Narivetta (2025) Movie: Tovino Thomas’s Tribal Drama Deserves Your Attention
Narivetta stands out as 2025’s most powerful Malayalam social drama, telling the forgotten story of the 2003 Muthanga tribal uprising. Anuraj Manohar directs this gripping tale featuring Tovino Thomas, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Cheran, and Arya Salim in key roles.
The film centers on a reluctant CRPF officer who gets caught up in tribal land disputes. When his partner goes missing in a remote village, Thomas’s character must confront his own beliefs about duty and justice.
Story That Hits Hard
Set in Kerala’s forest regions, the movie draws from real events that shook the state two decades ago. The story follows one man’s transformation from someone just doing his job to understanding what’s really at stake.
What works here is how personal growth connects with larger social problems. The tribal community’s fight for their ancestral land becomes a mirror for the protagonist’s own journey toward understanding his role.
I noticed the script sometimes gets heavy-handed with its message. The timeline jumps felt unnecessary and broke the flow at crucial moments.
Performances Worth Noting
Tovino Thomas gives his strongest performance yet as the conflicted officer. He brings real depth to a character who could have easily become one-dimensional in lesser hands.
His portrayal of internal conflict feels genuine. You can see the struggle in his eyes as he realizes the system he serves might be wrong.
The supporting cast delivers mixed results. Suraj Venjaramoodu brings his usual reliability, but some actors struggle with dialogue delivery. The dubbing issues don’t help either.
Direction Shows Promise
Anuraj Manohar handles this sensitive subject with care. His previous work on “Ishq” showed promise, and here he tackles bigger themes with growing confidence.
The film maintains good pace through most of its runtime. However, some action sequences feel overdone, especially during the protest scenes that should have been more subtle.
I felt the director understood the weight of the subject matter. He doesn’t sensationalize the violence or make heroes out of anyone unnecessarily.
Technical Craft
Vijay Iratta’s cinematography captures Kerala’s natural beauty while showing the harsh reality of conflict zones. The forest locations provide the perfect backdrop for this story of survival and resistance.
Jakes Bejoy’s music supports the narrative without overpowering it. Shameer Muhammed’s editing keeps things moving, though some scenes could have been tighter.
The production values suit the story’s realistic tone. Nothing feels unnecessarily glossy or removed from the ground reality.
What Really Works
The film succeeds in bringing tribal stories to mainstream cinema. These voices rarely get heard in popular films, making Narivetta’s approach refreshing and necessary.
The casting feels authentic. The actors look like they belong in these roles rather than just playing dress-up for a social cause.
I found the first half particularly engaging. The character development feels natural, and the conflicts build organically rather than being forced.
Where It Falls Short
The second half loses some steam. While not boring, it doesn’t maintain the intensity established earlier in the film.
Some protest scenes come across as theatrical rather than realistic. These moments needed more subtlety to truly impact viewers.
The script occasionally preaches when it should simply show. The best social films trust their audience to understand the message without spelling everything out.
How Critics and Audiences Responded
Times of India gave it 3.5 stars, calling it a brave attempt with important messages. They noted the script’s occasional confusion but praised the overall effort.
IMDb users rated it 6.5/10, describing it as well-crafted despite minor flaws. The Telugu version received 2.75/5 from regional critics.
Most reviews appreciated Tovino Thomas’s performance and the film’s social relevance. Critics compared it unfavorably to “Nayattu” in terms of impact and execution.
Bottom Line
Narivetta deserves credit for tackling stories that mainstream cinema often ignores. While not perfect in execution, it succeeds in starting important conversations about tribal rights and social justice.
The film works as a character study of moral awakening. Thomas’s performance alone makes it worth watching, even when the script occasionally stumbles.
I believe this movie will find its audience among viewers who appreciate socially conscious cinema. It may not be the most polished film of the year, but its heart is definitely in the right place.
Despite pacing issues and some heavy-handed moments, Narivetta’s sincere storytelling and strong central performance make it a valuable watch.
Rating: 3.5/5