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New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
‘Ronth' set for OTT release on July 22
Following a strong theatrical run, the Malayalam thriller Ronth is set to make its digital debut on JioHotstar from 22 July. Directed by Shahi Kabir, known for acclaimed police dramas such as Officer on Duty and Ela Veezha Poonchira, the film stars Dileesh Pothan and Roshan Mathew in lead roles. Ronth unfolds over the course of 24 hours during a night patrol by two police officers. Dileesh Pothan portrays Inspector Yohannan, a seasoned officer, while Roshan Mathew plays CPO Dinnathan, a young policeman learning the ropes. What begins as a routine patrol soon unravels multiple complex layers, challenging their perspectives and emotions. The film's cinematography is helmed by State Award winner Manesh Madhavan, with music composed by Anil Johnson and lyrics by Vinayak Sasikumar. The screenplay was penned by Shahi Kabir himself, further adding to the film's authenticity.
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Love Malayalam thrillers? Here are intriguing films that you should not miss out on OTT
Malayalam has released several thrillers over the years that are notable for a variety of reasons, including their plots and performances. Some of these films focus on a crime investigation, while others feature captivating narratives that intrigue the audience from start to finish. If you enjoy watching Malayalam thrillers, you should not miss these flicks on OTT. Ela Veezha Poonchira, Kunchacko Boban's Anjaam Pathiraa Stream Malayalam's latest thrillers such as Pravinkoodu Shappu, Rekhachithram and more on OTTplay Premium Anjaam Pathiraa (Sun NXT, OTTplay Premium) A serial killer is at large, brutally killing police officers. Anwar, a consulting criminologist, joins the investigative team in order to find the offender. As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that the case is about seeking retribution for the wrongs done to the culprit's family. Kunchacko Boban stars in the lead role in this film, helmed by Midhun Manuel Thomas. Ela Veezha Poonchira (Amazon Prime Video) The main characters of the movie are police constable Madhu and another officer who are assigned to the hilltop. The plot twist starts when a woman's body parts are discovered strewn about in the region they are on duty. The movie's climax is popular for shocking audiences. Noted screenwriter Shahi Kabir has helmed this film, which features Soubin Shahir in the lead role. Rekhachithram (Sony LIV, OTTplay Premium) Starring Asif Ali, the movie centres on Vivek Gopinath, who looks into the disappearance of an actress during a 1985 movie shoot and a mysterious skeleton they retrieve in a forest. Buried secrets come to light as he investigates, exposing a crime that was kept hidden for 40 years. Anaswara Rajan plays the other key role in this film. Joseph (Amazon Prime Video) A retired police officer who is renowned for his investigative skills is portrayed in the film. He discovers a criminal case involving organ trafficking after his wife passes away in an accident. This is among actor Joju George's finest performances to date. Vettah (Sun NXT, OTTplay Premium) The inquiry into the disappearance of an actress is the primary focus of the film. The investigating officers deal with an offender who confesses to the crime but then begins to play mind tricks and refuses to disclose anything about the case to anyone else. The plot and performances of Manju Warrier, Kunchacko Boban, and Indrajith Sukumaran were lauded by moviegoers. Grandmaster (Sun NXT, OTTplay Premium) An IPS officer named Chandrasekhar is challenged by a serial killer, who chooses victims based on alphabetical order, in this movie. He progressively overcomes the disappointment of his split from his wife and works on the most challenging case of his career. In this thriller, Mohanlal portrays Chandrashekhar.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Malayalam filmmaker-writer Shahi Kabir on his new cop drama, ‘Ronth'
Shahi Kabir has done what he does best again — tapping into his life as a former police officer and weaving hard-hitting narratives. The recent one being Ronth, his sophomore movie as director. A slow-burner, the story zooms into the life of two police officers, Yohannan (Dileesh Pothan) and Dinanath (Roshan Mathew), who are out on night patrol with Dinanath at the wheel, ahead of Christmas. There is a simmering tension between the two. Dinanath is an idealistic rookie while Yohannan is pragmatic and hardened by experience. As they deal with multiple cases that night, some of which leave them distraught and traumatised, they eventually strike a bond. By the time their shift ends, they are caught in a trap, leading to an inevitable climax. Real to reel Shahi says several incidents shown in the film have either happened to him or other police officers that he knows, with ample layers of fiction added to the storyline. 