Amal Neerad is a master of visual world-building, crafting a rich tapestry of imagery with cohesive design elements that offer audiences a truly immersive experience. When paired with a layered script that allows him to fully explore his visual style, he is simply unmatched in Mollywood.
With Bougainvillea, a dark psychological thriller that is undoubtedly a gem in his filmography, Neerad once again underlines what he is capable of.
A loose adaptation of Lajo Jose’s novel 'Ruthinte Lokam', Bougainvillea takes the audience into Rithuvinte Lokam, or Rithu’s world. Rithu (Jyothirmayi) is a middle-aged woman suffering from retrograde amnesia and other psychiatric conditions. The film opens by revealing how this condition developed—following a tragic accident she had with her husband, Dr. Royce (Kunchacko Boban), a pediatrician.
Rithu, a painter, has an obsession with bougainvillea flowers, which she compulsively paints. Though she no longer wishes to paint them, she can’t stop herself. She sells her paintings at a local shop, where an unknown patron consistently buys them, paying Rs 3,000 for each.
Rithu and Royce’s lives take a turn when a police officer (Fahadh Faasil) arrives at their home, investigating the disappearance of a girl from a nearby college hostel. The only lead the police have is CCTV footage showing Rithu following the girl.
From this point, the film takes the audience through a labyrinth of twists and turns. The filmmaker skillfully drives the story forward from the perspective of the lead character, Rithu, who serves as an unreliable narrator. As a result, the audience becomes immersed in the world around her, all while questioning whether what they are seeing is real or not.
Anend C. Chandran handled the cinematography for the film, and his work complements Neerad's vision by paying close attention to every aspect of the scenes—from framing and focus to color palettes—ensuring that each element serves the story. Neerad, known for overdoing cuts and shots to create stylized characters, shows great restraint in Bougainvillea, using his trademark slow-motion shots only when they are most necessary. Editing by Vivek Harshan is appreciable.
Fahadh Faasil and Kunchacko Boban are both seasoned actors with commanding screen presence, but in Bougainvillea, it is Jyothirmayi who truly steals the spotlight. Jyothirmayi, who is also Amal Neerad’s partner, last appeared in a film a decade ago. In her comeback, she delivers what may be the most significant role of her career. She effortlessly portrays the confusion, despair, and delusional world of Rithu. Kunchacko Boban continues to surprise with unexpected character choices, while Fahadh Faasil takes on an extended cameo, likely drawn to the unique nature of the script.
Bougainvillea is set in the high ranges, a setting Amal Neerad previously explored in his action thriller Varathan. While Varathan featured violent characters shaped by the wild terrain of the high ranges, Bougainvillea introduces characters with an urban background who bring their dark secrets to the same terrain. The music and background score play a crucial role in creating an immersive atmosphere in the film, and Sushin Syam once again proves why he is one of the best.
The song "Sthuthi" has already climbed the charts, and the choreography by Sumesh Sundar and Jishnudas stands out as one of the best in recent Malayalam cinema. Overall, the film delivered what exactly it promised on its trailer. If you are a fan of dark films, this is one you shouldn’t miss in theatres.
Movie: Bougainvillea
Directed by: Amal Neerad
Starring: Kunchacko Boban, Fahadh Faasil, Jyothirmayi, Sharaf U Dheen, Srinda, Veena Nandakumar
Rating: 4.5/5
