User reviews

I never imagined Vineeth Sreenivasan surprising me the way he did with his sublime portrayal of an anti-hero in this film. The role of Adv. Mukundan Unni is undoubtedly his career-best thus far. Writer-director Abhinav Sunder Nayak carefully builds up the sadistic, cynical character of Mukundan Unni who goes to any extent to achieve his idea of success. It's the kind of role Jake Gyllenhaal did in Dan Gilroy's Nightcrawler - just a different breed of "bad guy". The screenplay (by Vimal Gopalakrishnan and the director himself) is razor-sharp in its details, and there isn't a single scene that doesn't add to the plot or character development. The darkly humorous approach works wonders here, making us absolutely invested in the sociopathic side of Mukundan Unni and his dramatic rise to prosperity.

Not only does the film prove to be a scathing look at cynicism, but it also gives you an insider look into the bizarre handling of accident cases. Every character taking up screenspace (incl. A snake) is relevant to the plot, and ones that leave a mark include an excellent-as-usual Suraj Venjaramoodu, a confident Arsha Baiju, a beautifully vulnerable Tanvi Ram, and the ever-dependable Sudhi Koppa. One can't help but laud the effective use of background score (by Sibi Mathew Alex, especially that foot-tapping beat), the articulate voice-overs, the insertion of animated sequences to help elaborate certain points, the changing aspect ratio, and the way the makers subtly mock the "thank you" card at the very beginning. This is one of the finest black comedies I've seen in recent times, and you'll connect to its proceedings better if you're an unprejudiced viewer that doesn't seek message-driven, always-positive cinema.

Imagine a movie featuring Sreenivasan's ultra-despicable character "Viswanathan" from "Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988)" as the main protagonist? That is exactly the wacky idea with which editor turned director Abhinav Sundar Nayak has conceived the immensely enjoyable black comedy "Mukundan Unni Associates" that throws caution to the wind and delivers a laugh riot sans any moral sermons or lessons about karma.

Vineeth Sreenivasan stars as a Machiavellian lawyer who stars venturing into ambulance chasing on realizing that conventional methods will not give him the success that he so craves. Standing in his way is veteran ambulance chaser Advocate Venu (a superb Suraj Venjaramoodu) and a host of other roadblocks which he looks to circumvent in typically diabolical ways. The way the director uses fourth-wall breaking and inner monologues to take the narrative forward is nothing short of genius and it is through this that he delivers most of the zany comedy in the film.

The casting is spot on throughout the film, with even minor characters playing their part to perfection, especially Tanvi Ram, George Kora, Sudhi Koppa and a fine Arsha Chandini Baiju, who had earlier caught the eye in the Karikku web series "Average Ambili". The writing from the director himself and co-writer Vimal Gopalakrishnan never let the tension and humor let up, carrying both forward with equal aplomb and even manage deliver some jarring surprises just when we think the film's climax is starting to meander along expected lines.

Just when Basil Joseph was starting to stake a claim for the title of this generation's "Sreenivasan" with his immense performance in "Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey", Vineeth Sreenivasan produces the goods in "Mukundan Unni Associates", turning in a performance his dad would have been proud of. This is the fourth-wall breaking meta dark comedy that we didn't know we deserved and is, needless to say, highly recommended!

Mukundan unni associates gives a very nightcrawler vibes, but pitches the characters brutality to next level.

A character with no emotional change or arc is something i really enjoy. The movie tries to establish this character who tries to go to any extent for success and Vineeth Sreenivasan plays the character amazingly. The basic theme of the movie is that there are only two types of people in the world, "one who exploits and the one who is exploited". The movie establishes this theme nicely. The extensive use of voiceovers is something new and not used much in Malayalam cinema, but they uses it consistently to work amazing black humor and it also connects the audience much more to the characters psyche.

After a point i never felt rooting for Vineeth Sreenivasan's character as they stretched his brutality a bit too much but did not create enough empathy towards the character to support that.

A nice and different movie.

