User reviews

The best part of ARM is definitely the portions of the thief Maniyan. Among the three timelines and the three characters, it was the sole reason I felt the movie was worth watching. But even there it felt like there was so much potential that was not explored enough. Even in that portion, everything from the writing, production design and music feels like it's done in a way that is just enough and safe for the movie to work among Malayalees. The main storyline of Ajayan was like a tweaked version of Meeshamadhavan where a lot of things felt wrong and it went on way longer than I had the patience for.

Still, the touch of fantasy in everything was something that made me appreciate the whole thing even with all the things that irked me. The very first action scene with the Kunjikelu character was very underwhelming for me, but the rest of the action scenes worked pretty well with all the Kalari moves. But the fights are not placed in the narrative like modern action movies, it felt a lot like how they were placed in some of the Malayalam movies from the 90s as a moderately exciting scene before something more interesting happens. Even the ending felt like one of those lazy 90s movies where everything doesn't exactly tie up by the end but the main stuff is told directly to you and the rest are just assumed to have gone well.

The 3D effects that are designed to be flashy at moments kept me amused after the moments I felt bored. There were also editing mistakes that popped up here and there, so I'd have to think that some frames with issues in 3D could have been more of an issue with the editing. Overall, this felt like an okayish movie but there were some aspects of it, especially in the Maniyan portion that I'm very happy to see and wish there were more attempts like that.

~ A. R. M is a fantasy action film directed by Jithin Lal who has done a fantastic job in his debut film itself. It's a film which follows three characters across three generations ; Kunjikelu , Maniyan and Ajayan which are all played by Tovino himself and one powerful statue that is heavily involved in the lives of the three men. The story was really engaging and it felt like a folktale , it was like one of those muthashi kadhakal. Tovino was an absolute standout among the ensemble cast featuring many great talents who has also done a great job. It was Tovino's potrayal of Maniyan that I loved the most. The film is in 3D and the 3D was superb, they have done a good job on it. Considering it's 30 crore budget it looks visually stunning and has better or as good VFX than a lot of films that are made over 200 , 400 crores. The technical aspects of the film was outstanding especially the VFX work , cinematography, background score , action choreography and the colour grading giving it a fantasy and retro vibe. It was a totally worth watch in the theatre as it had everything it had promised and I am so glad that finally Malayalam cinema got a big budget fantasy film right.

Let me start with Cinematography, it has all the recipe of Hombale films. The producers of Kaantara!!

The treasure hunt kind of a story with some supernatural healing element is fine but the non linear presentation across three time periods doesn't stick well. Tovino Thomas does justice on part but the plot does not draw that stickiness which a Kaantara or a Baahibali does!

Music some times is sometimes superfluous or overwhelming.

The story line is all about lineage and legacy, and says how the protoganist negotiates his way forward to erase the untrue legacy. Basically the protoganist trio are ready to face all odds for greater good. While that theme is good it needs a proper presentation.

Kalari was shown well initially, even during the climax it's brought in and presented well, initially but loses steam almost instantly.

We are left to wonder what is it that the hero will use to win all the odds against him. It's finally the supernatural saving element in the plot that makes the entire much a do about something into some what nothing.

Needn't have to be that lengthy a movie to say what you wanted to say!! Though there are a couple of twists in the movie they don't appeal much.

Overall you can watch once with some supernatural support for almost 3 hours.

So, I watched this movie in 3D in theaters. First of all, in many instances during the movie, the 3D was a huge letdown and I really thought why I didn't watch this in 2D. There was no reason at all to make this 3D. I really liked the story, I mean the story on paper, but the execution was really poor. Tovino does all the heavy lifting here, but besides him, the rest of the characters and situations are just thrown in randomly and in a Deux ex machina way, which just drags the movie forward. A lot of the fights, especially towards the climax was unnecessary, draw out and boring. The ending was also like a damp squib. Hats off to Tovino however for pulling this off, he has acted really well, especially the Manian character. For me, this move is above malaikottai vaaliban, but a bit disappointed cos this had the story to be like a tummbad, but in the end falls short cos of the execution.

Initially I thought it's just a normal movie with few fights and drama but after watching it my opinion has changed. The storyline was built very well that the viewers will get involved in the movie completely. In few places there might be slight flaws how the fight scenes are depicted other than that it's very interesting.

