Disco Review: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)
Disco is a stylish, high-energy gang thriller with a great title song and strong action. It is very violent; the masked fights can confuse you, and the story may be hard to follow for a general audience.
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)
Genre: Action Crime Thriller
Language: Malayalam
Certificate: A
Director: Ullas Chemban
Writer and Producer: Chemban Vinod
Cast: Chemban Vinod, Luqman Avaran, Antony Varghese, Arjun Ashokan, Gayathri Suresh
Some films quietly ask for your attention. Disco kicks the door down. The Malayalam action thriller is now in theatres, and it throws gangs, grudges, masks, and a lot of blood at the screen. It is written and produced by Chemban Vinod, who also plays one of the leads, while his brother Ullas Chemban directs. This is the director’s second film after Anjakallakokkaan.
The story follows rival gangs in the underworld who fight over someone, hold old grudges, drink heavily, and often do not even know why they are fighting. The film is set in Kerala and Sri Lanka.
It never names the exact place in Kerala, but the clues point to the southern part, somewhere around Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Nagercoil, and Kanyakumari. That already makes it feel different, since the goons and mafia are not stuck in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry as they usually are in such films.
The biggest highlight is the title song. It is a traditional Margamkali rhythm mixed with rap and cool music, and it has been trending on social media. It fits the story so well that nothing else would have worked in its place.
The lyrics are by Suhail Koya and Lema, the music is by Manikandan Ayyappa, and the singers include Chemban Vinod himself. When it plays in the theatre, the whole hall shakes, much like the wave created by Lajjavathi in For the People years ago. The gang also shows up in stylish, international looks, which adds to the fun.
Luqman Avaran, who plays Darling Martin, is the real winner. He gives the role everything he has, and it is fair to say he makes the film work. Chemban Vinod is solid too, and he also sings the opening lines of the song. Even the character names are fun.
People go by names like Piyumi, Yoyoki, and Osu. All the characters are Christians who have strayed far from the spirit of their faith, and one funny line explains why they eat beef and drink beer on Maundy Thursday: it is also Vishu.
On the technical side, the film is strong. Armo’s camera work captures the fights beautifully, and Rohit VS Variyam handles the fast editing. Kalai Kingston’s action scenes are intense, and he tailors the moves to each character. The film is also more brutal than some recent hits, including Marco. And though it is called Disco, the beat that matters here is the rhythm of the fight, not the dance.
Now for the warnings. The film has an A certificate for a reason. It has toddy, ganja, smoking, stabbing, murder, smuggling, and gang wars, plus bold costumes and some crude lines. Many of the fights happen in the dark, in masks and in thunder, so you may not always know who is hitting whom. The masks do come off in the end, and the reveals land.
Still, if you do not enjoy this genre, parts of the film may feel hard to sit through. Like Angamaly Diaries, it also speaks more clearly to a specific community or to people who know such worlds. The general audience will mostly enjoy the fights, songs and colourful scenes.
If you want a lighter watch afterwards, our Summer Holidays review covers a sweet Telugu film about a childhood summer. For a gentle romance, our Nooru Kodi Vaanavil review looks at a pretty but predictable love story on ZEE5. And our Campus Drivers review is a good pick if you want something easy to binge.
Disco is loud, stylish, and bloody. If you love gang thrillers, it is a treat, and it will keep you entertained for over two and a half hours.
Disco is now playing in theatres.