Prathichaya Movie Review (2026): Nivin Pauly’s Political Drama Feels Familiar Yet Flawed

Prathichaya Movie Review (2026): Directed by B. Unnikrishnan, “Prathichaya” is a politically charged Malayalam drama that tried to engage audiences with its portrayal of power and media influence. Starring Nivin Pauly, this movie attempts to engage viewers with a gripping story that is rooted in politics. While it is able to touch on engaging topics, it fails to deliver a compelling cinematic experience. Therefore, it is like “old wine in a new bottle.”

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Plot Breakdown

The story is centered around John Varghese, played by Nivin Pauly, who becomes the chief minister of Kerala. This occurs when he takes over power following the sudden fall and death of his father, veteran politician KN Varghese. 

John Varghese enters politics and is forced to compete against a media magnate named Ravi Madhavan, who is suspected of being responsible for the scandal. The story is centered around John’s quest to restore his father’s reputation.

The story is engaging and is inspired by real-life politics. However, it fails to take full advantage of this.

Cast Performances

Nivin Pauly turns out to be a positive addition to the film, although his character is not well developed. His performance does not reflect the emotional depth that is required for such a big role. It seems like a one-dimensional performance. 

The performance of Balachandra Menon is outdated and not subtle. Sharaf U Dheen is also not able to do justice to his role as the antagonist. 

The other actors, including Nishanth Sagar, do not make a lasting impression because of poor character development. 

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Positive Points

One of the biggest positive points of this film is that it has a good subject. The portrayal of media corporatization and its effect on politics is realistic. 

The film also has good cinematography. The frames are well crafted and reflect the changing standards of Malayalam cinema. Some scenes suggest that this is a better film than it actually is.

Negative Points

The biggest drawback of Prathichaya is the poor writing. The movie promises a lot but doesn’t manage to make any impact in the dialogue department.

The movie lacks the required nuances in the story as it tries to show everything in a very direct and ‘in-your-face’ style. The movie’s story is very derivative, making it comparable to classics such as ‘The Godfather’ as well as many political movies.

The movie’s tone is also very inconsistent, making it difficult for the viewer to get into the movie.

Direction and VFX

The direction by B Unnikrishnan tries to show promise but ends up being very poor in execution. The movie’s pacing is very inconsistent, making the background score sometimes feel very unnecessary.

The movie’s technical aspects are decent, making it a great visual treat. However, the poor writing overshadows everything.

Prathichaya Trailer

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