Coming to the acting all actors gave their best to the characters. Especially the lead actor. Makeup for the ajayan is off his acting was good though.

The story is hard to show in 3 hours but still somehow the team managed to show it well on screen. Few places the rush in story is seen. More technical details on the stone used to make idol would have been better to show why it is so valuable.

Overall the movie is good.

Ajayante Randaam Moshanam

A visual extravaganza set on the backdrop of a mythological tale.

The plot of the story revolves around a lamp that is believed to hold extraordinary powers through the lives of a valour warrior,a wild raw thief and an electronic mechanic of different generations.

Jithin Laal has conceived and portrayed the story way much ahead than what Sujith has penned in the screenplay. The Script writer has given brilliant character arc to each characters of Tovino in the movie.

The story narration in the early half went well except for few flaws like the captive thread got broken in few instances and the surprise element was highly predictive.

Stellar performance by Tovino and all the three character stands out evidently through their vivid mannerisms. Tovino has given life to Maniyan with his amazing action sequences and wild mannerisms which is a sparkle to the eyes and this character is definitely going to be the talk of the town and the most favourite character in Tovino's filmography.

Stunning performance by Surabhi in the movie alongside Maniyan and her performance stands out among the other two heroines. Subtle performances by Jagadeesh & Harish Uthaman,bold character delivery by Basil in a new avatar.

A good 3D experience for the stunning visual treat by Jomon complemented with Dhibu's BGM. VFX and CG Department also added to the visual beauty of the story. Jomons visuals especially in the night & action sequences were top notch.

Hats off to Jithin for giving Maniyan to the audience through his debut directorial.

ARM 3D is a must watch visual entertainer in this festive season.

Rating - 3.75/5.

With a budget of just 30 cores, the makers have done an excellent job. It was an incredible theatre experience. The debutant director has a promising future in directing more films within this genre and beyond. The acting and presentation was good. The movie was well paced. The highlight of the movie is Tovino's Beast like character. A flexible performance from tovino. The action scenes are fast and fantastic . Other characters have also presented a credible performance. Exploration of Northern Kerala folkfares has been put to good use. Experience of the climax sequences was exceptional . The back ground score keeps the movie engaging. Altogether , ARM is an epic adventure movie that provides an immensely enjoyable experience.

First of all, the bigwigs of the kammi mallu film industry are in soup for violating several women and children on set. But this doesn't stop their kammi narrative of distorting India's history and culture every chance they get. Make everyone feel like a victim and you're their only savior, is an old trick in the kammi playbook. Have people feel ashamed of their past, so you can screw them in the present. A very slow and long drawn out movie, with the same clichéd storyline of 3 generations. Something we've been fed for the last 15 years. The cgi was poor and so was the bgm. If you're still curious, just wait for a week for the OTT release. Atleast you can switch to another movie that way.

This film can be described as a big film made on a small budget. It is commendable that director Jithin Lal has delivered a film with excellent visual quality on a tight budget.

Regarding the direction, Jithin Lal did a good job. The way he visualized the story is commendable. Although the nonlinear storytelling wasn't exceptional, he managed to present the visuals in an appealing way. There are some flaws in the continuity of shots, but setting these aside, Jithin Lal has made a good debut as a director.

While analyzing the social aspects of the movie, some of the social issues that the film addresses are significant. The reality is that the true power of the things we worship lies elsewhere, and people often believe what they are told without knowing the real truth behind it. The film subtly conveys that whatever is worshiped, it is ultimately about the faith in our minds.

It also tells us about the situation of the lower-caste people who fight for the deity, but in the end, they are unable to visit or touch the deity they believe in, fought for, and once carried. Ultimately, only the spectators of the fight are able to worship the deity, not those who fought for it.

The issues related to caste presented in the story may seem small, but they are actually very significant subjects. This aspect deserves great appreciation. The film also portrays the condition of the common man who struggles for the happiness of the ruling class and those around them, only to end up facing all the troubles while the high-class people find entertainment in it.

Tovino's performance is the backbone of the film. Needless to say, he gave an excellent performance in all three characters, portraying them so differently that they seem like three distinct individuals. He excelled in both action and emotional scenes.

