Oru CBI Diary Kurippu

Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is a 1988 suspense thriller that is regarded as a classic in Indian cinema. Hailing from the Malayalam film industry, this movie prides itself on its clever narrative, riveting storytelling and memorable dialogues crafted by the skilled hand of veteran director, K Madhu, and well-known scriptwriter, S N Swamy.

The title Oru CBI Diary Kurippu translates to 'A CBI Diary Scrap'. Staying true to its intriguing title, the film keeps audiences engaged and on edge right from the beginning. The plot brings out the investigative prowess of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India and introduces to the Malayalam cinema, a detective named Sethurama Iyer, a fictitious character portrayed by Mammootty.

Mammootty, a nationally acclaimed star and often referred to as a towering figure in the Mollywood (Malayalam film industry), adds several glitches to this enigmatic CBI officer character. His confident yet calm demeanor, sharp intellect, and incisive logic differentiate his character, making it one of the landmark roles in his illustrious career. Mammootty's effortless performance unraveled a new dimension of a detective figure in Indian Cinema.

Sethurama Iyer is joined by a solid cast of characters including Suresh Gopi, Jagathy Sreekumar, Mukesh, and Sukumaran, who deliver exceptional performances. Suresh Gopi plays a young and energetic crime branch officer named Chacko, while Jagathy Sreekumar takes on the role of Chacko’s amusing assistant. Their chemistry adds a flavor of humor to the serious investigation, ensuring that the narrative is not devoid of lighter moments.

Oru CBI Diary Kurippu intrigues the audience with a mysterious death at the very beginning of the movie. What appears initially as suicide, the plot throws doubts with enough twists and turns that establish the possibility of a disguise to murder. Sethurama Iyer, prompted by circumstances, takes over the task of unravelling the truth with the assistant of Chacko and his assistant.

This suspense thriller will make you poker-faced with no space to guess what could follow. The investigation procedures, clues, ample amount of circumstantial evidences, and believable red herrings would keep you at the edge of your seat, stirring up the suspense and enhancing the mystery element. In fact, it's this clever screenplay that makes the otherwise routine investigation an interesting watch.

It should also be noted that Oru CBI Diary Kurippu incorporates elements that reflect the socio-political atmosphere of Kerala, giving audiences a realistic feel of the state’s culture and ethos. These attention to details add depth to the narrative, making the movie more relatable to the audience.

Technically, the movie is a marvel for its time-period. The art direction is naturalistic, and the cinematography by Vipin Mohan is engaging, effectively capturing the different moods of the narrative. Adding to these is the musical backdrop by Shyam which subtly augments the suspense-factor in the story.

Without revealing any spoilers, one can say that Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is a well-crafted suspense thriller that brilliantly showcases the investigative procedures of the CBI in a captivating way. It keeps you hooked until the very end, where the sudden revelation of the true culprit leaves you in awe of the entire proceeding.

With an engaging story, brilliant performances, and a taut screenplay, Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is a tour de force in the annals of Malayalam Cinema. The film has been so well-acclaimed that it has led to series of sequels in Malayalam cinema with Mammootty reviving the role of the astute investigator.

A tantalizing journey into the criminal investigation process, a rich display of character performances, and a thrilling unraveling of mystery, Oru CBI Diary Kurippu undoubtedly makes for unmissable viewing.