College dramedy Bollywood style (with a double shot of Hong Kong Martial Arts), just the second film from remarkably assured writer/director Jithu Madhavan. Prolific acting vet Fahadh Faasil is top gangster in this university town, but many of the engineering students (goon acolytes who ought to be studying) are played by new discoveries given special introductory credits like The Cute One or The Homely One. (How’d you like that on your CV?) Bright and fast-paced, if a little long at 2 and a half hours (gotta fit in the musical numbers), a prologue sees our Junior Class moving into a private dorm just off campus (very frat house like) where they find they have to submit to violent hazing by Seniors, before deciding to work as a team and fight back. If only they had some pro help from towny tough guys. Leading to a proper first act at the local night spot (music, drinks, dancing) where they look for support and find it at the urinals when Faasil actually picks one of them up by asking for a light mid-piss. Yikes! It really is a pick up, just not sexual. (A ‘bro’ pick-up? The film not without sexual subtext neither spoken nor acted upon, but hard to miss. Especially as the boys seem terrified of women and, of course, the skimpy Indian wardrobe. Does this vibe go unnoticed locally?) Now with the top gangster and his crew riding herd, those Seniors haven’t a chance. If only the students didn’t fall for the gangster life style and forget their class assignments. Faasil happy playing the absent-student life he never had thirty years back. All building to a double crisis: for the students who need passing grades so they don't dishonor the family back home; and for Faasil who is tagged by Bibi, his favorite student, and forced to take on the ENTIRE rival gang in town by himself. Good thing he’s got action chops to die for hiding under the slim frame. Silly, fun, with real suspense, catchy music & dance (much of it at the club so it feels natural). Cleverly structured, neatly served.
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