Mohanlal’s latest release ‘Villain’ has been a much-anticipated one for several reasons: It marks Vishal’s and Hansika’s Mollywood debut, it has action scenes choreographed by Peter Hein, it will see Manju Warrier and Mohanlal team up again, it will reunite B Unnikrishnan and the star, and it’s a thriller, a genre that has enough space for a mass entertainer.

In many counts, the first half of the film delivers — however not by cashing in on Mohanlal’s superstar image but with a taut, engaging screenplay that plays out slow, and keeps the audience guessing throughout.

The film starts out with the murder of three men, one among them a retired police officer. The case happens to be ADGP Mathew Manjooran’s (Mohanlal) last as he’s mulling a voluntary retirement because he believes he “is psychologically unfit to continue in the police department”.

Along the way, the story also harks back to the incidents in Mathew’s life 7 months ago that led him to take the decision. Manju Warrier plays Mohanlal’s wife Dr Neelima while Vishal and Hansika’s characters are yet to be unraveled at the end of second half.

‘Villain’ is not your typical mass entertainer but a cerebral thriller that takes its time placing the pieces together on the board. Director Unnikrishnan uses the elements well, making the story unpredictable. Sushin Shyam’s BGM brings in the added element required for thrillers.

By the interval, more questions about the murders emerge while also leaving the audience wondering if Mathew’s past has anything to do with the killings.  Mohanlal is restrained as the astute ADGP who has a knack for solving mind-boggling cases. Siddique, Renji Panicker, Chemban Vinod and Raashi Khanna too figure in supporting roles.

While the first half of the 143 min long movie takes its own sweet time, the post interval could evolve into a pacy thriller if it smartly answers the questions that it has thrown up till now.

source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com