We’ve all been there: scrolling through a streaming service, you land on a film that seems promising, only to find its reviews are a battlefield. One viewer calls it a masterpiece, the next calls it a waste of time. This critical divide is often more intriguing than a universally loved blockbuster, signaling a film that took risks, aimed high, and perhaps stumbled in its ambition. The Malayalam thriller 'Meesha' is a perfect case study in this.
Directed by Emcy Joseph, whose well-regarded debut 'Vikrithi' set high expectations, 'Meesha' is a film that has been simultaneously praised for its technical brilliance and condemned for its narrative flaws. It’s a movie that tackles immense political themes yet is accused of superficiality; a box office flop that found a passionate audience online. For every viewer who lauded its immersive atmosphere, another was left frustrated by its disjointed story.
This article dives into the heart of that contradiction. We’ll explore the five key takeaways from the film's polarized reception to understand why 'Meesha' inspires such strong, and often opposing, reactions from its audience.
1. The Build-Up Is Brilliant, But the Landing Fails
The first half of 'Meesha' is deeply intriguing. The film patiently builds its world, promising an intricate tale of male bonding tested not just by ego, but by the powerful societal forces of caste and class. We are introduced to Anandhu (Hakim Shah), who hails from privilege and complains about reservation systems, and his childhood friend Mithun (Kathir), from a community of fishermen whose entire colony is threatened by a corporate textile factory deal. This conflict redraws their battle lines: Mithun becomes a reluctant leader fighting for his community, while Anandhu is viewed as a suspicious outsider. The setup is rich, grounding their personal drama in a world where powerful politicians see them as mere "units of their respective vote banks."
However, this carefully built momentum reportedly collapses in the second half. A widespread criticism is that the promising plot is squandered on what one reviewer called a "lukewarm payoff." The narrative detours with the introduction of a new set of characters led by a hunter (Shine Tom Chacko), a confusing subplot about deer meat, and clunky, awkward action scenes, including a reportedly "laughable" waterfall sequence. The story that began with such focus devolves into a climax that feels both underwhelming and convenient, leaving audiences who were invested in the setup feeling let down by the resolution.
A complex setup deserved a more complex resolution, too, and instead of the film burbling up to its true potential, it detours into a disjointed mess, never being able to do justice to these characters.
2. It’s a Feast for the Senses, But the Story Might Leave You Hungry
One of the most consistent points of praise for 'Meesha' is its masterful technical execution. The cinematography by Suresh Rajan is lauded for capturing the essence of the wild woods, while the sound design and "soul stirring" music by Sooraj S. Kurup work in harmony to create a "surreal forest experience" that pulls the viewer directly into its tense, atmospheric world. For many, this immersive craftsmanship was so powerful that it demanded a theatrical viewing to be fully appreciated.
Yet, this sensory feast is served alongside a screenplay that many found unsatisfying. Despite the powerful atmosphere, viewers noted that the story itself became "unnecessarily complicated," and its weighty dialogues sometimes fell flat. For some, the technical polish couldn't mask narrative mediocrity, leading to the critique that the film ultimately became a "pretentious effort" that aimed for depth but couldn't quite achieve it.
3. It Failed in Theaters But Found a Second Life Online
While the film's technical artists created a sensory experience that some critics argued demanded a theatrical viewing, its lackluster box office and subsequent online revival tell a different story. Commercially, 'Meesha' had a "lackluster theatrical run" and did not perform well. By traditional metrics, the film was not a success. This is where a fascinating paradox emerges: despite its poor box office numbers, the film received "good reviews from the audience" online and generated significant buzz for its OTT release on Manorama Max.
This disconnect suggests the film may be better suited for a different kind of viewing experience. A dense, thought-provoking drama packed with political subtext and rich technical detail might be challenging to fully absorb in a single theatrical sitting. The ability to watch at home allows audiences to immerse themselves in its complex world and appreciate the layers that may have been missed in the cinema, giving the ambitious thriller a well-deserved second chance to find its audience.
4. It Bravely Tackles Big Politics, But Doesn't Dig Deep Enough
'Meesha' is widely praised for its ambition in grounding its political commentary in the lives of its characters. It explores the **caste divide** through the starkly different backgrounds of Anandhu and Mithun, **corporate exploitation** through the looming threat of the textile factory displacing a marginalized community, and **vote bank politics** in the way powerful figures manipulate the friends' conflict for their own gain. Its thematic scope has even drawn comparisons to critically acclaimed films like 'Kammatti Paadam' and 'Madras'.
However, a recurring counter-argument from critics is that while the film bravely raises these crucial issues, its exploration of them remains on the surface. The political backdrop is seen as powerful, but the screenplay is accused of failing to delve deep enough into the complexities it introduces, preventing the film from achieving the same standard as the classics it evokes.
"#Meesha has shades of films like Kammatipaadam and Madras, but falls short of such standards due to its superficial exploration of complex real-world issues like vote bank politics, caste divide, and other social inequalities"
5. The Cast Delivers Performances That Outshine the Script
Across the spectrum of reviews, one point of near-universal acclaim is the quality of the acting. Kathir is singled out for a "splendid performance" in his Malayalam debut, and he is backed by a powerful supporting cast, including strong turns from Hakim Shah, Shine Tom Chacko, Sudhi Koppa, Jeo Baby, and Srikanth Murali. The actors are commended for bringing depth and emotional gravity to their roles, successfully portraying the raw, selfish, and conflicted emotions driving the story.
This praise is often accompanied by a sense of regret that such a talented cast was let down by the film's writing and direction. Several reviews express the sentiment that the compelling central characters, Anandhu and Mithun, were ultimately underserved by the narrative. Their complex relationship, the very core of the film, was seen as deserving of a stronger plot and a more satisfying conclusion than the one they received.
More than the plot, it's Anandhu and Mithun who deserved a better film and an ending worthy of their friendship.
'Meesha' exists in a fascinating gray area. It is a film of profound contradictions: a brilliant setup with a weak payoff, a technical marvel with a flawed script, a political epic that scratches the surface, and a showcase for incredible actors trapped in an underwhelming story. It reaches for greatness but stumbles on the path to achieving it, resulting in a piece of cinema that is as frustrating as it is fascinating.
The polarized reception confirms that 'Meesha' is anything but a safe, forgettable movie. It provokes a strong reaction, which is a rare feat in itself. This leaves us with a final, thought-provoking question: In an age of safe blockbusters, is an ambitious, beautiful, and broken film like 'Meesha' more interesting than a perfect but predictable one?
I would give 3/5 to this movie.
