Kappela

Kappela (transl. Chapel) is a 2020 Indian Malayalam-language romantic drama film[1][2] written and directed by Muhammad Musthafa (in his directorial debut). The film stars Anna Ben, Sreenath Bhasi, and Roshan Mathew. The music was composed by Sushin Shyam. The plot follows a phone call romance between an auto rickshaw driver, Vishnu, and a village girl, Jessy, who have never met each other. The film was released in theatres on 7 March 2020 and on Netflix on 22 June 2020.

Kappela
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMuhammad Musthafa
Produced byVishnu Venu
Written byMuhammad Musthafa
StarringAnna Ben
Sreenath Bhasi
Roshan Mathew
Music bySushin Shyam
CinematographyJimshi Khalid
Edited byNoufal Abdullah
Production
company
Kadhaas Untold
Distributed byLocal Theatres
Netflix
Release date
  • 6 March 2020 (2020-03-06) (Theatrical)
  • 22 June 2020 (2020-06-22) (Netflix)
Running time
113 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Plot

Jessy is the eldest of two daughters from a modest family in the countryside of Wayanad, called Poovaranmala. The lower middle-class family finds a livelihood by farming and Jessy's mother Mary stitches clothes to make earnings for the family. Jessy stopped her studies and she helps out doing household chores and embroidery. Benny, who opens up a textile shop, likes Jessy.

One day, when Jessy returns from town with her friend after collecting lining for her mother's work, Mary tells her to call one of her clients and confirm the measurements for a blouse. Jessy dials a wrong number that is picked by Vishnu who is an auto rickshaw driver from Malappuram. Vishnu calls her back over again a few times, they gradually develop a romantic relationship without seeing each other. Vishnu lives with two sisters. He is depicted as a helpful guy who often helps a family take their sick mother to the hospital.

One day, Vishnu's sisters call Jessy and ask her to call Vishnu so they can "see him happy." Jessy and Vishnu talk every day without ever seeing each other. One day they decide to meet up at her church festival but Vishnu couldn't as he had to take a sick mother to the hospital. Their phone correspondence transpires for a while. Meanwhile Jessy receives a marriage proposal from Benny, who owns a textile shop. Jessy informs Vishnu that Benny and his mother are coming to see her. She asks Vishnu what to do and he suggests that she stay calm. Benny's mother is unimpressed by Jessy's family and their home and storms out when Jessy's mother offers her tea. Benny's mother opposes the marriage.

Jessy is glad and tells Vishnu that the proposal won't happen. Vishnu tells Jessy that his life is hard and she's better off with Benny. They plan on meeting up one day. Benny insists on marrying Jessy despite his mother's opposition. One day he asks the priest for help with persuading his mother. The priest encourages him to do what he wants. Benny tells Jessy's family that he wants to marry Jessy no matter what his mother thinks. Jessy informs Vishnu that her engagement is confirmed. Jessy asks whether Vishnu can come to her hometown but he says that someone who knows her may see them together. One day her family goes to invite their relatives to the engagement. Jessy sees this an opportunity to meet Vishnu. She travels to Kozhikode by herself to see him.

Once she arrives at Kozhikode, Jessy tries calling Vishnu on phone, since he had promised to meet her at the bus terminal. However, Vishnu loses his phone in a scuffle and a passerby steals it. Roy, who witnessed it, gets the phone from the thief and meets up with Jessy instead. Since Jessy and Vishnu had never seen each other, she misidentifies Roy to be Vishnu. But Vishnu finds her and Roy leaves them, returning the phone to Vishnu.

The couple then tours the city and soon realizes that Roy is stalking them. Vishnu confronts him and they get into a fight at a park. Vishnu leaves with Jessy and they book a room at a lodge to wash their dirty clothes. The lodge owner, who is an acquaintance of Vishnu, visits them in the room and asks them if they were going to Mangalore that day. Jessy is confused, Vishnu pulls the lodge owner out of the room away from Jessy. They discuss him having borrowed money from someone and his duty to transport her. The owner also asks him to send pictures of Jessy to someone.