Both Surabhi Lakshmi and Rohini delivered excellent performances. Mala Parvathi's storytelling style was also very interesting. Mohanlal's vocal presence drew us to the film from the very beginning. Kriti Shetty didn't get a chance to deliver a significant acting performance, but Mamita Baiju, who voiced her, seems to have done her duty well enough.

The writing of Basil's character was not great, and the performance felt average or below because of that. Harish Uthaman's character is not a brilliantly written villain, but he gives a good performance. Aju Varghese, Sudheesh, Bijukuttan, and Sanju Sivaram all played their characters well.

While discussing the story, the world of the film feels like a grandmother's tale. The story starts and progresses like a folktale, making the film's style clear from the beginning and drawing the viewer in right away. The beginning of the movie and the storytelling were very beautiful. Ajay's love scenes felt a bit off, but the parts featuring Maniyan's character were the best in the film.

Although there are many good moments in the film, there are some flaws. Certain scenes were given a huge build-up but ultimately felt like nothing soon after. Even when it reaches the climax, the movie didn't surprise me; there was nothing that stood out as a "wow" factor. In the climax, Ajayan becomes a hero who somehow reaches his goal without his own abilities. Actually, Ajayan tried his best before to find it, but in the climax, he hasn't done anything great; situations take him to the goal, not his ability. In other words, when the writer decided "now he can find the thing," then he found it. That's what happened, nothing more. That can't be considered great writing.

The movie leaves some doubts in the story after the first viewing. Normally, in movies, many questions are expected to be answered after the initial viewing; otherwise, if it's very complicated and needs more study, they can be answered after multiple viewings and analyses. Even after that, if the questions remain and disrupt the story's flow, it may leave a negative impression on the film forever. In this story, many questions remain for me after the first watch. The problem lies in Ajayan's conflicts with the villain; it often feels powerless. The villain knows many facts before Ajayan discovers them and still plays with Ajayan. He appears right after Ajayan finds the truth and claims he already knows everything. The most confusing thing is how he is able to arrive at the correct places, even when Ajayan doesn't know how he ended up there. I felt it could have been presented in a better and more convincing way. Another thing I felt was that Ajayan doesn't need to fear the villain that much in the Kalari fight. I think they treated that scene this way only to make a political statement, but that treatment actually spoiled the scene. The battle between Ajayan and Sudevan wasn't that great. The main doubt is that the villain, who seems to know everything in advance, is actually much more intelligent than Ajayan or Maniyan.

The dialogues and their politics in the film were also very beautiful. However, it seemed that the same natives could have tried to give the same style of dialects to all.

The dialogues and their politics in the film were also very beautiful. However, it seemed that the same natives could have tried to give the same style of dialects to all.

The songs and background music were great. Only in a few places did the background music feel a bit over the top. But overall, the songs and background score stood out, making the movie better despite its flaws.

The editing seemed a little off. Some of the cuts were immediately recognizable, which could have been taken care of.

Jomon T. John has done the cinematography beautifully. Many beautiful frames were seen in the film.

The VFX was really good. This movie has better VFX than many big-budget movies, despite its small budget. There are minor drawbacks, but they pale into insignificance considering the budget constraints.

The 3D conversion was also good. There are some limitations when converting 2D to 3D, but it goes without saying that they tried their best.

The makeup, costume, and art departments deserve a lot of appreciation. These sections were very good.

Overall, the film gave an average experience on the first theatrical viewing because of its average screenplay. However, it was worth watching because of its wonderful making and performances. This is a movie that needs to be seen in the theater. Both the visuals and the sound provide a great theater experience.

This review is based on my initial viewing, and it's possible that my opinion may evolve after subsequent watches or over time due to changes in life and perspectives.

To any crew members reading this review, I ask for forgiveness if my perspective contains any inaccuracies. If any of the criticisms are valid, I encourage you to avoid similar mistakes in the future. Constructive criticism is essential for continually improving our films.

