A toddy shop murder mystery that slowly turns into something way weirder… and way deeper. Pravinkoodu Shappu is a dark comedy thriller from debut writer-director Sreeraj Sreenivasan and honestly… what a wild ride. It kicks off like a classic whodunit— toddy shop owner gets murdered, and our quirky, charming cop SI Santhosh (played brilliantly by Basil Joseph) jumps in to crack the case. But just when you think you know the game, the movie swerves— first into an emotional deep-dive on its characters, and then into this almost magical, surreal territory that you really don’t see coming. One minute you’re laughing at small-town banter, the next you’re questioning life choices. The toddy shop here isn’t just a bar— it’s basically Kerala’s society in miniature. The rich pulling strings, the poor making do with what they have, and everyone trying to survive in a place where morality is… negotiable. The film throws shade at power structures, showing how justice and loyalty bend when money and influence step in. The cast is killer: Basil Joseph as Santhosh – hilarious, heartfelt, and a little messy (in the best way). Soubin Shahir as Kannan – so quiet, but so dangerous when you see what’s really going on under the surface. Chandini Sreedharan as Merinda – fierce, clever, and stuck between ambition and survival. Chemban Vinod Jose and Shivajith – adding grit, charm, and a whole lot of tension to the toddy shop chaos. And shoutout to Shyju Khalid’s cinematography— the humidity, the grit, the claustrophobic energy of rural Kerala… you feel it. That chase scene? Chef’s kiss. Yes, the motive is a little meh, and some subplots don’t fully land, also you can find it a but lengthy and going out of the story sometimes, but the mix of dark humor, social bite, and genre-bending madness makes this a super engaging watch. Come for the murder mystery, stay for the characters, and leave wondering what the hell just happened.

Worth a watch for its cool setting and strong acting. It tries to mix dark humor with a gritty crime story, and with some excellent technical work, it's definitely a notable film in Malayalam cinema.

Masterclass just not in making but almost everything, but quite opposite in writing. It could've been better. The problem with movies that rely solely on screenplay to unfold events is that they become one-time watchable-passable, in a way, but not memorable. They don't linger. The experience ends when the credits roll, with no real aftertaste. It's the kind of film you appreciate technically, but emotionally forget.