Going into the film, after hearing about the movie a lot and from the trailers, it seemed Vineeth was playing a hilarious sociopath and that was the part I was most apprehensive about. Even though I liked his role in Thanneermathan, I wasn't ready to watch a full-blown version of that throughout a movie, which would be unbearable and what I feared. But that wasn't the case here. Vineeth was brilliant and played the character to perfection, very different from anything we've seen him before.

Mukundan Unni is wickedly brilliant in his own way but the major problem along with his lack of empathy is the narcissism that always makes him overestimate himself. As a character, Mukundan Unni is pure evil, but his overestimation of himself makes him appealing. He is ready to put in the hard work but he doesn't see his flaws due to his narcissism and lack of empathy. So, even when his plans are logically right, it doesn't always work but he can form a new one right then and one or the other works out and if there is no luck there, there's actual luck that itself is a domino effect of his own past actions. All these aspects are seen through his own eyes and tight editing and a few cinematic techniques in the narrative keep you engaged throughout the affair. But giving such an evil character such heroic moments may get out of hand or even if it isn't, it's still an outlook from his point of view and that's why I loved how the movie ends. It clearly shows what is right and wrong to the audience and how we should be looking at evil even when it is pleasing to us and yet the voice-over narration by the protagonist tells the exact opposite of it.

Besides clearly positioning itself as a dark comedy through a sociopath, the film actually showcases a lot of legal and ethical issues in our society in detail.

One particular scene that is not directly related to any event in the movie but contains the whole theme of the movie, hell the whole concept of success in the world is when the character Meenakshi talks to Jyothi. To some, it would be just greed talking and they would have to face karma, to some, it would be a moment of motivation even if it is in a wrong sense but that dialogue is the truth about the world. I won't say what that dialogue is but another dialogue by Mukundan Unni, which is part of the trailers and promotions makes the perfect companion dialogue to it, "There are only two kinds of people in the world, those who get exploited and those who are exploiters."

Not including any songs, starting off with 4:3 aspect ratio, later changing to 16:9 and then finally filling the theater screen and then adding a post-credit scene that's perfectly in sync with the character, the director really knows what he's doing and the changing sensibilities among Malayali audience.

Mukundan Unni Associates is a Malayalam film that takes you on a thrilling ride into the dark underbelly of the legal world. The film revolves around Mukundan Unni, a morally ambiguous lawyer who will stop at nothing to achieve success.

The plot revolves around Mukundan Unni's journey from a struggling lawyer to a highly successful one. His methods are questionable, to say the least. He manipulates, lies, and exploits loopholes to win cases, often at the expense of justice. This is where the film's dark comedy shines. It's a satirical take on the legal system, exposing its flaws and the people who exploit them.

Vineeth Sreenivasan delivers a career-best performance as the titular character. His portrayal of Mukundan Unni is both chilling and captivating. The character is complex, flawed, and undeniably fascinating. You'll find yourself both hating and admiring him in equal measure. The supporting cast, including Siddique and Sharaf U Dheen, deliver commendable performances.

The film doesn't shy away from exploring the darker side of human nature. It delves into themes of greed, corruption, and the lengths people will go to for success. The narrative is gripping, with unexpected twists and turns that keep you engaged throughout. Film shows us the consequences of Mukundan Unni's actions, both on himself and others. The climax is particularly impactful, as it reveals the true cost of his success.

The film's cinematography and background score complement the dark and gritty tone perfectly. The visuals are striking, and the music adds to the suspenseful atmosphere.

While the film is undeniably entertaining, it also leaves a bitter taste. It's a harsh critique of a system that often rewards cunning over integrity. The ending, while satisfying in terms of narrative closure, is also a sobering reminder of the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of our society.

While the film is largely successful, it does have a few minor flaws. The pacing could have been better in some parts, and the ending felt a bit rushed. Additionally, some viewers might find the film's dark themes disturbing.

