Kolla (2023 film)

Kolla (transl. Robbery) is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language heist film directed by Suraj Varma in his directorial debut and features Rajisha Vijayan and Priya Prakash Varrier in the lead roles.[3] It is written by Jasim Jalal and Nelson Joseph based on the story by Bobby–Sanjay. The film is loosely based on the 2008 Chelembra bank robbery.[4]

Kolla
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySuraj Varma
Written by
  • Jasim Jalal
  • Nelson Joseph
Story byBobby–Sanjay
Produced byRajeesh K.V.
Starring
CinematographyRajavel Mohan
Edited byArju Benn
Music byShaan Rahman
Production
company
Rajeesh Productions
Distributed byAyyappan Movies Release
Release date
  • 9 June 2023 (2023-June-09)[1]
Running time
123 minutes[2]
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

The film was announced in May 2022. Principal photography commenced in the same month in Ettumanoor and wrapped up in June 2022. The music is composed by Shaan Rahman, while the cinematography and editing are handled by Rajavel Mohan and Arju Benn.

Kolla was released in theatres on 9 June 2023.[5]

Plot

Two girls, Annie and Shilpa, plan to open a beauty parlor in a small town. The seemingly innocent girls have some evil plans for them. Later, it's revealed that their real intention was to rob the co-operative bank next to the parlor. Pretending that they are renovating their parlor, the two girls execute their plan with the help of their father's old friend (it's another revelation that one of the girls, Annie's father, was a thief, and his friend Stephen helped them execute their plan).

The police inspector who investigated the crime was quite suspicious of the girls. His investigation leads to Stephen, but during an identification parade, he died of a cardiac arrest. Annie, devastated due to guilt and disappointment, goes to the island where Stephen supposedly hid the money and jewels they had stolen from the bank but found the place empty. She visits Stephen's wife but fails to procure the information she wants. Inspector Farooq is almost cracking the crime. He suspects the involvement of Annie and Shilpa in it. It's strengthened when they see the postcard that Annie sent Stephen. Annie is searching for the loot, following the hints Stephen dropped during their conversation and the information she gained from Stephen's wife. Annie goes to Thenmala Church, believing that he must have hid the loot somewhere around the church. She finds it in a burial chamber while the inspector revisits the crime scene and searches for a valid clue.

Inspector Farooq understands Annie's and Shilpa's involvement and awaits her with a trap. Meanwhile, another local thief, the brother of Stephen's wife, chases Annie and threatens her. Finally, she decides to give some gold to Basil, a young man who helped them execute their plan. She goes to CI Stephen's house for a haircut for his niece. CI questions Annie, and she tries her best not to fumble. But the inspector catches her lies and asks her for half of the loot as a bribe to reveal them in the case. Having no other option, Annie agrees and gives him the promised amount of gold. But the next day, while interrogating Basil at the crime scene, Farooq reveals the girl's involvement. Annie and Shilpa flee, but the police manage to catch Shilpa. Shilpa reveals Annie's whereabouts. Annie, who tried to run away with the loot, is arrested. The media appreciates Farooq, but he seems to be upset. In flashback, it is revealed that Annie and Shilpa suspected that Farooq might cheat them, and they followed Farooq to find where he had his share of loot. After that, they purposefully got Shipa arrested and used her to reach Annie with the loot, which belonged to Farooq. Three years later, Annie and Shilpa now work as café waitresses in a new city. But in the end credits, it is revealed that they plan to loot a diamond shop near the café.

Cast

Production

Development

The film was officially announced on 12 May 2022 at the Gokulam Convention Centre in Kaloor.[6] Sibi Malayil lit the Nilavilakku and launched the film's title.[6]

Filming

Principal photography of the film began on 13 May 2022 in Ettumanoor.[7] The shooting took place in Ettumanoor, Kaipuzha, and Vayala.[8] The filming wrapped up on 23 June 2022.

