User reviews

Pani - An eye for an eye

A solid revenge thriller with a rustic story backed by a striking screenplay and brilliant execution.

The story revolves around Giri & his aides who were keeping a low profile gets dragged into an irksome loop by two boys with criminal track records and how they take revenge forms the crux of the story.

Joju has executed the story with a strong bounded script and technical brilliance. The anxiety that was on air when the first look poster released became foolproof with the release of the visual feast. Joju has blended all the essential components required for an engaging story,be it action,romance,violence,humour, family drama,emotions,friendship which keeps the audience hooked to the movie. His 30 years of experience in the film industry has culminated this day in the form of a good thriller movie for all genus of audience. The car chasing scenes in the movie is definitely a visual treat that shows the real car guy in Joju. The tail end sequences will give you goosebumps and it will remind the audience of a typical dialogue of a Thrissur guy "Poorathinu padakkam pottanapole angu pottatte".

Subtle performances by Joju & Seema in the movie. Stunning performances by Sagar Surya as a pervert revolting guy after his impressive performance in Kuruthi and Junaiz as the silent psycho has lifted the movie. Impressive performances by Bobby Kurian,Abhinaya,Sujith Shankar, Prashanth Alex,Ramesh Girija & Ranjith Velayudhan.

Mesmerizing shots by Venu & Jinto that captured the visual beauty of the cultural heritage city and the festive vibe of the people. Big hugs to Ajayan Adat,Rajkrishnan & Piousmon for their contribution to the pleasing sounds & Santosh Raman for the beautiful sets. Ultimately, big applause to Manu Antony for giving us an engaging thriller with his precise cuts .

A cutting edge action thriller by Joju that definitely shows his rich experience and proves us wrong and keeps us thinking whether this is his debut directorial.

Rating - 3.75/5.

Pani (Work) Malayalam Movie Review *

Directed by Joju George and starring himself alongside Sagar Surya, Abhinaya, and Junaiz VP, this film delivers despite its familiar storyline. It tells the tale of two young individuals who become a thorn in the side of Thrissur District's notable figure Giri, and how Giri navigates this challenge.

While the narrative may not be unique, Joju George's skilled direction and apt casting selections make the movie engaging. The screenplay is well-paced, preventing lag and culminating in an impactful interval block and climax. 🔥

Noteworthy performances come from Sagar Surya and Junaiz, who evoke fear and convincingly undermine Giri's morale. Joju George delivers a comfortable performance within his range, while Abhinaya provides a solid portrayal of Giri's wife.

Overall, Pani is a commendable watch on the big screen.

Joju George, a celebrated actor who rose from being a junior artist to one of the most versatile talents in the industry, makes a powerful mark with his directorial debut, Pani. This film isn't just another mass entertainer-it's a testament to Joju's years of experience, dedication, and his unique perspective on storytelling.

Right from the opening scene, Pani grabs your attention with its raw intensity, setting the tone for what is to follow: a gritty tale of revenge. The "eye for an eye, ear for an ear" narrative is executed flawlessly, pulling viewers deep into a world driven by vengeance and justice. Joju's attention to detail is evident in every frame, from the stunning visuals to the immersive sound design, creating a cinematic experience that's both visceral and engaging.

What stands out the most in Pani is Joju's ability to breathe life into each character. His own performance is nothing short of spectacular, reminding audiences why he is one of the most respected actors in the industry today. The supporting cast complements his vision, contributing to a rich ensemble that elevates the film's emotional weight.

The action sequences are a visual treat, choreographed with precision and executed with brutal realism. But it's not just about the action-there's a depth to the film that speaks to Joju's understanding of human emotions, relationships, and the darker side of justice.

With Pani, Joju George has not only crafted a mass entertainer but also cemented his place as a formidable director. His storytelling prowess, combined with his seasoned acting skills, makes this film a standout in the genre. It's clear that Joju has created a brand for himself-one that promises intensity, authenticity, and unparalleled entertainment.

This is a must-watch for anyone looking for a film that offers more than just thrills. Pani is a reflection of a seasoned artist pouring his soul into his craft, and the result is nothing short of spectacular.

