Ananthan Kaadu (2026): Big Action, Familiar Politics, Arya’s Show
The opening frames of Jiyen Krishnakumar’s *Ananthan Kaadu* drop us into a politically charged 1990s Thiruvananthapuram, where a marginalised working-class settlement is already being squeezed by local power players. It’s a confident, atmospheric start that signals a serious political thriller, until the film slowly trades its ambitions for a revenge arc we’ve seen one too many times before. This is a watch for Arya’s fans and action completists, but a skip for anyone hunting fresh political drama.
The 157-minute runtime is the first red flag. Murali Gopy’s screenplay, which carries the weight of his usual socio-political preoccupations, stuffs the narrative with so many subplots that the central conflict, a community caught between gangsters and political brokers, loses its sharp edge.
Arya Anchors the Action, But Struggles in the Drama’s Familiar Passages
Arya is the engine here. In the action-driven stretches, his physicality and screen presence give the film a muscular pulse that matches the large-scale staging around him.
But when the screenplay shifts into the more familiar dramatic passages of betrayal and revenge, the performance settles into a register we’ve seen from him before. It’s effective, never electrifying. He carries the film’s central arc competently, yet one wishes the writing gave him a moment of genuine surprise to sink his teeth into.
Direction and Screenplay: Strong Backdrop, Weak Cohesion
Krishnakumar’s direction displays a clear command over the period-political setting. The recreation of 1990s Thiruvananthapuram feels lived-in, and his sense of scale in staging the unrest is genuinely impressive.
The flaw is structural. The screenplay is overstuffed, and the narrative cohesion visibly weakens as it juggles its many threads. The second half, in particular, drags through predictable plotting that no amount of technical polish can rescue. I found myself checking the runtime more than once during the subplot-heavy stretches.
The Genre Core: A Political Thriller That Relies on Escalation Over Suspense
As a political thriller, the film’s craft is a mixed bag. The setup is its strongest suit, the way personal grievances are shown being absorbed into larger criminal-political machinery creates genuine tension in the first hour. The settlement’s social divisions and the power structures that exploit them are drawn with a clarity that suggests a sharper film underneath.
The action sequences, staged against the backdrop of political unrest, deliver the violent escalation the genre promises. These set pieces are where the film feels most alive, with a sense of geography and consequence that many bigger-budget productions lack. The scale is undeniable, even when the choreography follows familiar patterns.
But the revenge core is where the thriller mechanics falter. The twists are visible from a distance, and the film’s reliance on predictable turns drains the suspense that a political thriller must sustain. The system may be the real villain, as the film’s paraphrased dialogue suggests, but that thematic ambition doesn’t translate into narrative unpredictability.
For more political dramas and action films from the region, browse our Malayalam Thriller reviews for deeper analysis of similar releases.
Supporting Cast: An Ensemble That Keeps the Film Watchable
Nikhila Vimal, as Deepa, provides a notable supporting presence that adds a human touch to the procedural politicking. Her scenes offer brief respite from the male-dominated power games, though her role remains underdeveloped in the larger scheme.
Indrans and Vijayaraghavan operate in the older-generation political drama space with the gravitas you’d expect. Their casting signals the film’s intent to ground its fiction in a recognisable world of established power dynamics. Murali Gopy, Siddique, and Dev Mohan round out a cast that consistently elevates material that often doesn’t match their collective talent.
Box Office Reality and the Critical Verdict
The film’s commercial trajectory tells its own story. According to Filmibeat, citing tracker Jerin Georgekutty, *Ananthan Kaadu* collected ₹2.19 crore domestically and ₹2.74 crore worldwide by day three, numbers that point to a flop verdict despite the ambitious production. The Week and New Indian Express average out to a 2.5 rating, with one critic summarising it as a film that “boasts impressive scale and action, but lacks a notable personality.” Another review called it “a flat, old-fashioned political potboiler lacking novelty, ” while a third noted that “beneath the politics lies a predictable revenge tale.”
The audience response mirrors the critics. Praise centres on the action staging and period atmosphere, while complaints focus on the predictable narrative progression and weak emotional engagement in the second half. The film’s 157-minute length feels longer than it should, especially when the screenplay’s familiarity sets in.
For a film that wants to be a serious political thriller, the lack of novelty is its undoing. The strong setting and Arya’s committed performance aren’t enough to compensate for a narrative that never surprises. This one is best saved for a regular or OTT viewing when you’re in the mood for a big-scale action drama with political dressing, just don’t expect it to linger in your memory.
If you’re interested in a more restrained take on social drama anchored by a strong lead, check out our analysis of Nooru Sami review for comparison.
*Ananthan Kaadu* is a competently made but creatively exhausted political actioner that wastes its promising premise on a revenge tale we’ve seen before, a 2.5 out of 5.
For a more charismatic lead performance in a similarly structured narrative, our review of Cocktail 2 verdict explores how star power can elevate familiar material.
Ankit Jaiswal is the Chief Author, covering Indian cinema and OTT releases with honest, no-filler criticism. An SEO strategist by background, he brings a research-driven approach to film writing, cutting through hype to tell you exactly what's worth your time.