Mukundan Unni Associates is a thought-provoking film that challenges the audience to question their own moral compass. It's a dark comedy that doesn't shy away from the darker side of human nature.

We have seen a lot of 'Nanma-Maram' kind of movies, However MukundanUnni takes us in the exact opposite path, still very enjoyable. I liked the movie, it is black-humor at its best, so definitely not everyone's cup of tea. The best thing happened for this movie is Vineeth Sreenivan, he just lived as the character and is a perfect cast for the role. Overall, a superb movie with stellar performance from everyone. You can feel the freshness from start to end; 'MukundanUnni Associates' is definitely a big relief from all the template 'Hero is a Saint' kind of movies that get release in our movie industry all the time. It is different, daring, intelligent, thought-provoking and above all, top class black-humor at its very best.

As a Malayalam Movie lover from Nepal, this movie was a disappointment for me in many aspects. The story lacked ethics and was difficult to follow, leaving the audience feeling irritated and uninterested. The characters were well developed and the acting was also good, with many of the performances feeling wooden and uninspired. It would have been a very good dark comedy movie with good plot but have failed. It gives wrong message to society, is unethical, uninspiring, sometimes unbearable and irritating to me. Overall, 'Mukundan Unni Associates' was a very unsatisfying cinematic experience for me.

Insight into the actions and inner monologues of a cold-blooded psychopath. (This is a genre which is not really explored in Indian Cinema, at least not as an attribute of the lead).

The strong point of the movie is the editing, direction and acting (especially Vineeth).

Mukundan Unni as the opening says is not Grey, but Black ! He is a true pyschopath - unapologetic, unremorseful, coldblooded killer. He is true wolf, not a Hyena in sheeps cloth !

The movie proceeds in an almost thriller manner and really just shines light on the characters without really taking any real moral stands.

Deserves a watch.

It's pure delight to see Mukundan Unni Associates unfold. Titular character (Vineeth Sreenivasan) is a 30-something loser with a middle-age crisis who is hoping to make it big in his profession and thereby chase success. Suddenly he seems to be going in the right direction but the audience doesn't feel that way. Yet Mukundan Unni keeps on going and that is what I mean by delight. Unni is a pure evil character doing nasty things to get what he wants; his monologues helping us create a picture of him and helping us like him to someone among our friends and family. We know at least one person who thinks like this. Well, this film shows you what happens when thoughts turn real. An overall peppy film with the right dose of dry humour, character study, and morals. Watch it.

This movie is truly a masterpiece. The cinematography of this movie is pure Gold. A Must watch movie which revolves arounds a Lawyer. Reminds me of a Hollywood movie name Nightcrawler. This is absolute fantastic the direction style got me chills. If you want to see a chill movie dont watch it . The movie gets you addicted with the protagonist you wont feel to have a intermission while watching it . The movie has two different cinematic ration which gets switched during the movie and you wont even feel when it changes . Its a must watch movie and should be in your watchlist.

THIS MOVIE ISN'T LIKE ANY OTHER COURT ROOM DRAMA.

Went in with expectations and personally was disappointed. It's the same content being replayed several times throughout the movie. Whilst the content may be new, the novelty is lost when there is repetition throughout. It drags in the second half as there is nothing new on offer.

Recent trend in the indiustry of actors and directors taking on more multi disciplinary approach. I'm not an admirer of directors getting into acting & actors vice-versa directing. May have found short term success with their new passion. May ventually end up losing focus and skills in both in few years time! Hopefully proved wrong! When directors do the act, expecations are lowered.

However, it's a decent movie considering OTT and could find takers across the cross section. Not a theatre or big screen experience for me.

Seem to be thriving on publicity. Surprised with the reception it has garnered!

One of the negative and darkest movie i had ever watched in my entire life. How can a villian (negative mindset person - Mukundan Unni) wins always by killing each and everyone who comes his way of materialistic success as hindrance and even police (actual hero) looses his battle even knowing Mukundan Unnis truth. Director and Writer had made a mockery of the movie with such dark mindset. Director should be kept at Asylum for mental treatment and given consultation on how to make good and strong subject line what people can relate to and accept it.

