Kannur Squad OTT Review: Mammootty leads this poignant police procedural with finesse

After a successful theatrical run, collecting over ₹100 crore worldwide, Mammootty's Kannur Squad has premiered on OTT. While the seasoned Malayalam star, who is standing in a league of his own, can be relied on to shoulder an earnest narrative with finesse, it is the storyline and Roby Varghese Raj's keen eye for detailing and instinctive direction that add weight to this somber investigative thriller whose sole purpose is not to indulge in a cat-and-mouse chase but to hit hard with the underlying theme of how the system fails its own.  

Hot Take

Kannur Squad, led by ASI George Martin (Mammootty), is a team of cops who specialise in tracking down culprits. They are on a mission to nab the notorious criminals behind the cold-blooded murder of a businessman inside his house in Kasargod. We get to witness the hardships they face during the course of their journey as they travel through the length of India on limited resources.

Initially, the story unfolds at a slow pace. However, one of the main hooks is established here. Jayan (Rony David Raj) in the team of four is accused of bribery. This leads to a rift within the squad that has stuck by each other's side for years. George presses for his inclusion in the team despite allegations, leading to distrust among the members over the course of the narrative.  

Despite a slow start, the movie builds up its pace as the team travels to parts of the country in search of the killers. The narrative keeps getting tense as the deadline for nabbing the criminals catches on. The director makes sure to follow the cops through a realistic lens. Mammootty's stardom takes a backseat as the storyline and the themes of political pressure that the cops face and the faulty system in place take precedence.

Does Kannur Squad live up to the hype?

The film works partly on Mammootty's restrained act and mostly on the deep dive into the investigation and the factors surrounding it. It has been made clear since the start that the resources at hand are limited. Kannur Squad travels from Kerala to Mumbai and to the interiors of Uttar Pradesh in their car. A scene that sums up the crux of the story sees George trying to convince his senior to book flight tickets from his squad from Mumbai to Lucknow. However, the approval does not come through given they are lo-ranking officials. Red tape and bureaucracy have become the biggest enemies for honest officials, while expectations still run high on delivering in a timely manner. Kannur Squad does a good job of bringing this to light in a very fly-on-the-wall manner.

The cinematography by Muhammed Rahil complements the vision of the director. The bleak storyline mingles well with the muted colour palette with the dimly lit sequences becoming a metaphor for the insurmountable obstacles that the policemen face. The camera captures the claustrophobia of small spaces as well as the grandeur of the scenic landscapes in a meticulous manner. The music is grim and suspenseful which works well with the tense, high-stakes scenes that play out.

Mammootty has to be credited with leading the film by putting up a very measured performance. His presence is felt but in no way does his stardom overpower the narrative. Like a chameleon, he hides in the backdrop when the script requires him to and emerges on top towards the climax. While the film maintains a somber tone, one action block in the pre-climax is a treat for Mammuka's fans. It also reinforces that a man pressured by the system is bound to break loose, and when he does, there's no stopping him.

There are genre tropes that Roby Varghese Raj leans into but he also brings more elements to it, making Kannur Squad a cathartic watch despite the sliver of bleakness surrounding the film throughout.

Stream it or skip it?

Kannur Squad is certainly a standout in police procedurals that either lean into the star power of the heroes or are crammed with mass sequences and heavy dialogues. The storyline is the hero of the film and the actors are characters well aware of their purpose. If you missed out on the film in theatres then don't sit out on it on OTT.

Bottomline

Kannur Squad is layered, intense and thought-provoking throughout. Despite a straightforward storyline, the themes it touches on are pressing issues at hand. It is a representation of cops' life as is and steers clear of melodrama and glamour that one would expect from Mammootty's film.    

Rating- 3.5/5 stars