Birthmark Movie Review: A Routine Thriller with Missed Opportunities
Movie Name: Birthmark
Release Date: 2024-08-08
Cast: Shabeer Kallarakkal, Mirnaa Menon, Porkodi Senthil, Indirajith, Deepthie Orientelu, P R Varalakshmi
Director: Vikram Shreedhara
Producer: Sriram Sivaraman
Music: Vishal Chandrashekhar
Banner: Bhavani Productions
‘Birthmark’ from Shabeer
Storyline:
The movie “Birthmark” is a thriller drama directed by Vikram Shreedhara and produced by Sriram Sivaraman under Bhavani Productions. Released in theaters in February 2024, it is now available for streaming on Aha as of today.
Plot Summary:
Daniel (played by Shabeer) is an army officer. His wife, Jennifer (played by Mirnaa Menon), becomes pregnant, and around this time, Daniel hears about the ‘Dhanvantari Birthing Village,’ a place near a forest where he decides to take her for delivery.
The ashram is run by Kundavai (P R Varalakshmi), with Asha and Ammulu assisting her. Sebastian works as the watchman there.
Sebastian strictly instructs Daniel not to smoke or drink at the ashram, which annoys Daniel.
The village’s remote location near the forest frightens Jennifer, who becomes uneasy about the strange behavior of the ashram’s inhabitants and pleads with Daniel to take her back to town. However, Daniel dismisses her concerns.
Daniel occasionally behaves strangely, almost as if possessed, which confuses Asha, Ammulu, and Sebastian. When Jennifer questions him about it, he offers vague excuses.
Daniel personally ensures that Jennifer takes the medicines provided by the ashram, but she begins to suspect that something is amiss with the way he administers them.
One day, Jennifer stumbles upon Daniel’s diary, where she discovers that he harbors doubts about the baby she is carrying. She realizes that Daniel might have brought her to the ashram with malicious intent.
What will Jennifer do next? Why does Daniel doubt her? What happened before, and what does Daniel do in his anger towards Sebastian? These intriguing questions drive the story forward.
Review:
The story, crafted by the director and producers, is based on a simple concept. The entire film revolves around a small cast of about six characters set in an ashram near the forest.
The main focus is on the husband and wife, with the pregnant wife eagerly awaiting the birth of her child while longing for her husband’s support.
However, the husband behaves strangely, leaving the audience puzzled about his motives.
The anticipation of a strong flashback is built up, but when it’s finally revealed, it fails to impress, leaving viewers disappointed.
The ashram scenes, filled with chaos, lack clarity on what happened to the other characters, adding to the confusion.
While the theme of a mother enduring hardships for her child’s birth is relatable, the movie ultimately feels more like a story about a husband’s paranoia rather than a compelling thriller.
The cinematography by Uday Thangavel, background score by Vishal Chandrashekhar, and editing by Iniyavan Pandian are average.
The film‘s treatment of a well-known concept in a routine manner might leave viewers unsatisfied.
Also Read: Theppa Samudram Review: A Missed Opportunity in Village Drama