Vineet is out of my favourite actor/personality, u shud not fall flat for money.

Mukundan unni associates, now this is a movie that will standout.. it's so dark or one can say dark comedy, haven't seen any movie like this in malayalam.. a movie that comes to my mind is the movie parasite, that one was on another level of dark theme... Both are not comparable ! But that's the only movie that came to my mind after watching mukundan unni associates. Some aspects of the movie felt creepy real and others felt like too fictional. Apart from the theme excellent performance from vineeth sreenivasan, movie has perfect casting, script, etc.. It's was worth the watch, you can decide for yourself go ahead and watch it !

Rating - A solid 8.7/10

I have to say that this movie is underrated in a sense that it hasn't created much of a buzz. Mukundan Unni Associates (2022) has been perfectly casted and the acting from every single one of them is just perfect. I like how the maker's have tried something new by introducing a character like Adv. Mukandan Unni. The greedy, super smart and apathetic Mukundan Unni is so well presented by Vineeth Sreenivasan.

Overall - Yes, the movie feels like Mukundan Unni is very lucky and that he gets away with whatever he does. But the the dark comedy, the character depth, the acting and everything combined with a solid script and direction makes up for that. This is a great movie and is easily one of the best of 2022.

If you like this review, make sure to check out @thegoodshots on YouTube.

An extremely deceptive cunning story of an advocate who goes to any length to have a successful career n make money. This movie shows victory of evilness n celebrates unethical practices. Many can take uninspiring ideas of evilness from this movie. But the evilness shown are no different to the actual happenings in real world n insurance claims are very real. However movie is thrilling, keeps one captivated till the end with a constant fast pace. My ratings 8/10!

An extremely deceptive cunning story of an advocate who goes to any length to have a successful career n make money. This movie shows victory of evilness n celebrates unethical practices. Many can take uninspiring ideas of evilness from this movie. But the evilness shown are no different to the actual happenings in real world n insurance claims are very real. However movie is thrilling, keeps one captivated till the end with a constant fast pace. My ratings 8/10!

Amazingly entertaining movie and yes it's dark. Loved it all the way through. Fantastic acting and the lead has been fabulous. The director and writer ticked all boxes right for manufacturing this film. USP: no load of being morally correct and politically correct everytime. They have shown reality. The argument at the end of the movie by his wife was perfect. Kudos to the entire team. It was a treat to watch. There wasn't a single moment in this movie where one can get bored. Character placement was intelligent and it was evident from the first scene where the spectacle cobra was introduced. It was hilarious. Thanks 🙏

Mukundan Unni Associates (2022) : Brief Review -

Malayalam cinema's pathbreaking attempt at reflecting Sasha Guitry's unbeatable humour. I don't know how many of you Indian audiences, especially Malayalees, are aware of the name and legacy of Sasha Guilty. If not, it's better, because then you'll enjoy Mukundan Unni Associates very much and call it a pathbreaking movie. But if you know Sasha Guitry's unmatchable humour and you have seen "A Story of a Cheat" (1936), then I guess you'll give a big round of applause to Malayalam cinema just for attempting the huge task. Sasha's impeccable humour and witty narration made A Story of A Cheat a very special and unforgettable film. The film hasn't got anything extraordinary in the story, but the screenplay is class apart. I don't know if Abhinav Sunder Nayak has seen the Guitry film I am talking about; it is not needed anyways because he certainly made his own version of it, and that too with a perfectly Indianized story and local humour. It might remind some people of the Hollywood neo-noir film "Nightcrawler" (2014), though that was about journalism while MUA is about scams happening in insurance court and medical claims. Adv. Mukundan Unni is a failure as a lawyer. His efforts to obtain cases are futile. After witnessing a medical insurance scam in his own mother's case, he learns the strategy to make money via medical insurance claims. He makes it big and has to do some illegal business and commit crimes as well. The only problem in this film is the glorification of dirty business, which puts a big question mark on the strength and sustainability of law and order in our country. It's a black comedy, so you can forget all that legal and honest stuff for 2 hours and enjoy it thoroughly. Vineeth Sreenivasan's performance and Abhinav Sunder Nayak's writing, screenplay, and direction are worth your time for sure. But please don't overhype it.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthebestest.

