Mikhael (film)

Mikhael
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Haneef Adeni
Written by	Haneef Adeni
Produced by	Anto Joseph
Starring	Nivin Pauly Unni Mukundan
Cinematography
Edited by	Mahesh Narayanan
Music by	Gopi Sundar
Production company	Anto Joseph Film Company
Distributed by	Anto Joseph Film Company
Release date	18 January 2019 (2019-01-18)
Running time	150 minutes
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Mikhael is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Haneef Adeni.^[1] It stars Nivin Pauly in the lead role with Unni Mukundan, Manjima Mohan, Siddique, JD Chakravarthy, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Navani Devanand, Jayaprakash and Sudev Nair in supporting roles. ^[2] Music is composed by Gopi Sundar.^[3] The film released on 18 January 2019.

Plot[]

Gold smuggler George Peter and his driver are killed under mysterious circumstances. Police investigators Muhammed Easa and Isaac discover that it was carried out with a surgical blade, causing them to think a doctor was behind it. They start investigating medical shops. At the same time, George's younger brother Marco, a Dreaded Gangster, meets Davis and his sons – their rivals – to ask whether it was their work. Davis's son Abraham starts speaking in a condescending manner, enraging Marco and provoking him to shoot Abraham. During his funeral, Easa asks Davis if it was Marco. Davis does not tell him, thinking that he could seek revenge on his own. Some days after an unknown person shoots Patrick – Davis's Right-hand man – Easa and Isaac take him to Star Hospital where he gets murdered despite being protected with maximum security. This solidifies Easa and Isaac's theory that the murderer is a doctor.

Meanwhile, someone interrogates a pharmacist to know the truth over the murders. Both the gangs start believing that someone is after them. Isaac becomes suspicious of Easa since he earlier said that he had an informant but didn't reveal anything about him. Isaac investigates on his own, discovering that Dr. Mikhael John, the casualty specialist of Star Hospital, is both the killer and the informant. He also understands that Easa is helping Mikhael since they had contacted each other several times. He tells Easa what he has learned in his investigation, forcing Easa to reveal everything in order to prevent the arrest of Dr. Mikhael. Easa explains that when Mikhael was 10 years old, he was involved in an accident that killed his father. Mikhael's mother blamed him for his father's death.

The only person whom he really loved was his sister, Jenny. Meanwhile George Peter's Son Gerald challenged her to a karate spar in front of the entire school. Jenny defeated him, causing his friends and other students to tease him for losing to a girl. Depressed over the matter, Gerald jumps from the school terrace, thus killing himself. Gerald's father, George, visits Jenny and tells her to jump from the school terrace the same way as Gerald had jumped or else he will kill her entire family. After Peter continuously disturbs and harasses her family, Jenny decides to jump off the school terrace. Right before she jumps, Mikhael suddenly arrives and saves her. She tells Mikhael about Peter; Mikhael files a complaint to the police, but the police beat him, as they are allied with Peter. Mikhael's mother asks him to visit for Christmas but he refuses. Peter later kills Mikhael's mother, causing an enraged Mikhael to burn Peter's Audi Q7 car. Peter and his forces catch him, beat him up and leave him on a railroad track to die. Mikhael escapes, and eventually catches up with Peter and his driver and kills them both. Back to the present, Marco decides to kill Mikael and Jenny.

Easa also says that he was the one who ordered Mikhael to kill Patrick since he was a common connection between both teams and killing him will provoke a gang war. Meanwhile, Jenny goes missing; Michael eventually finds her at Davis' place. They kidnapped as revenge for Mikhael killing Patrick. But Mikhael is able to save Jenny; Davis and his son are arrested. Easa arrests Marco for killing Abraham but Marco is released on bail. Marco kidnaps Jenny and takes her to a building top and asks her to jump. Michael arrives and fights with Marco and is finally able to kill him, saving his sister and their family.

Cast[]

Production[]

Mikhael is the second directorial venture of Haneef Adeni, produced by Anto Joseph under the banner Anto Joseph Film Company. The film was announced on 12 July 2018.^[4] The pooja function was held in Kochi on 3 September, with principal photography beginning the same day.^[5]

Principal photography ended in November 26 2018.

Music[]

The film features songs composed by Gopi Sundar.

Critical reception[]

The film received mostly negative reviews upon release. Navamy Sudheesh of The Hindu called the film an average action fare, wrote that "while the film is engaging at some levels, it lacks that raw energy and intensity of a thorough thriller."^[6] Manoj Kumar of The Indian Express criticized the film, rating 0.5 in a scale of 5 and calling it a "migraine-inducing incoherent mess, which kills our desire to be entertained."^[7] Sowmya Rajendran from The News Minute criticised the direction, script, editing and acting, and wrote that "even if you watch the film knowing what to expect of Haneef Adeni, 'Mikhael' is disappointing", she rated 2 in a scale of 5.^[8] Anna M. M. Vetticad of Firstpost rated the film 0.75 in a scale of 5 and wrote that "Nivin Pauly struggles through a pretentious, pompous affair ... the irritating music and pseudo-philosophical mumbo jumbo overshadow both the storyline and the usually reliable Nivin Pauly's natural charm".^[9] Litty Simon of Malayala Manorama said, "the slow-paced thriller won't really blow your mind but it comes with enough masala for a Nivin Pauly movie."^[10] Calling the film "loud" and "confused", Neelima Menon from Huffington Post wrote that Nivin Pauly "is a thorough misfit" in the film. She was also heavily critical about the film's music.^[11] Deepa Sonam of The Times of India rated the movie 2.5 on the scale of 5.^[12] The New Indian Express rated it 4.^[13]

It was reported that the makers of the film tried to control negative reviews on social media by asking Facebook to remove such posts due to copyright policies; they were able to get Facebook to block two groups which discussed films in an attempt to save the film from getting negative word of mouth.^[14]

References[]

External links[]

• Mikhael at IMDb