'I have done night patrolling on many occasions in my career. Also, there are shades of my character in Roshan, especially fear, apprehension, and anxiety. Yohannan has the traits of many senior officers whom I have worked with and about whom I've heard of from fellow cops.' Having written or directed four cop dramas till now — Joseph(writer), Nayattu(writer), Ela Veezha Poonchira(director) and Officer on Duty (writer), Shahi admits that the subject is his comfort zone for the time being. 'Even though I look forward to write a different genre, the industry expects cop stories from me.' He resigned from police force a few months ago after 13 years of service. 'I was on leave for five years. With more opportunities coming in it was difficult to balance both. So I put in my papers.' Ronth is his first film as a director and scriptwriter. His directorial debut, Ela Veezha Poonchira, was written by fellow police officers, Nidheesh G and Shaji Maraad. 'It was tough being a writer and director at the same time. If it was another person's story he would have been around to point out inconsistencies or remind me of things. Handling both roles was difficult, especially because a significant portion of the film happens at night. We had 36 days of night shoot at Iritty (in Kannur district) and some 10 to 15 kilometres around it. That was stressful enough. I wished there was a writer with me to share the load.' Shahi points out that night shoots were equally challenging for cinematographer Manesh Madhavan, who has worked with him in Joseph and Ela Veezha Poonchira. 'It couldn't be too raw. Also, lights had to be just right. He had to find a balance between being realistic and cinematic.' Shooting the movie in sync sound added to the difficulties. 'There were so many practical challenges, with so much noise around. The sound team (Sinoy Joseph, who did sound mixing, and Arun Asok and Sonu KP, who handled sync sound and sound design) worked so hard on this to give the best output.' Shahi adds that he had thought about the story soon after the release of Nayattu (2021), which won him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Story. 'But due to COVID-induced restrictions, we went ahead with Ela Veezha Poonchira, since the film needed a geographically-locked setting. Otherwise Ronth would have been made back then.' As for the cast, Shahi believes he could not have asked for a better cast. 'They are two of the best actors in the industry. Roshan is a great performer and I was confident that it will be different from what he has done so far.' He considers Dileesh his guru, having started his career as an assistant director in the latter's directorial venture, Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, which won three National awards and two State awards. 'Pothettan had once said he wanted to act in a police story written by me and that has finally happened. We have seen different shades of him as an actor. I felt that this role would benefit from his capabilities as an actor. Pothettan being a director did not come in the way while he was acting. He does not look at the monitor after his scenes, except to check continuity. Roshan is also like that. They both left it to me to judge their scenes.' Shahi adds that he prefers his actors to improvise. 'I do not insist on dialogues being delivered the way I wrote them. Pothettan asked if he can improvise in a particular scene and the result was overwhelming.' While he believes that Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum has the most realistic portrayal of police in Malayalam cinema, Shahi points out that the change has happened over time. 'There has been an evolution of sorts. There was a time when police characters were there just for laughs, as in the case of Adoor Bhasi, Bahadur, Indrans, Cochin Haneefa etc. Then came the stories of upright, honest police officers. After a point, police officers became the bad guys... it kept changing and we reached the stage where the portrayal became more realistic.' Ronth is the first Malayalam production of Junglee Pictures, the renowned production and distribution house whose filmography includes Hindi films such as Dil Dhadakne Do, Talvar, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Raazi, Badhai Ho, Badhai Do, Ulajh etc. Ronth is a co production between Junglee Pictures and Festival Cinemas run by Rathish Ambat, Renjith EVM and Jojo Jose. Apparently Shahi was chosen by the production house for their entry into Malayalam. 'I don't know how I figured in their list. And when they called me to Mumbai for narration, I was told that there was someone in their team who knew Malayalam. But that was not the case. I was in for a shock when over a dozen of them sat around a table expecting me to narrate the story. Roshan, who had already worked in Ulajh, was with me then and thankfully he took over as we had discussed Ronth a few years ago. He saved the day.' Currently on a promotion spree for the film, Shahi observes that bringing people to theatres has become more important now. 'Commercial success is all that matters; unless a film works at the cinema, OTT platforms will not buy it.' Meanwhile he is writing the script for two films, one directed by Rathish Ambat and other by editor Kiran Das.
