Writers: Joseph Kurian, Vivek Ranjit
Cast: Asif Ali, Aju George, Sampath Raj
Language: Malayalam
Kili Poyi is a Malayalam stoner film directed by debutant Vinay Govind, a former associate of VK Prakash. It can also be characterized as a 'Bromance' film even though the nature of it is similar to the love-hate one involved between Malayalam's evergreen characters Dasan and Vijayan. That is referenced in the film and basic story-line is about the two central characters, played by Asif Ali and Aju Varghese, getting their hands on a bag full of cocaine inadvertently during their stress-busting trip to Goa. And, unlike Dasan and Vijayan, they decide to keep it and sell it for money. The bag references to Taxi Driver by featuring Robert De Niro with his mo-hawk in it and there are plenty of other references to Quentin Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction' as well as the similarity of plot with 'True Romance'. Even the song 'Girl, you'll be a woman soon' is used in soundtrack during a scene.
There have been plethora of Malayalam films recently that uses old cinematic references as a crutch to make up for their lack of originality. This one, which came out pretty early in the so called new-gen film wave that swept Malayalam industry recently, is a rare case of it being done in a good way. This is in spite of the rather average performances from its lead actors and not so great script. I caught up it on Asianet HD, and I guess you do have to watch it on HD to appreciate it more since the cinematography and shot-making is stylishly done, reminding me of the seedy look of 'Ek Chalis Ki Last Local'. The title translates, not literally, as someone losing their mind and is used to refer to getting high taking drugs. I assume the phrase would have been in existence prior to this film but it did bring it to the mainstream Malayalee lingo since then. Malayalam cinema have introduced/popularized so many new phrases and words into our daily life language and this is another one to add to the long list. Even the phrase 'Scene Contra', now popularized by the song from 'Premam', is featured in this film during a song sequence.
Overall it is a mindless fun watch, if watched in the right mood with a good print, and a very good effort from all involved. Film got an A-film certification and, predictably, didn't do well at the box office. Even though it is marketed as a stoner film, it doesn't go into the surreal territory enough to justify the tagline. They could have done it better if they added a bit more idiosyncrasies into it. Still it is a decent enough effort considering the limitations that we have in our industry in showing drug use, sex and violence.
Rating: 2.5/5
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