BOTTOM LINE
Timepass Quirky Dark Comedy
PLATFORM
SONYLIV
RUNTIME
136 Minutes
What Is the Film About?
A banana killer is on the loose in Kerala. Luke, a local troublemaker under suspicion, boards a night bus, unknowingly sharing it with the actual killer. Chaos erupts when he stumbles upon the body of an elderly man onboard. The journey spirals into madness, fueled by mistrust and dark humour, eventually leading to a bizarre unmasking of the killer — whose motives are rooted in revenge and mistaken identity.
Performances
Basil Joseph is perfectly cast in a goofy, flawed role that plays to his strengths. The character arc is predictable, but he keeps it engaging. Anishma Anilkumar, as Luke’s girlfriend caught in the chaos, holds her own with a vibrant screen presence. Siju Sunny delivers well, though Babu Antony is sadly underused. Rajesh Madhavan gives SK an unsettling edge, but with tighter writing, the role could’ve hit harder.
Analysis
Maranamass might be the umpteenth Malayalam thriller involving a twisted serial killer (with a peculiar obsession for elderly men) and a cop’s hunt for him, but director Siva Prasad approaches it from a fresh angle — framing it as a dark comedy. The plot unfolds over one wild night inside a bus, where a troublemaker, his girlfriend, the driver, and a conductor find themselves trapped with a corpse.
The film does a decent job establishing story threads around its key characters — a constantly bickering couple, a creepy old man, a serial killer with an oddly wholesome side, a conductor searching for his lost father, and a cop obsessed with his missing dog. While serious on paper, the film’s tone is dangerously comical, at times brushing aside stalking, misogyny, and harassment as light gags.
Yet, you go along with it because the film refuses to take itself seriously. The characters own their flaws unapologetically. Luke is such a nuisance that his village dreams of deporting him to Czechoslovakia. Jessy’s feisty grandmother gives her pepper spray for her birthday. And the supposed macho cop Ajay Ramachandran gets teary-eyed over his missing dog.
An elderly man, Keshava Kurup, is thrown out of his house for misbehaving with his daughter-in-law. The serial killer — Sreekumar, a.k.a. SK (not a spoiler) — tells murder mysteries to orphans, annoying his colleagues. While the first hour leans heavily on character setup, the narrative truly kicks in once they all end up on the bus, where the old man dies — accidentally.
Siva Prasad traps Luke, SK, Kurup, Jessy, and others in a bus during a mysterious night where they scramble to dispose of the body and save themselves. The plot veers in a wackier direction when they reach a cemetery where a movie is being shot. The conductor then uncovers a bizarre link to the dead man, and the night only gets weirder from there.
The characters find themselves in increasingly absurd situations — and the screenplay, for the most part, ties it all together cleverly, leading to a riveting finale. Still, the ride is bumpy. Dialogue stretches on aimlessly at times, and the sudden wave of sympathy for the deceased feels forced. The decision to mend Luke and Jessy’s relationship in one night is interesting but unconvincing. Their romance lacks emotional weight.
Maranamass is chaotic — deliberately and occasionally unintentionally — but it never stops being eventful. Some creative choices, especially the casual treatment of women’s issues, might leave a sour aftertaste. Still, the film’s heart lies in its golden middle act — a trippy screenplay that blends dark humour with tension during the bus journey, making it an entertaining ride.
Give Maranamass a shot. Power through the sluggish start, and you might just enjoy the madness. It’s far from flawless, but it’s a reasonably fresh spin on a genre that badly needed one.
Music and Other Departments?
JK’s music fits the film’s quirky tone, though it doesn’t leave a lasting impression. Neeraj Revi’s vibrant, flashy visuals energise the story. The screenplay occasionally runs out of steam and needed tighter control to fully land. A sharper start would’ve made the offbeat premise more impactful.
Highlights?
Unique treatment
Decent performances
Dark humour
Drawbacks?
Dull start
Inconsistent screenplay
Problematic portrayal of a few characters
Did I Enjoy It?
For the most part, yes
Will You Recommend It?
If you enjoy quirky dark comedies
Maranamass OTT Movie Review by M9
