Anna Mathews, Apr 10, 2026, 06.50 PM ISTCritic's Rating: 3.5Story: Sashi and his family help his stepmother and half-brother settle back in their hometown in Sreekandapuram, but learn that the last Bharathan Nair had more tricks up his sleeve
Review: Making sequels work can be challenging and in this case, Mohiniyattam follows from 2024 film Bharathanatyam, which flopped at the box office, though it did well on OTT. So, while it is quite ambitious to make a follow on, it is a testament to Krishnadas Murali’s talent and confidence as a writer, that he puts a spin on the family comedy drama, and returns with dark humour that is surprising and had the audience in splits almost throughout.
The story takes off from where Bharathanatyam left off and shows the late Bharathan Nair’s dysfunctional family, consisting of his two wives, and children, including oldest son (Saiju Kurup), head to Sreekandapuram. They are there to help Bharathan’s illegitimate family settle back into their hometown, only to find that the old man had more unsavoury tricks up his sleeve.
As soon as they get to the town, an old associate, Govindan (Suraj Venjaramoodu), pays them a visit at the new house and tells the family about the shocking origins of the thriving temple in the neighbourhood. How all the members rally together to resolve things with the unsavoury Govindan looming over them forms the rest of the story.
The film is admirable on two counts; it is blunt about temple ‘aydheeham’ and ‘blind faith’, which was an aspect in Bharathanatyam, as well, and also, goes all out with the dark humour. The small attention to details, such as with the temple deity and a poor, nervous man’s babbling to the police in a tricky situation, are hilarious.
The makers wanted to enhance the film’s theatrical feel with its music and Electronic Kili has delivered perfectly in this regard. The technical team of cinematographer Bablu Aju, editor Bablu Aju, and art director Diljith Das have also done a superb job with capturing the momentum - whether calm or tense - of the exterior and interior shots.
Saiju is perfect as the person the family turns to in a difficult situation, but is as clueless as the rest of them. Baby Jean is a great addition to the mix. Suraj is subtle, yet crude and horrible in all aspects of his villainy; so well played.
But while the actors have all done a good job, the script really is the real hero here and for that, the praise goes to writer-director Krishnadas.