Malayalam cinema has been dominating the entertainment world in recent times. The industry has been producing some of its most interesting and unique stories that have been receiving love from the audience. The recently released Malayalam series, The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang, which is available on SonyLIV, is directed by Krishand and it delivers gangster comedy, which is both refreshing and memorable.
The Malayalam series is a fresh take on gangster genre
Unlike all the previous gangster dramas that follow one cliche to another, this Malayalam series, The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang is a completely different take. The gangster story follows five childhood friends, ‘Arikuttan’, ‘Kanji’, ‘Maniyan’, ‘Althaf’, and ‘Moonga’. The story is about this group, who gradually rise from small-time mischief to running a powerful local syndicate.
Director, Krishand’s signature style in the series
Viewers, who have watched Krishand’s previous work like Aavasavyuham, Purusha Pretham and more will notice some similarities in this series too. The best thing about Krishand as a director is that he doesn’t try to blur the lines between fiction and reality. Instead, he tries to highlight them, which makes the story both unbelievable and believable at once that makes it unique.
What worked in the series was that the director was open to explore different genres and real-life issues. He explored significant topics like socialism, caste-class discrimination, the exploitation of the marginalised by the powerful and more. One dialogue of the series shows the line of thought is not exclusive to any one person. The line is:
“Whether you cheat, deceive or act unethically, as long as it’s for survival, it doesn’t matter.”
The series, The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang is set in Thiruvanchipuram
The series is set in ‘Thiruvanchipuram’ and the story is told by small-time gangster, ‘Arikuttan’, who reaches out to a writer, ‘Maithreyan’ to pen his biography. The writer calls the group of friends, 4.5 Gang, in which he counted ‘Moonga’, a man with dwarfism, as ‘half’. The series shows the life of these 5 friends, who start with small hustles before bigger things push them towards deeper crime. ‘Arikuttan’ believes that ‘Maithreyan’s’ writing can erase their past and make them look like victims, who turned heroes. The main engine of the series is the contrast between what actually happened and what is being written.
Powerful acting by the actors is the biggest strength of The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang
The biggest strengths of the series that elevates the entire watching experience of the viewers is the performance by actors. Sanju Sivaram, who plays the role of ‘Arikuttan’ delivers an amazing performance as both a narrator and a gang member. Sreenath Babu as ‘Kanji’ is one of the most memorable psychopaths ever seen in Malayalam cinema. Sachin Joseph as ‘Moonga’ brings humour and charm to the series. The other supporting cast of the series bring emotional depth in the entire comedy-drama.
One small thing that lacks in this entire blockbuster series is the underutilisation of the female characters. Talented actresses like Santhy Balachandran, Zarin Shihab and Darshana Rajendran, who deserve a lot of attention and screentime, are not given that. They appear for very less time, and more weightage is given to the male characters. Despite limited screen time, their performance left a lasting impact on the audience.
What are your thoughts on the Malayalam series, The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang? Let us know.
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