When Vishnu gets back to the room, Jessy, who has now become suspicious, tries to leave and return to her hometown but Vishnu coerces her into staying. However, Roy tracks them down and arrives at the lodge. A fight ensues between them, in which Roy manages to subdue Vishnu and rescue Jessy. At the same time, the police arrest Vishnu's accomplices from his home. Roy helps Jessy safely board the bus back to her hometown.

Cast

Production

Kappela was the directorial debut of actor Muhammad Musthafa, who was also the writer and has appeared in a role in the film.[3][4] The film was produced by Vishnu Venu through the production company Kadhaas Untold. Jimshi Khalid was the cinematographer and Sushin Shyam composed the music.[5][6][7] The film was shot in Poovaranthode, Thenjippalam, Alungal, and Chelapram, Kozhikode.

Soundtrack
Kappela
Soundtrack album by
Sushin Shyam
Released21 March 2020
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length5:02
LabelMillennium Audios
ProducerSushin Shyam
Sushin Shyam chronology
Anjaam Pathiraa
(2020)		 Kappela
(2020)		 Mālik
(2020)
External audio
Audio Jukebox on YouTube

The music of the film was composed by Sushin Shyam with lyrics penned by Vishnu Shobhana.

List of songs[8]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Kannil Vidarum"Vishnu ShobhanaSooraj Santhosh,
Swetha Mohan		03:25
2."Kadukumanikkoru"Vishnu ShobhanaSithara Krishnakumar01:35
Total length:05:02

Release

The official trailer of the film was launched by Millennium Audios on 18 February 2020.[9] The film was released in theatres on 6 March 2020 but could not continue its theatrical run due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later on, the film was released through the online streaming platform Netflix on 22 June 2020.[10]

Critical reception

The film received positive reviews from critics. Sajin Shrijith of The New Indian Express rated 4 in a scale of 5 and said that "Kappela is the latest entry from Malayalam cinema that joins the league of films that managed to create something brilliant out of minor incidents. It's yet another testament to the fact that focused writers and directors can do wonders regardless of the scale of the material".[11] Gulf News wrote that "Kappela's writing and screenplay with well-sketched characters is its biggest strength. The narration is simple, the mood and tone rooted in reality, conversations are real as the story glides smoothly like a well-oiled machine lending a fly on the wall experience. [...] The casting is pitch perfect and lead actors Anna Ben, Roshan Mathew and Sreenath Bhasi are fantastic".[12] Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion South wrote "[These] parts of the film are pure pleasure because “nothing” really happens, and no one is better at capturing and conveying “nothingness” — the unremarkable everydayness of life — than the directors of the Malayalam film industry.".[13]

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References
  1. Balachandran, Logesh (30 June 2020). "Anurag Kashyap reviews Muhammad Musthafa's Kappela: Such an incredible screenplay". India Today. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  2. Express News Service (14 May 2020). "Roshan Mathew's Kappela to soon stream on Netflix, Biju Menon's 41 on Sun Nxt". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  3. "Second look of Kappela out". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  4. "National Award-winning actor Musthafa turns director - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  5. "Anna Ben-Roshan Mathew film titled 'Kappela'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  6. "Anna Ben and Roshan Mathew to romance in 'Kappela'? Here's the second look poster". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  7. "'Kappela' to release on February 28". The Times of India. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  8. https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/listsongs.php?m=6348
  9. Kappela - Official Trailer - Anna Ben - Roshan Mathew - Sreenath Bhasi - Muhammad Musthafa. Millennium Audios. YouTube. 18 February 2020.
  10. "Kappela Movie Review: A well-made story on women's travails". The Times of India. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  11. Shrijith, Sajin (7 March 2020). "'Kappela' review: A perspective-altering drama". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  12. Ramachandran, Mythili (24 June 2020). "'Kappela' excels as a small-town tale with a big heart". Gulf News. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  13. "Kappela On Netflix, With Anna Ben, Roshan Mathew And Sreenath Bhasi: A SPOILER-Filled Rewind Of This Tale Filled With Twists". FilmCompanion. 30 June 2020.
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