Soundtrack
Kolla
Soundtrack album by
Shaan Rahman
Released2023 (2023)
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length7:13
LanguageMalayalam
LabelSaina Music
Shaan Rahman chronology
Neymar
(2023)		 Kolla
(2023)		 King of Kotha
(2023)

The songs are composed by Shaan Rahman.[9]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Aaraanu Naam"Vinayak SasikumarPriya Prakash Varrier3:58
2."The Heist Song"NelsonAathira Nair3:15
Total length:7:13

Release

Theatrical

The film was released in theatres on 9 June 2023 by Ayyappan Movies Release.[10][6]

Home media

ManoramaMAX bought the digital distribution rights of the film.[11][12] The online streaming began on 27 July 2023.[13][14]

Reception

Critical response

Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express gave 2 out of 5 stars and wrote "Despite having an intriguing plot, Suraj Varma's Kolla disappointingly plunges into the depths of mediocrity due to the absence of a compelling and enthralling narrative."[15] Shilpa Nair Anand of The Hindu wrote "‘Kolla’ is a thriller which, despite a great story with more twists than a murukku, never reaches its full potential."[16] Princy Alexander of Onmanorama wrote "The screenplay by Jasim Jalal and Nelson Joseph failed to do justice to Bobby-Sanjay's story. The twists were quite intriguing, but some of the scenes needed to be sharper to seem more convincing. Nevertheless, it was fascinating how some of the scenes were envisaged."[17]

Sanjith Sidhardhan of OTTPlay gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "While the heist and its planning are given limited time, it's what happens after one of them gets caught that makes the proceedings gripping."[18] Arjun Ramachandran of The South First gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Jasim Jalal and Nelson's screenplay keeps the film engaging, especially the cat-and-mouse game between the lead characters and cops."[19]

References
  1. "'Kolla' release: Rajisha Vijayan's thriller to hit the big screens on THIS date". The Times of India. 12 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  2. "Kolla (2023) - Movie Reviews, Cast & Release Date". in.bookmyshow.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  3. "'Kolla' trailer: Rajisha Vijayan and Priya Prakash Varrier starrer is a riveting thriller". The Times of India. 1 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  4. 'കൊള്ള' - ചേലമ്പ്ര ബാങ്ക് കവർച്ചയുടെ സിനിമാ വേർഷൻ ['Kolla' - The cinematic version of Chelembra bank robbery] (Television production) (in Malayalam). 10 June 2023 – via YouTube.
  5. "Trailer of Rajisha-Priya Prakash's Kolla promises gripping heist thriller". The New Indian Express. 1 June 2023. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  6. "Kolla | കൊള്ള (2023) - Mallu Release | Watch Malayalam Full Movies". Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  7. Daily, Keralakaumudi. "രജിഷ, പ്രിയ വാര്യർ ചിത്രം കൊള്ള". Keralakaumudi Daily. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  8. "Kolla | രജിഷ വിജയൻ, പ്രിയ വാര്യർ; മലയാള ചിത്രം 'കൊള്ള' ചിത്രീകരണം പൂർത്തിയായി". News18 Malayalam (in Malayalam). 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  9. "First Poster of Rajisha Vijayan, Priya Prakash Varrier's Kolla Released". News18. 6 May 2023. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  10. "Rajisha Vijayan starrer 'Kolla' to hit the big screens on June | Malayalam Movie News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  11. "Kolla OTT release date: When, where to watch Rajisha, Priya Varrier's heist film". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  12. "Kolla Malayalam Movie OTT Release Date - Which Platform Owned The Rights And When Start Streaming The Movie Online". 3 July 2023. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  13. "Rajisha Vijayan, Priya Varrier film 'Kolla' to start streaming on this OTT platform. Details here". OnManorama. 25 July 2023. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  14. "Upcoming South OTT Releases: Maamannan, Kolla, Regina And More | Full List". English Jagran. 24 July 2023. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  15. Suresh, Anandu (9 June 2023). "Kolla movie review: This Rajisha Vijayan-Priya Varrier starrer will make you yell at the screen for conspicuously missing good opportunities". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  16. Nair Anand, Shilpa (9 June 2023). "'Kolla' movie review: Rajisha Vijayan, Priya Varrier lead an underwhelming thriller". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  17. Alexander, Princy (9 June 2023). "'Kolla' review: Rajisha Vijayan, Priya Warrier's bank robbery film is pacy, but could have been sharper". Onmanorama. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  18. Sidhardhan, Sanjith (9 June 2023). "Kolla review: Taut, smart heist thriller could have been so much more". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  19. Ramachandran, Arjun (10 June 2023). "Kolla review: Rajisha Vijayan-Priya Warrier's heist movie is a captivating watch with interesting twists and turns". The South First. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.