India Today
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Ronth review: Dileesh Pothan, Roshan Mathew drive this grim, layered cop drama
People often tend to base their perception of the police on the limited interactions they have had and the media exposure from the news and movies. Shahi Kabir's Malayalam film 'Ronth' offers a rendition of a cop's life that is much more layered in a story that takes the audience into the depths of police experiences, specifically those who carry the responsibility on the ground on a day-to-day which translates to patrol, stars Dileesh Pothan and Roshan Mathew as SI Yohannan and CPO Dinnath, two officers from the Dharmasala police limits in Kannur, Kerala. The two officers, a duo of an experienced cop and a fresher who is six months into the job, head out on night duty for their patrol. The cases they encounter while on patrol in the rural areas of Kerala, the personal stakes involved, social commentary and more, offer a deeper insight into the lives of these cops and also form the plot of the Kabir, as a writer, has written five cop dramas, including 'Ronth', and his brilliance in the genre is very evident, as his stories carry a rich sense of authenticity enriched by his real-life experience as a police officer. 'Ronth' has a very immersive screenplay that transports viewers into the patrol vehicle with two central characters and offers a third-person view into the struggles of the job, more like a ridealong Shahi Kabir's second directorial following 2022's 'Ela Veezha Poonchira', 'Ronth' also highlights the problems of the police, both professionally and personally. While avoiding any sort of theatrics, the director maintains a rustic tone to emulate the raw style of storytelling. However, while the ideas and execution of scenes are top-notch throughout the film, the choices made towards the climax - which seems quite Shakespearean - could make for a tiring viewing experience due to the emotional drain it causes. Dileesh Pothan and Roshan Mathew carry the film with their performances. Pothan, as the senior inspector carrying over 18 years of experience, delivers a nuanced performance that beautifully adapts to every situation his character encounters, showcasing his range as an actor. Roshan Mathew, as a rookie officer, is always on the edge, leaving the audience with a lot of emotions by the end of the film. The duo - their banters, disparity in moral standpoints, and overall chemistry - is the key anchor point of the departments, specifically music and cinematography, enhance the film and play an important role in making it impactful. Like a steroid booster, cinematography and music complement the story and performances. Cinematography by Manesh Madhavan captures the beauty of Kerala as well as the intensity of the situations the two leads face. Anil Johnson's music - background score specifically - is effective and adds depth to the scenes. Sync sound and sound design by Arun Asok and Sonu KP also deserve a special film's impact is quite emotionally draining. As the story progresses, by the midpoint of the second half, one might feel that this night is too long. A sense of fatigue may creep in as the experiences and emotional toll the lead characters endure are shared with the viewer. As mentioned above, the ridealong experience is real.'Ronth' stands out for its grounded storytelling, restrained yet powerful performances, and an unflinching gaze into the everyday realities of police work. Shahi Kabir doesn't rely on heroism or high-octane action to make his point - instead, he allows the silence, the stillness, and the emotional weight of the job to speak for itself. With a lived-in authenticity and a slow-burning narrative, the film may not cater to all sensibilities, but for those willing to sit with its quiet intensity, 'Ronth' leaves an impact and you have been warned!3.5 out of 5 stars for 'Ronth'.
Indian Express
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ronth trailer: Roshan Mathew and Dileesh Pothan trade barbs during night patrols somewhere in Shahi Kabir's ‘cop universe'
Ronth trailer: 'People here behave not because of courts or laws, but because they're scared of getting thrashed by the cops,' Sub Inspector Yohannan (Dileesh Pothan) tells his subordinate Dinanath (Roshan Mathew) during one of their patrols. As the promo progresses, we see a few more instances of Yohannan assertively lecturing the young officer on how to conduct himself as a cop, while the latter listens with visible disinterest. In fact, the trailer for writer-director Shahi Kabir's Ronth unfolds through a series of patrols by the two officers, during which they encounter various tasks; most of them mundane, but some risky. 'I'm on duty with that douchebag Yohannan tonight. He's been pestering me for quite some time now,' Dinanath tells a woman over the phone at the beginning of the 132-second trailer, highlighting the tension in their relationship. Yet when duty calls, he has no choice but to obey his senior officer. Throughout the promo, Yohannan is cold and condescending toward Dinanath, who, in turn, keeps his distance. 'You're on driver duty, right? So, you do that alone! I'm the officer here; I know what to do,' Yohannan snaps at Dinanath in front of others. Later, during a night patrol, Dinanath pushes back with, 'I'm on driver duty, right? So I know how to handle this,' after Yohannan tells him to go slowly. Still, when his superior gives an order, Dinanath has no choice but to comply, even while enduring constant insults. As the promo nears its end, the two find themselves in increasingly tense situations, with their lives potentially at risk. 'A gripping cop drama which follows a stoic senior police officer haunted by his past and his idealistic young partner assigned to night patrols. Their clashing personalities ignite tension, but as a series of intense and emotional events unfold, a reluctant bond begins to form. When a life-threatening incident threatens their careers, both must confront their deepest fears and darkest truths to survive the shadows of duty,' the movie's synopsis reads. Known for crafting cop stories, Ronth is former police officer Shahi Kabir's second directorial venture after Ela Veezha Poonchira (2022). It is also his fourth screenplay, following Joseph (2018), Nayattu (2021) and Officer on Duty (2025). Also starring Sudhi Koppa, Arun Cherukavil, Krisha Kurup, Nandanunni, Lakshmi Menon and Baby Nandhootty, the movie features music by Anil Johnson, cinematography by Manesh Madhavan, and editing by Praveen Mangalath. Ronth is set to hit theatres on Friday, June 13.
