It’s quite a recognizable mystery franchise that ‘Abrahaminte Santhathikal’ lays out before you. And it’s this throwback familiarity that holds it back throughout, even as it tries hard to fit in every known thriller trope into its folds.
In the cold, moist air of a rainy night, a sinister figure makes an appearance outside a police officer’s house, before stealthily making his way into it, with a hammer in hand. He doesn’t waste much time before finishing off the three lives inside, including a man, woman and their only child. He leaves after marking out on the walls, that a number game is on.
Shaji Padoor’s ‘Abrahaminte Santhathikal’ starts off with every serial killer-murder-mystery prerequisite in place; the rain, the hooded assailant, the indistinct child murmurs in the background and the mandatory clue in blood that is left behind. And as is usually the case, a special investigator is summoned to take a look.
Derick Abraham (Mammootty), arrives on the scene, irking the officer in charge (Suresh Krishna), and ruffling up the feathers of a few other officers in the department as well. Just as you arm yourself up to watch him unravel the mystery of the family murders, he wraps it all up in a jiffy and hauls in the culprit. Case closed.
It’s about twenty minutes into the film, and you wonder what ‘Abrahaminte Santhathikal’ plans to talk about now. Looks like it has plenty in store, and in walks Derick’s younger brother Philip Abraham (Anson Paul) with his girl friend Aleena (Tarushi). A song later, when Aleena ends up dead, Philip is arrested for her murder, and Dericks finds himself face to face with another investigation, but one which will decide the fate of his only brother.
‘Abrahaminte Santhathikal’ takes a digression into another tale thus, one involving two brothers who have held on to each other, ever since their folks had passed away in a car crash years back. It’s a long way ahead for Derick and Philip, one that is ridden with gun shots, bloodshed, drugs, failed friendships and lost allegiances.
There is a short-lived reference to Derick’s ill-fated romantic past, that is indicative of a relationship that he once had with Diana Joseph (Kaniha), who has since then risen to be a public prosecutor. Diana openly flaunts her revulsion towards Derick in action and deeds and asserts that deceit has long run in the man’s family.
In the midst of all these, there is hardly anything hair raising that ‘Abrahaminte Santhathikal’ has in store; it all takes the routine road down to a climax, which as is usually the case in films as these, brings in the big brother of all twists, in this case. If you have been a shrewd observer though, the chances are high that you might have marked out the denouement long back.
A few car chases, sharp shootings and kidnappings over, Derick the hero finally emerges, flinging away the skin of the brooding police officer that he had held on to all the while. He materializes into a master planner, who sends his adversaries scampering away into hiding, with a knocker scheme that knocks out their senses.
‘Abrahaminte Santhathikal’ and Derick Abraham, must have been child’s play for Mammootty who has done umpteen similar roles with equal, if not better enthusiasm and ease. Anson Paul, Siddique, Kaniha, Tarushi, Shajon, Sijoy Varghese and Suresh Krishna appear in supporting roles. The beautiful song ‘Yerusalem Nayaka..’ starkly stands out, even as Gopi Sunder’s background score rumbles away for most of the part.
It’s quite a recognizable mystery franchise that ‘Abrahaminte Santhathikal’ lays out before you. And it’s this throwback familiarity that holds it back throughout, even as it tries hard to fit in every known thriller trope into its folds.
Verdict: Average