I ensure that I watch all of Maqbool Salmaan's films despite them being low quality. I empathize with him because he's a relatively fine actor, but without any luck in this industry. While his Appuram Bengal Ippuram Thiruvithamkoor (2016) was a decent feature, this romance drama is just badly made.
Dennis (Maqbool Salmaan) is a young man working in Malaysia. The real reason why he moved to another country from India is a past episode for which he is still grieving. While on his way to a routine visit to India, he meets Rithi (Aima Sebastian) who reminds him of his past love. They get chatty on flight, and subsequently, Dennis narrates his life story to her - which is filled with buddy comedy, romance, and of course, tragedy. The film is basically Dennis's narration and the aftermath as other characters played by Bhagath Manuel and Shine Chacko enter the scene with nothing to offer.
It's a B-grade movie, sure, but without the obscenity. Yes, it even has ample content intended to satiate the male gaze, but that's not really why the film fails to impress. Director Manu Kannamthanam has not put in enough efforts here to direct his cast well or to even narrate the story in a well-laid out manner. It's just people exchanging information, making the whole drama boring as hell.
Salmaan puts up his usual show, while Chacko and Manuel fool around. Sebastian is a poor actor and this film testifies to that fact. It must be influence and only that for she was cast in Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016) and Munthirivallikal Thallirkumbol (2017). Not much to talk about the supporting cast except Saikumar.
Overall, the film fails to convey what it might have intended to. The message is lost in poor directing and ghastly performances. Skipping won't hurt.
BOTTOM LINE: Manu Kannamthanam's "Dooram" is yet another Malayalam B-grade film that fails to deliver because it's a tepid recipe made with stale ingredients. Skip!
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
