Verdict: Ozhiyathe is a heartfelt, well-intentioned period drama that brings a lesser-known real-life incident from the Emergency era to the screen. It works best as a sincere history lesson, even if the pacing may test some viewers.
Pros:
Powerful and important real-life story that hasn’t been told on screen before
Sincere performances from a largely fresh cast
Bijibal’s music adds emotional depth to key moments
Cons:
Slow-moving in parts, especially for viewers expecting a fast narrative
Limited theatrical reach means many audiences may not catch it easily
The film follows a group of schoolboys and girls who, caught up in the political tension of the time, are branded as threats to the state.
What starts as a simple call to protest turns into a nightmare of police brutality and wrongful imprisonment. Denied bail repeatedly, the children spend weeks behind bars before the courts finally intervene.
The film tries to capture their fear, confusion, and resilience through that ordeal, while also placing it against the larger backdrop of the Emergency’s excesses.
Many viewers appreciate the boldness of picking this real incident and giving it a screen adaptation, something they feel has been overlooked in mainstream Malayalam cinema for years.
The music by Bijibal, including the songs “Kulirkaattu” and “Ombra,” has also been getting positive mentions for suiting the film’s emotional tone.
Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available audience reactions and discussions on X at the time of writing. Individual opinions may vary.
Kadir is a box office reporter and film analyst from Hojai, Assam, and the founder of Tenvow.com. Since 2015, he has been into box office reporting. With a focus on box office collections, OTT trends, and movie analysis, Kadir delivers accurate, data driven insights into the business of films.
