Olu

There is of course a lot going on in Shaji Karun's Olu (She) that talks about a young girl (Esther Anil) who lives underwater after being dumped into the backwaters by her rapists. In a fantastical turn of events, she extends a relationship of love with an aspiring painter (Shane Nigam) who then goes on to create marvels in the field. This platonic exchange where they don't even see each other's face goes through several meanings, ultimately focusing on the limits of love, man's baser instincts of lust and vices, superstition, and urban legends and their consequences. Watching this all is a struggle because of Karun's trademark slow pace and inaction, further aggravated by the robotic English dialogues and overall dull atmosphere that never takes the fantasy drama to the level that was needed to fulfil its purpose. Performances aren't memorable. TN.

(Watched and reviewed during its world television premiere on Asianet.)