Malayalam movies are suffering from lack of good story writers , except for miracles like Goat life, manjimmel boys. Almost every movie is crime based , as if that is the only thing happening in Kerala. Heavy reliance on profanity and explicit sexual innuendos. If movies cannot entertain they should atleast tell stories that evoke empathy or inspire people to better their lives. Gone are the days when families would throng theatres to enjoy a good story , good songs and good actors.

In this movie the saving grace is the direction and acting prowess. But wasted on sick characterization especially the villain characters and some others. Joju George wasted an opportunity and his skills on a pathetic revenge plot ( old wine in new bottle).

Really sickening to watch gangsters and criminals almost glorified. Waiting for talented script writers who can write like Padmarajan,Bharathan, Lohithdas, Sreenivasan, Sathyan Anthikad, Priyadarshan to make movies that reflect the society we wish to live in. Tamil movies like Ponniyin Selvan & Telugu movies like Sitharaman ,Shyam Singha Reddy should inspire Malayalam movies.

This is the God Father level Movie of Malayalam Cinema .. Joju George at unbelievable level and each and every character delivered their role to the best !!! Kudos to the direction by Joju !!!

Not even a minute of lag ... if first half was great.. then second half was unbelievable!! Malayalam cinema to new heights !!!

The villains of the movie .. the stunt ... story line .. acting ... background score ... all in all a great work .

The female actress also delivered to perfection their role . There is not even one character which you can say performed badly . A full action packed movie . Credit goes to the whole team.

Joju George's Pani is a powerful Malayalam thriller that plunges viewers into Thrissur's criminal underworld. Joju's direction captivates, balancing intensity with moments of haunting silence. Cinematography by Jinto George and Venu is stellar, grounding the suspense in real locations, while the evocative score by Vishnu Vijay and Sam CS amplifies the film's dark atmosphere.

The performances are remarkable: Bobby Kurian stands out as a formidable force, adding weight to the narrative's tension. Sagar Surya and Junaiz VP also shine, bringing fierce energy as the young rebels. Overall, Pani is a grounded, thrilling debut by Joju George.

I am wondering how does movie like this get a UA rating with so much of violence and blood shed. A gangster drama like this with such explacite goryness shouldn't be eligible for family viewing (with children). This is not a review about how a good or bad a film is, its about how the film certification is conducted by CBFC of this country. Parents please take your children at your own risk. I was shocked to see families with children in the theater. I can only imagine the kind of trauma the kids will go throught after watching a violent movie like this. I don't know about the choise of the film maker to go for a UA rating, but I hope we as the audience be responsible about choosing how we watch these kind of films.

"Pani," the latest directorial venture from Joju George, delivers a gripping revenge thriller set in the bustling streets of Thrissur. The film follows two ambitious young men, Don (Sagar Surya) and Siju (Junaiz VP), who dive into the world of crime by executing a daring "quotation" task. Their initial success pits them against Giri (played by Joju George), a powerful yet discreet figure in Thrissur's underworld.

What makes "Pani" intriguing is how these seemingly ordinary young men outsmart seasoned criminals, including Giri's network of gangsters. The narrative delves into the tension between Giri's attempts to maintain his clean image and the mounting pressure to retaliate as his world spirals into chaos. The second half intensifies, transforming the film into a psychological game of cat-and-mouse, with unexpected twists that build on themes of vengeance, survival, and loss.

Both Sagar Surya and Junaiz deliver exceptional performances, blending fearlessness with a chilling disregard for consequences. Joju's direction and restrained storytelling emphasize emotions through subtle actions, avoiding over-the-top sequences or loud background scores. The film maintains a grounded, raw tone, bolstered by powerful cinematography and an atmospheric soundtrack, although some aspects, such as pacing and character depth, could have been improved.

Pani (2024) aka The Job "A Truly Stunning Thriller"

Pani is the directorial debut of Malayalam Actor Joju George, who had started his career as a struggling junior artist. The journey from his early struggling days, from a Junior Actor to becoming a leading Hero, later to a Producer, Writer and finally to a Director, is a testament to the growth of a passionate artist, as showcased in Pani.

