One (2021) [บรรยายไทย]

Every voter has an ideal Chief Minister in mind. The movie One, directed by Santhosh Viswanath and written by Bobby-Sanjay, attempts to paint that idealistic picture on the screen.

Kadakkal Chandran, enacted by Mammotty, is a politician of values. One day, as part of his hospital visit, the surroundings are blocked by the police. However, Sanal, a citizen played by Mathew Thomas, tries to sneak in. It further leads to a tension between the police and him, and Sanal gets hurt. Agitated, he puts up a post on social media, which gains traction. The opposition, which has been waiting for the right moment to topple CM, grabs the opportunity. How does Chandran tackle the crisis?

Although One is built around a power struggle, the main focus of the movie is the Chief Minister - his personal and professional lives. Mammootty, who appears in the signature white-and-white attire, is impeccable as Kadakkal Chandran and he plays the character with grace and ease. Murali Gopi, as the opposition leader Jayanandhan, also presents a good opponent. He delivers a decent and memorable performance within his limited screen time and is especially impressive towards the climax. Thanneer Mathan Dinanangal-fame Mathew Thomas and debutante Ishaani Krishna also have a fair share of the screen time in the movie. An array of actors including Alencier, Siddique, Krishnakumar, Salim Kumar, Joju George, Gayathri Arun and Binu Pappu support the entire journey.

Writers Bobby and Sanjay, who are known for their hit movies, have tried to weave a decent political drama through this film, with sharp and classy dialogues and showmanship reserved for the main characters. At the same time, the story’s ending comes across as preachy. It also makes the film quite predictable.

The film, which can be termed a mass movie, offers a handful of good moments and can be termed a one-time-watch.