From aspect ratios to voice over making the audience feel uniquely & refreshing is somewhat a tough task & Abhinav in his debut has mastered it effortlessly...no words to praise his powerhouse talent.... Any hero can fit into this titular rolecoz of the smartness in writing with gopalkrishnan abhinav does it where audience get cherished instead of feeling guilty...even in suicidal thoughts he does the screenplay to elevate in a new heights.... Thanks for Vineeth sreenivasan for his subtle performance that keeps us glued to the plot lively.... Also self centred people's character who's experience on screen highlights the capability instead of trying to fix them may be he could do justice in future flicks.... Overall a worthy product does raise the standard of mollywood...

RATED 6/10 Language: Malayalam Source: Hotstar

The movie looks so soft and took more time to settle the base. By reading the reviews, i was expecting more cunning and fun in the lawyers approach. The expectation is very well satisficed in the last 20 minutes. Even the climax, it looks like they over cooked the negativity with more illogical scenes.

The first half and lot other scenes took more time to show the negative sides, but it lakes the con-fun and cunning. But the authenticity in the first half is totally missed out the second half....

For me it looks like "half backed" entertainment and missed the chance.

Such a well Crafted flim.

It take you all the way start from the beginning There is no lag Voice over won't make you tired Pure black humor comedy Fantastic screen play Music is good No song.

Must watch those who like to watch different genre movie As usual vineeth never disappointed on screen That character only for vineeth Suraj just for guest appearance Some people will come and say no original flavour of malayalam cinema But I would say all kind of movies needs appreciation This movie is full of fun If you don't see any logic this is your cup of tea with lots of fun Grab your pop corn for fun ride weekend Note: watch with friends.

I checked out "Mukundan Unni Associates" after hearing some hype, but gotta say, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. Sure, Vineeth did a solid job, and the rest of the cast held their own, but the storyline just didn't grab me.

I get it, it's all about corruption in the legal, insurance, and hospital scenes, but, making the main guy the most corrupt and a murderer? Kinda sends the wrong message. Like, winning despite being shady isn't exactly the vibe we need in a movie.

And yeah, not everyone's a lawyer, but a good movie should still pull you in, regardless of the subject matter. This one didn't quite do it for me.

While the film's intent to shed light on societal malpractices is commendable, its execution leaves much to be desired. The absence of nuanced exploration into the consequences of corruption dilutes the film's potential to provoke meaningful discourse.

It's a one-time watch, nothing too special. Could've been better, but hey, you win some, you lose some.

Wow what a great movie .This one is best best best . Very nice movie . All should watch this movie . Its a lesson to all of us . Success in our life is not only by hard work also with smart hard work. We have to think steadily in all situation and handle it well .Very good movie . Congrats to director and the hero and all actors. Every scene is very good . I enjoyed a lot this movie . This is the master plan movie.love this great movie . Actors and actress acting is very good nice video and audio effects one of the best movie . No songs no fight no boring. A natural human based movie . We are all having this kind of character s in our life that's the true . Human is also animal.

Not every ones cup of tea, i loved it to the core. A genuine and realistic approach to how a raw human behaves when he /she is been put into a race for living upto ones desires. Our Desire is an aspiration of where she/he sees oneself at a point and beyond and in order to reach it one tends to do things that are not accepted by the 'society/or social setup', where one realizes that yes that is how it should be. We as an audience may feel insecure by the acts but if you think about the instance,one feel so depressed of the fact that yes i have done the same too..

It is a typical movie and deserved to be respected and appreciated.

A remarkable movie experience.