User Reviews

~ 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.

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.

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 !

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.

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.

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.

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 many interesting and fresh ideas, but a few parts are a bit silly and boring.

The characters, though, keep things lively and engaging most of the time.

The screenplay flows well, with some scenes standing out as exceptional and a few feeling like they could have been shorter.

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 extended Cameo appearance added extra flavor to the film.

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

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

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

Overall, it's worth a watch!

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.

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.

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 🔥💯

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

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 by the end of those scenes. Even when it reaches the climax, the movie doesn't surprise me. In the climax, Ajayan becomes a hero who somehow reaches his goal without his own abilities.

The movie leaves some doubts in the story after the first viewing. Many questions are expected to be answered in one viewing; otherwise, the film may leave a negative impression. Ajayan's problems with the villain often feel powerless. 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 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. 😊)

The film spans three generations with Tovino playing the protagonist in each era. However, despite his efforts, none of the characters managed to create any depth. While there are some visually pleasing scenes, the overall storyline fails to make much sense when pieced together. Despite the big budget and hard work put into the sets and Tovino's performance, the film falls flat due to its outdated story, repetitive plotlines, and weak scripts.

The antagonists in the film also fail to leave a lasting impression, and even emotional scenes falls short. The loose scripts and dialogue further detract from the overall impact of the movie. While the cinematography, editing, costumes, and set design are decent, the background music fails to make a significant impact.

The action sequences are passable, with Tovino's signature running shots feeling reminiscent of his previous work in Minnal Murali. The graphics, particularly in the treasure hunt scenes inside the cave, come across as average at best and at times even fake. The love sequences and songs in the film are cliched and uninspired.

Despite a few failed attempts at comedy, the scene where the magical lamp miraculously healing the hero's wounds was really laughable. While there were elements that showed promise, the overall execution fell short of creating a truly engaging narrative due to its lack of orginal content.

"ARM" uses a fantasy action-adventure format to explore historical themes through three different timelines. However, it portrays Hindu temples, and the historical figures associated with them in a highly critical light, suggesting that they symbolized injustice and oppression towards backward classes. The film's depiction of historical events and characters, such as a Hindu king seeking advice from Portuguese invaders, distorts historical facts for dramatic effect. This approach could spread misinformation by presenting a skewed view of history, conflating fiction with fact, and potentially reinforcing negative stereotypes about Hindu religious practices and historical figures.

Nice attempt at creating a 3D movie in Malayalam. However, this is not the first 3D movie in Malayalam; one was made 40 years ago! The stereoscopic quality of this movie is quite poor, except in the close-up shots. At times, it feels like watching a tabletop animation movie. Tovino Thomas's character is superb, but the rest of the cast feels like gap fillers. Script is not up to the mark though it tries to tell the story of 3 generation. The dialogue presentation by characters in the Original Malayalam movie feels like a mix malabar and travancore slang. Attempt wise this movie deserve applauses.