(Opinions are strictly personal. Thank you. 😊)

I recently watched "ARM" at PVR Forum, and I highly recommend experiencing it in theaters, especially for the stunning 3D visuals. The film captivates with its immersive sound design and breathtaking imagery, drawing you into its world. The acting is exceptional across the board, and Tovino's performance truly stands out, showcasing his range and depth. Among the three main characters, I personally liked Maniyan's portion the most. The action and stunts are amazing. Overall, "ARM" is a cinematic experience that deserves to be enjoyed on the big screen. Such movies are a blessing to Mollywood 🔥💯

Action sequences are really good. Music is marvelous and beautiful. Angu vaana song is great for repeat watch and hearing in a loop, melodious and meaningful. Camera work is impressive.

Tovino has put a lot of effort in this movie and it really shows. Others who really shined are Surabhi, Jagadeesh, Aju Varghese and Basil Joseph.

I did not get to watch this on big screen in 3D. I really think that would have been a great experience. I watched it at home with Dolby Atmos and 55 inch screen. Yet the experience was really good. This was a really good Tovino movie after Minnal Murali. How his skills have improved from his beginning to now shows how much seriously he's taking his job. Congratulations to the ARM team!

Well made periodic adventure!!!!

This one is technically Solid with Impressive 3D Effects and Excellent BGM and very good Cinematography ! Actions and Set pieces are in Top Notch Standard & scripting by Sujith Nambiar is engaging and A good entry to Debutant Director Jithin laal ,editing is also fine and all other actors done a decent job especially Krithi Shetty and jagadish !

This is full on #tovinothomas Performance,he Shines in his Triple Avatar ,managed to pull of the roles with ease !!!

Over all Ajayante randam moshanam is Perfect choice to enjoy this #onam season with your families and friends in cinemas !

ARM is essentially a 3-star movie in my books-a perfectly serviceable blend of action, fantasy, and folklore-that gets an extra ½ for the characters of Maniyan (Tovino on fire) and Manikyam (Surabhi Lakshmi who dazzles). The story is told across generations, and somehow, its core comes across as a 3D version of Lal Jose's Meesa Madhavan, with better production design (Gokul Das) and stunning cinematography (Jomon T John). The 3D conversion feels a tad unnecessary, as the plot itself holds crazy potential to build upon its lore. Visually, Jithin Laal manages to crack the aesthetics of its different eras, giving it that part-folktale-part-90s-actioner vibe-even when the writing (Sujith Nambiar) doesn't pack many surprises. The action is crafted well (Tovi learning Kalaripayattu is a major plus), though I'm a little tired by the overuse of the robotic cam in every set piece. Krithi Shetty is drop-dead gorgeous as the protagonist's love interest. Dhibu Ninan Thomas' score is a bit on the nose (for me), but I can understand how it makes sense for a film of this kind.

Caught the Telugu dubbed version of this Malayalam flick in Hyderabad, and here's my take: The story has its highs and lows. There are a few interesting and fresh ideas, also a few parts are a bit silly and boring.

The screenplay is clumsy and uninteresting with some scenes standing out as exceptional and a lot of dull ones.

Tovino Thomas shines, playing three different roles across three time periods-he nailed it! My favorite was his thief character.

Surabhi Lakshmi, Krithi Shetty, and the rest of the cast also did a great job in their roles.

Aishwarya Rajesh's Cameo appearance added extra flavor to the film.

The production values are top-notch, with good cinematography.

The locations, sets, and costumes are all on point.

The background music sets the right mood, and the direction ties everything together.

The film sets the tone right from the beginning, with Mohanlal's introduction and Mala Parvathi's engaging narration of the grandmother's story.

Once immersed in this atmosphere, the fictional village of Chiyothika and its surroundings feel like our own.

Jithin Lal and Sujith Nambiar astonish us with their writing and direction, displaying a finesse that belies their newcomer status.

The humor woven into this fantasy-myth narrative owes much to Deepu Pradeep's contributions to the screenplay.

This team has seamlessly brought together the various elements of such a film to create an impressive whole.

The artistic direction stands out, vividly portraying the fictional village of Chiyothika, its temple, and its people across three distinct time periods.

While unfolding the story with the lightheartedness of a grandmother's fable, the film also explores the caste system persisting through both monarchic and democratic eras.

Beyond the narrative, Tovino Thomas captivates with his electrifying performances and commanding screen presence.

Portraying three distinct characters-Kunjikelu the warrior, Maniyan the thief, and Ajay the electrician-Tovino embodies each role with unique looks, expressions, and body language.