Watched the Telugu dubbed Version. Pani tells the unsettling story of a Big shot whose life went upside down when he accidentally crosses path with two low life youngsters, who turn out to be brutal criminals.

With great cast and great technical team, director Joju has crafted a gripping thriller. For an actor making his first directorial debut, it would have been safer to choose a Hit Remake film, much like Kamal Hassan did with his directorial debut Chachi 420, remake of Mrs Doubtfire, or simply he could have opted to build a film around the stardom of a superstar, as Prithviraj did with his debut Lucifer. But Joju simply went for a risky character driven thriller uniquely written for Antagonists.

This is one of those rare movies where the Villains were written so brilliantly that such roles turns out to be pure gold for any aspiring actors. And the newcomers in the movie portrayed these roles exceptionally well. The phrase 'A movie is only as good as its villain' truly holds true in the case of Pani.

As a director, Joju had the freedom to boost his Hero image incorporating with unlimited hero-centric, Hero elevation scenes, slow motion Hero shots, Mass dialogues, dance and songs. But he chose to shy away from such gimmicks, focusing on the character driven story arc. It's a remarkable directorial achievement for an Artist like Joju to make such bold creative decisions, avoiding the commercialization of a revenge storyline.

Don't know why some people bitiching about the violence in this movie. I found it to be very low and soft on violence even for a U/A rating. The version I saw didn't have any sort of mature scenes, nudity, or any graphical frightening shots.

A hard rating "A certificate" is more suitable for Tamil movies like Maharaja, which deal with high octane violence and intense subjects like rape. It's high time the SIMP GENERATION people should really stop bitiching about hard hitting movies, and really appreciate the effort taken by the makers to pitch such strong subjects.

Positives - The Story, The Tone, The writing, The Treatment. Also the night Photography, this is one of the rare films that captures the charm of thrilling Night shots so effectively. The way it was lit, especially in a thriller, those vehicle shots, rigging for vehicles is another art, shout out to the cinematography team, hands down one of the best experience. And above all, the direction, I don't know whether it was Joju George or his associate teams - the true Author of this film, who ever pulled this off, deserves an award.

Negatives - The third act feels a little lame, could have ended on a stronger note, also the makeup for one of the villain on second half, that fake moustache feels out of place.

I give this movie a deserving 8/10. Waiting to watch the original Malayalam version in OTT just to cross check if any violent scenes were edited out in the Telugu version.

Pani is a proper mass entertainer that truly captivates from start to finish. Joju has made an outstanding directorial debut, showcasing immense talent and vision. Every element of the movie works together seamlessly, making it one of the most engaging films I've seen in a while.

The visuals are absolutely stunning and really set the tone for the movie. The background score is powerful, enhancing every scene and taking the emotional depth to another level. The acting performances are next level-Sagar and junaiz, in particular, bring fire to the screen with their incredible intensity and chemistry. They were born to play these roles!

Overall, Pani is a must-watch for anyone who loves a solid, well-crafted film with a perfect blend of action, emotion, and great storytelling. Can't wait to see what Joju does next!

Absolutely gorgeous. Excellent making. Value for for money. This movie definitely gonna make hit. Wonderful story with action based thrilling moments.

Those boys who were played in the role of villains are extremely good. Background score and the pictorograhy was really good. All of the casting characters has done a great job. I can say joju josephs first movie by his direction made a big hit. I never felt any lagging during this film till the end. From the beginning itself this movie were giving a goosebumps moments. Firsthalf and second half are really watchable. I really liked the movie.

Welldone joju george.

Absolutely stunning Movie. Must watch movie. People often glorify western crime movies and when it comes to Indian movie a lot of controversial things happen. The team of Pani really deserves an appreciation. It really takes guts to make such movie. Really an awesome movie. This movie creates a tension all along till the end . Cool cinematography and direction with excellent bgm raises your BP and makes you fully involved and energetic All Car races stunts are Awesome The team has done justice to movie This Movie happens in Thrissur and team Pani tried their best to visualise it.

Great Work team Pani.