So youРІР‚в„ўre not really caught off-guard when one of these workers (Sumesh Moor) have a score to settle with Shaji. Even ShajiРІР‚в„ўs stress comes from his need to protect their possessions, including the kilos of pepper theyРІР‚в„ўve stored in the warehouse. As they use terms like paandi or attapadi pejoratively to refer to these workers, you sense that thereРІР‚в„ўs only room for either fear or disgust for outsiders in Shaji Nivas.Р”В«ut who really is the outsider here? During their tea break, Maanu explains to the workers how Ravi and his clan usurped the land they rule over today. Even Vidya, after having taken a bath, feels the need to dry her clothes inside because she feels a perv is amongst them. So when Appu sees the main worker Maanu (MGK Vishnu) through a window, he imagines a ghost is staring back at him. As the family members go about their day, they feel theyРІР‚в„ўre being watched. The music and the shaky camera movement gives us the sense that we too should worry for this family.

There seems to be a sense of doubt and worry about the five farmhands whoРІР‚в„ўve come there to pluck areca nut. Because, РІР‚Сљboys donРІР‚в„ўt cryРІР‚Сњ.Р”В«ut this fear isnРІР‚в„ўt limited to Shaji alone in this house. And itРІР‚в„ўs only getting worse because heРІР‚в„ўs probably never opened up to his father (or himself) about what this has done to him. Having lost a lot of his fatherРІР‚в„ўs money in bad investments, itРІР‚в„ўs like Ravi now has Shaji on a tight leash. He even has to ask RaviРІР‚в„ўs permission when heРІР‚в„ўs planning his day. Shaji is a different person around Ravi, fearful and subservient. ThatРІР‚в„ўs when you understand why Appu asked Shaji who their house belongs to, his dad or his grandad. ItРІР‚в„ўs like violence is hereditary in this family.Р”В«ecause thatРІР‚в„ўs the sense we get when we meet Ravi (Lal), ShajiРІР‚в„ўs father. And when Appu needs to be entertained, Shaji plays him a cassette of Jackie ChanРІР‚в„ўs Armour Of God. WeРІР‚в„ўre speaking about a time when the both of them are in awe of a new Malayalam film called РІР‚ВJagannathanРІР‚в„ў (MohanlalРІР‚в„ўs name in Aaram Thampuran, directed by РІР‚ВShajiРІР‚в„ў Kailas). When Appu starts crying, he says, РІР‚Сљboys donРІР‚в„ўt cry,РІР‚Сњ as though heРІР‚в„ўs grooming Appu. HeРІР‚в„ўs also the family man or THE man of Shaji Nivas. With his Jesus-like beard and hair and Greek God-like body, Shaji even gets the typical hero introduction here. Which is odd because Shaji is supposed to feel like the hero. ItРІР‚в„ўs not just the dog but its owner appears foreign too in this landscape, giving us a feeling of dissonance. Both the fair, six-packed Shaji and his big black dog feel unnatural in this extremely natural setting. As Shaji runs through the field behind Blackie, we become spectators along with caterpillars, leeches, lizards and butterflies. When Blackie runs out of the gate and into the plantation, the urgency with which Shaji chases it isnРІР‚в„ўt proportional to an owner looking for his expensive dog. Routine life has seldom felt so, so ominous. Apparently thereРІР‚в„ўs more to these sunny frames (by the amazing Akhil George). With repetitive use of quick cuts (reminiscent of the РІР‚Вhip hop montageРІР‚в„ў in Requiem For A Dream) even for mundane everyday activities, weРІР‚в„ўre looking at the first five minutes of a Sathyan Anthikad movie, if it had been edited by Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall.Р”В«ut the background music, by Dawn Vincent, seems to believe this is another kind of movie. And we then get a sense of the kinky sexual energy shared by Shaji and his wife Vidya (Divya Pillai) that seems to spill out of their bedroom and into the world outside. It also hints at the importance of this РІР‚Сљforeign breedРІР‚Сњ in the household. It establishes ShajiРІР‚в„ўs contribution (or the lack of it) in raising the little boy.

ItРІР‚в„ўs an intelligent line that works three ways. РІР‚СљWhy donРІР‚в„ўt you ever give me a bath like you give Blackie orРІР‚В¦amma?РІР‚Сњ In all this mirth, their son, Appu, asks what seems like a naughty question. Shaji (Tovino Thomas) is busy too because heРІР‚в„ўs bathing his black Cane Corso who they call Blackie. The first set of shots paint the picture of a cliched happy family with the father and his young son joking around outside the house with the mother busy cooking inside. Set in the Kerala monsoons in the late 90РІР‚в„ўs, Kala follows the events that unfurl across two days in Shaji Nivas, a biggish bungalow at the centre of a large areca nut, pepper plantation.

Rohith VS, who made blessedly-strange films like Adventures Of Omanakuttan and Iblis, returns with another that widens his place as something of an acquired taste.

Kala malayalam movie