The story follows Kerala Chief Minister KN Varghese, played by Balakrishna Menon, who is entangled in a corruption case along with his elder son Tobin. His younger son John, portrayed by Nivin Pauly, chooses to stay away from politics despite his father’s belief in his political potential.
After the corruption case is dismissed, the CM is suddenly accused in a sexual harassment case during a live TV interview. The narrative then unfolds around how this crisis affects him, whether John steps in to help, and who is orchestrating the attempt to damage the CM’s reputation. These developments take time to build, forming a slow-paced political drama.
The screenplay feels sluggish and often tests the viewer’s patience. The film begins with loosely connected character introductions and poorly executed slow-motion sequences, continuing with a largely predictable storyline. Although it attempts to reveal the behind-the-scenes workings of politics and media, it relies heavily on familiar tropes such as media manipulation, conspiracies, and a powerful figure controlling events.
Nivin Pauly carries the film as the central character, but the script limits his role to mostly dialogue-driven moments. Just when his performance begins to gain momentum, it is interrupted by repeated stylised entries of Sharafudeen, which feel unnecessary and exaggerated.
Balakrishna Menon delivers a strong performance as the Chief Minister, effectively portraying both his authoritative and softer sides. The rest of the cast performs satisfactorily.
On the technical front, the film is underwhelming. The background score feels mismatched, resembling high-energy action films rather than a grounded political drama. While the cinematography is decent, the editing lacks precision, and the runtime of over two hours and forty minutes feels excessive.
Overall, Prathichaya presents an interesting concept but fails in execution, resulting in a slow, predictable, and uneven cinematic experience.