His dedication and preparation for these roles are evident in his flawless performance, with Maniyan's character deserving special mention.

Maniyan's appearance, expressions, body language, and dialogue delivery surpass even the other two characters, making him unforgettable.

Aishwarya Rajesh and Kriti Shetty, though in lead roles, leave a limited impression beyond their fleeting appearances.

On the other hand, Surabhi Lakshmi excels in her role, especially as Maniyan's wife, delivering a performance that elevates her character beyond mere support to Maniyan.

The chemistry in the Maniyan-Nanu combo scenes is so vibrant that Tovino-Jagadish's duo takes a backseat.

Jomon's cinematography, Shameer Mohammed's editing, Dibu Nainan's music, and other technical aspects significantly enhance the film's theatrical experience.

Ultimately, ARM triumphs by narrating a grandmother's tale/fable from start to finish with technical brilliance, adhering to its core essence throughout.

Script needs a little bit more work otherwise it is a very good film. For a debut director Jithin Lal did a phenomenal work. Music was top notch and the main positive of this movie is Tovino Thomas. He did a wonderful job in portraying three different character. But Maniyan is one of the best character not only in this movie but one of the best character played by Tovino. Maniyan has some special charm, swag, aura and Tovino portrayed them effortlessly.

Overall this movie was a nice watch. I would recommend family audience to watch this movie over other released movie in this month. Kids would love this film.

My rating is 7/10.

To me, ARM is an effort movie in malayalam in the fantasy segment. How thoughts/ambitions of our ancestors travelled through generations and its significance in the present moment is crafted appealingly.

Some procreation is meant to gain respect for their families/communities or to break the chains time had put on their heals.

Glorified theft, but who is right...?? Is the question here in this movie.

There are many secrets to unlock for the present generations which is kept it for the same purpose by our predecessors. The rightful always finds its way to find the treasure behind the secrets inorder to live with glory/respect/pride...!!

****Songs (especially Angu vaana) and BGM are good.

***Fight sequences are entertaining.

***Performance of Maniyan couple was the highlight.

***There is romance in this movie.

From the world of Malayalam industry another gem. What Jithin Lal, a debut director have done with just 30 crore budget film is a dream for many directors.

With Minnal Murali and ARM Tovino Thomas have proved himself to be the perfect cast for superhero roles and larger than life roles. Krithi Shetty have also done a good job with her role. This film will be a turning point for malayaalam industry.

Malayalam industry have been exploring different genre and different type of storytelling for sometimes now. And i believe this to be one of those films. I hope more debut directors would be willing to take the risk as Jithin Lal have done. And the producers and audiance support it

Missed it.

ARM (Ajayante Randam Moshanam )directed by Jithin Lal student of director Basil Joseph who made Minnal murali has crafted a awesome fantasy movie . 6 years hard work, patience and commitment has paid off.

A visual treat especially when you watch it in 3D. After a long time a good malayalam movie has been released in 3D Written by Sujith the story revolves in 3 different era or period somewhere in 1900's when Portuguese were ruling in southern India, 1940's and in 1990's. Story of 3 generations who try to protect a treasure.

A simply folk fantasy story with a beautiful picturisation and visual treat

Tovino Thomas plays all 3 roles in all 3 eras as Kujikelu, Maniyan and Ajayan .

Tovino has given his heart and soul to play all 3 characters with different look, mannerisms and even using different voice modulations .Action scenes,Kalaripayattu and all very superbly done.

Out of the 3 the character of Maniyan was simply mind blowing. From start to the end it's Tovinos show.

This guy will surely win awards for this movie.

Supporting actors like Basil Joseph, Jagadeesh, Aju Varghese and all were good and have played their roles brilliantly with good importance to story.

Krithi Shetty and Surabhi lakshmi as Tovino's herorines in different era performed very well and played crucial role in the movie.

The story , screenplay, cinematography, action sequence and BGM was mindblowing.

No lag in the story it will keep you hooked and you will enjoy the visual treat

Special mention about the music and BGM director Dhibu Ninan Thomas Man too good.

Especially the chenda sound and ellathalam.. many places he just used ellathalam as BGM that's very rare and was apt for the scenes. Loved his music work. Hope he gets more bigger projects like this.

