394. Shikkari Shambu; movie review

SHIKKARI SHAMBU
Cert 12A
146 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, injury detail

I have another apology to make. I am aware that there are quite a few people who have looked out for my reviews of Indian films but this year I really haven't seen that many.
There are a number of reasons but I will try to catch up as best I can before the year is out, beginning with Sugeeth's Malayalam masala movie Shikkari Shambu.
It stars Kunchacko Boban as the leader of a trio of chancers who see dubious profit potential out of being hired by villagers to track down a tiger which has been terrorising them.
It is interesting how those under threat from the big cat have no interest in protecting it. They want it dead before it kills more of them.
I digress.
Sugeeth's film is unusual in that it is entirely set in the countryside and so gives a very different impression of India from the very frugal living to the real danger of wild animals.
It also demonstrates the suspicion which villagers have towards outsiders.
Nevertheless, the happy trio inveigle themselves through tales of derring-do even though they initially have no intention of jeopardising their own lives by facing a tiger.
Inevitably, however, the potential of love intervenes when two out of the three fall for the beauty of two of the local women, prompting a reassessment of their priorities.
Boban is a compelling leader of the band and Vishnu Unnikrishnan and Harish Kanaran are more than just sidekicks, being allowed time for romance, pathos and action themselves.
But the greatest skill is Sugeeth's. Several times I had thought I had worked out the direction of the storyline only for it to take an unexpected and interesting turn.
And it certainly helped that the film was set in the jungle where fears of animals are genuine but superstitions are even more dangerous.
As the film went along I found it more and more engrossing and it left me looking forward to more of his work.

Reasons to watch: Unusual country comedy
Reasons to avoid: Misses out on belly laughs

Laughs: Chuckles rather than laughs
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7.5/10

The big question - How do we square the circle of saving the tiger and yet stop it being a threat to humans in the Indian countryside?

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