Malayalee from India reviews: Nivin Pauly starrer draws mixed reactions

Malayalam star Nivin Pauly's "Malayalee from India" opened in cinemas worldwide on Wednesday, coinciding with Labour Day celebrations. The film was released amid high expectations and is touted to give Nivin a much-needed break in his career.

The filmmakers also marked "Malayalee from India" as "Nivin's comeback movie." A teaser released last year promised a film that would meet fans' expectations, leading many to believe it was an out-and-out comedy.

However, a teaser was released to temper expectations on the eve of the movie's release. Director Dijo Jose Antony claimed he released it to set the right tone and prevent disappointments. The teaser revealed a high-voltage political drama exploring themes of communal politics.

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"It's a very serious movie with its own moments of comedy. But it's not a full-fledged laugh riot," explained Dijo Jose Antony during a recent press conference.

"Malayalee from India" garners mixed reviews

Reviews for "Malayalee from India" have been mixed. While many appreciate its good intentions, which mirror the dangers of communal violence, some are not convinced by the film as a whole.

Critics cite poor screenplay for failing to convincingly weave Dijo's promising ideas and themes. "It's a 'Heart is in the right place' type film with a compelling political stance. But it takes such a random and roundabout way to deliver the message that it ends up as a hugely disappointing film where the underwhelming social commentary is bookended by a false start and a disastrous end," said YouTube reviewer Avinash Ramachandran.

"#MalayaleeFromIndia has heart. But the movie had too much to unpack, and things didn't come out as the makers expected. Good theme, poor writing, and average execution," tweeted Sreenath Nandipulam.

Dijo Jose Antony has written and directed the film. Besides Nivin, "Malayalee from India" also stars Dhyan Sreenivasan and Anaswara Rajan in lead roles.