It's a must watch movie and you will enjoy when you watch it in 3D. A good onam treat for malayalees worldwide.

Watch it in cinemas near you Tovino Thomas Jithinlal Jithu Jomon T John Surabhi Lakshmi Basil Joseph Krithi Shetty #armmovie #ARMmoviereview #malayalammovie #malayalammoviereview #OnamMovies #onamvibes Wanderlust Films.

Very good story line and very engaging film. Outstanding performance by Tovino Thomas , much watch. Vfx is awesome and bgm is also superb. Through the movie the keep the rhythm that's one of the other thing I liked in this movie. The narration is one impressive, all the other actors done their part excellently. The action choreography are impressive and we will get goosebumps most of the time. The camera work is also brilliant and all credit goes to director jithin lal for the complaint of this brilliant movie. I recommend everyone to watch this movie in 3rd to get complete experience. Overall a great movie to watch.

The movie is unnecessarily long. Would've been better if 45 minutes were trimmed, starting with the Mohanlal intro narrative, space odyssey 2024 opening, grandmother 2 granddaughter storytelling within a story and the 3 decades old formulaic romance scenes. BGM was a major let down. It was loud throughout. Its ok to celebrate heroism, but it becomes nauseating when it doesn't stop! Songs!?! Too many, more like speed bumpers. Against that backdrop, the non linear screenplay was punishing to watch. Action sequences, also could've been trimmed. Seems like from a good playbook 2 decades ago. 3D, why? This should've been the must watch movie of 2024. What a shame..

Guys this movie is another level , story is amazing fictional type. See this movie as a fictional , screenplay and all bro another level, music was peak.amazing movie . Worth watching there is no scene that is waste in this movie. We don't know the movie end very fast. We were crying,similng everything was coming at a time. Satisfaction level after watching this movie. This movie bro nothing to say it's the best of best I should give it more than 10. Anyone who criticize this movie don't listen them. Go and watch it I am not exaggerating or anything but this was perfect movie tovino was another level.

It's the best 3d malayalam movie I have seen the vfx and effects were so good it's a pure theatre watch and tovino Thomas mind blowing performance as ajayan was so good and maniyan was just fire 🔥🔥 the story is also good and exciting the bgm, screenplay, vfx was outstanding it's a pure entertainer and a perfect movie for this onam to watch with family you will definitely enjoy and it's better watching in 3d than 2d and it's completely a pure clean entertainier Tovino Thomas's career best perfomence triple roles and maniyan was the best of all he gave his 100 percent on that character and good.

My suggested weekend watch, now available on Disney Hotstar. (available in 5 languages).

The movie begins with a grandmother telling a bed time story to her granddaughter, the lore of Chyothivilaku. Chyothivilaku is the sacred Lamp light which was made from a melted mixture of an asteroid which once crashed in the land of Haripuram in the ancient times, which changed hands from a King, to a Noble Warrior, to a notorious talented Thief and then finally in the hands of the Noble Honest Good-hearted Hero. Tovino Thomas SUPERLY plays 3 different lineage characters of a 1)Noble Warrior 2)Notorious famous village Thief 3)Honest Good-Hearted hero of his Village. The awesome fist fight tactics of Kalari (Kerala fight form of Martial Arts🥋) are shown in such majestic manner. One gets mesmerized by the awesome ancient Cinematography amongst the terrain of Beautiful Kerala and the awesome acting by Tovino. I rate this movie 9/10.

Did not have any expectations on this one from the trailer and I am one of them waited on OTT release, despite knowing it was successful. Not sure where to start, but overall a well done fantasy adventure genre.

Not sure how much the budget is, but if the same story falls on notable directors like SSRajamouli in Telugu would have taken it to the next level and could have got international recognition.

Story appears complex and slow at the beginning. The beginning narration was great with okayish visuals. I would say the movie was at mediocre at best until Basil Joseph enters. I was about to turn off the TV and wanted to give it chance for few minutes when basil joseph appeared. I was completely hooked since then.

Tovino Thomas did three roles and I would say he did well and excelled as Maniyan. The treasure hunting bit reminded me of Telugu movie Anji and it's well done and natural here. I would definitely recommend this movie although it can be slower and can trim romantic portions with Kriti Setty a bit.