Shikkari Shambhu

Story: Three small-time thieves survive with pick pocketing and minor thefts when they come to know about a tiger wreaking havoc in a village called Kurudimalakaavu and a price money being announced for anyone who can hunt it down. Posing as hunters, they start living there with the villagers. The actual motive is to get the price money and also the temple’s idol which is priceless. But subsequent events change their lives entirely.

Review: Shikari Shambu is another family entertainer from director Sugeet-Kunchacko Boban combo that revolves around three small-time fraudsters, Peelipose aka Peeli, Achu and Shaji (Kunchacko Boban, Vishnu Unnikrishnan and Harish Kanaran). They overhear a conversation between a priest and his assistant and learn about a tiger unleashing terror in a village called Kurudimalakaavu and the region’s MLA (Manianpilla Raju) looking for a hunter.

Kunchacko and his friends were already in trouble where they were and sensing an opportunity, move to the village as hunters, eyeing the Rs 5 lakh reward as also the rare pancha loha idol in a temple. They become the darling of the villagers when they succeed in capturing the beast, though by a fortunate turn of events. Instead of bagging the cash prize, they request that they be allowed to stay in the village, obviously to pocket the idol that would make them rich. But there is another twist to the tale or is it better described as tail? The unfolding events take the story forward.

The entire movie has been shot in Idukki and nearby places and the forest scenes are nothing less than a visual feast. Kunchacko Boban is on safe ground in this light-hearted movie but it doesn’t test the actor in him all that much. Witty exchanges between Vishnu and Harish keep you entertained in the first half. While Vishnu does a good job after getting that dream role in Kattapanayile…, Harish once again scores with his natural and innocent style of acting. Kunchacko’s fight scenes are noteworthy while Sshivada, does a de-glam role, which turns significant towards the end.

The songs do not linger and perhaps the same can be said about the movie too. The priest, the thieves, gullible villagers….haven’t we seen all that before?