Boban's portrayal of an angry cop, grief-stricken and prone to frequent panic attacks, is an emotional rollercoaster ride. His timing is near-perfect, the breakdowns are palpable and the story arc leaves you disturbed as it is chaotic. 

As someone who has watched many movies of Malayalam cinema's most loved 'Chocolate Hero', there is no doubt that Kunchacko Boban is rewriting his starry sojourn to reinvent himself as an actor par excellence through films like 'Officer on Duty'. Even if you were to look for the tiniest 'Chocolate Hero' indications, you wouldn't be able to spot it - that's how deftly this fine actor has emerged into an 'Officer on Duty'.

Officer on Duty Malayalam movie: Priyamani wins hearts 

The lovely Priyamani, in this subtle and powerful performance, adds quiet elegance and substance to this suspense-filled movie. Playing the role of a police officer's wife brings its own challenges. This is not because the role is rare but it is difficult to stand out as a striking one.

Consider all the most loved police-based films in Malayalam cinema - how many times do you recall the spouse of the police officer as a memorable character? In general, the spouse or girlfriend takes a backseat to the cop's story graph. In Kunchacko Boban's 'Officer on Duty', the unconventional approach of balancing the wife's perspective with subtle yet impactful performances required a powerhouse talent duo to pull it off - which is why Priyamani-Kunchacko Boban delivered it to perfection! 

Officer on Duty Malayalam movie: Amazing Performance by Vishak Nair 

Officer on Duty witnesses young, highly talented actors showcase disturbing and spine-chilling 'drug' sequences. As a theme, drugs are not new to Malayalam cinema's exploration of the same in terms of the storyline. From perfection in his body language to the way he dresses and carries himself, Vishak Nair as Christy is brilliant. 

"As they say in theater, wwhen you wear a mask, you cannot be 'Vishak' - we cannot wear our identity. Comedy and horror are the same - timing is key," Vishak Nair shares in this insightful interview. 

He talks about the research he undertook to understand the mannerisms of a heavy drug user and how decoding the physicality of the character helps him understand the character better and grasp the identity, after which he focuses on the emotional plane.

Here is an actor to watch out for!

Through the young 'drug gang', the film demonstrates what this does to spur more crimes among the youth, destroying their lives altogether. In this film, the gang leader 'Christy' offers a glimpse of a young drug dealer who is ruthless, commands the loyalty of his 'tribe' and his fearless display lands him in deep trouble. It also shows where cops gamble into the risk factor by catching drug gangs to exploit the young girls. Through a terrible violent scene, this film unearths a deeply savage act of extreme violence and police exploitation of women who are a part of gangs. 

Special note of appreciation for the brilliant young women artists who portrayed the negative roles in this film as part of the 'drug gang' headed by 'Christy'.

The flip side is that it makes a viewer believe that women are safer in such gangs than when they are caught by the police - and that doesn't feel too good, does it?

Officer on Duty Malayalam movie: Best Scenes

There are many deeply disturbing scenes in 'Officer on Duty' - the most chilling one is where an act of violence is committed. The scene destroys our conventional biases in a powerful way. This scene makes us question the custodians of law.

A touching scene in 'Officer on Duty' is where the angry cop tries to break down the door of his home and is forced to confront the reality of what he is avoiding when his wife shouts the truth in his face. That moment is delivered to perfection by Kunchacko Boban and Priyamani - the incredible powerhouse performances belong to them equally.

Jithu Ashraf's directorial debut towers on its storyline which is further strengthened by a solid star cast of talented artists. The film is not without minor flaws. But I am glad I watched Officer On Duty in theatre. The picturesque spots in Kochi and the powerful scenes in the film are best watched in movie theatres. 

But if you missed it , watch it on Netflix.

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The diversity and powerhouse talent in Malayalam cinema enthralls me every time I step into a theatre. So, go watch Malayalam films in movie theatres. 

Watching a Malayalam film means you are also supporting Kerala's vibrant culture, language and roots, making it easier for more producers and film makers to unleash the magic of cinema and storytelling for decades to come.

Simply put, watch Malayalam movies in nearby theatres - don't wait for OTTs.