Officer on Duty Review: Intense, Gripping and Almost Nerve-Cracking
Officer On Duty is a Malayalam action thriller directed by Jithu Ashraf. The film stars Kunchacko Boban in the lead role. Read our review below (Movie Talkies).
Malayalam cinema has produced another fine action thriller this year in the form of Officer On Duty. Even though the film isn't truly exceptional, the overall impact is nearly nerve-cracking for someone who has grown bored of typical action thrillers from the South. However, Malayalam cinema is a different ballgame altogether. That said, this film remains very much in the must-watch league for its gripping storytelling and intense narrative.
Officer On Duty Story:
The film opens with the suicide scene of an "officer on duty," followed by the entry of our protagonist, Inspector Harishankar (Kunchacko Boban). He is a bit frustrated, depressed, and has anger issues related to his daughter's tragic past. The storyline soon reveals the POCSO angle and how a gang of young druggists is behind these murders. Hari finds the killers, but they are too powerful and cunning to be stopped. However, a few more murders occur, and Hari almost catches them—but would that be enough?
Officer On Duty adheres to the traditional norms of classic action thrillers and unfolds the narrative in a gripping manner. The action scenes occasionally look good but are otherwise too typical and stretched. I don't understand why our action directors lack the creativity to realize that realistic action has nothing to do with tired clichés.
If killing someone is easier in one second than beating someone for 60 seconds, only for that person to rise again for more beating, then one should use basic sense instead of succumbing to fake cinematic appeal. This film is filled with such foolish scenes, leading me to deduct half a star from the final rating. One can beat someone until the situation necessitates a different conflict, and then drive it toward the conclusion accordingly. Let's stop this nonsense because it's 2025, not 2005.
Officer On Duty Cast:
Kunchacko Boban delivers a fine performance in the lead role and makes every second of his presence felt. Priyamani has a small yet important role, and the same goes for Jagadish. Vishak Nair was formidable, Meenakshi Anoop was good in a blink-and-miss cameo, and the rest of the supporting cast performed well.
From a technical standpoint, Officer On Duty is a solid production, with cinematography, editing, and a background score creating a significant impact. Jithu Ashraf deserves praise for avoiding a dated mainstream template while addressing a sensitive issue, but he must be criticized for not focusing enough on these sensitive topics, such as POCSO, drugs, youth, officers' mental and physical struggles, and their family problems. With a little smarter vision, could have been a memorable film, but nonetheless, it deserves your viewing time for sure.