Porinju Mariam Jose Review
Released in 2019, marked the triumphant return of veteran hitmaker Joshiy to the Malayalam film industry. A period action thriller set in the 1980s, the film manages to bridge the gap between "old-school" mass entertainment and modern filmmaking sensibilities. Plot & Setting: A Nostalgic Thriller
In the landscape of Malayalam cinema’s “new wave,” Porinju Mariam Jose stands as a brutal throwback. It is a gangster epic disguised as a family drama. Joshiy delivers a film that feels like a hangover—messy, painful, and regret-filled. It warns that when you mix the Bible with the sword, the only resurrection is that of violence. Rating: 3.5/5
It is rare for a film to wear its influences so openly on its sleeve and still manage to be a thoroughly entertaining ride. Porinju Mariam Jose (PMJ), directed by Jose Thomas, is exactly that kind of cinematic anomaly. It is a film that doesn't pretend to be high art; instead, it embraces the tropes of the 80s and 90s Malayalam action cinema—complete with machetes, monologues, and melodrama—and packages them into a sleek, modern thriller.
(Joju George): A butcher and local rowdy known for his muscle but kind heart. porinju mariam jose review
The film’s soul lies in its performances:
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If you grew up watching the "mass" films of the yesteryears where the hero enters the frame to a roaring applause and the villain is a personification of pure evil, PMJ feels like a warm, albeit bloody, hug of nostalgia. Released in 2019, marked the triumphant return of
The movie received mixed reviews from critics. Some reviewers praised the performance of Mariam Jose, while others felt that the story was predictable and lacked depth.
is a delight to watch. It is refreshing to see Rahman play a character with grey shades—a drunkard with a sharp tongue and a hidden agenda. He brings a certain suaveness to the ruggedness of the script. His banter with Joju George provides some of the film's best moments, proving that two strong performers can share the screen without overshadowing each other.
The narrative is framed as a flashback from a prison cell. Porinju, a hot-headed Jacobite, returns from the Gulf to find his village divided by a new church wall built by his rival, Jose (alias Karimpara). The conflict escalates from a stolen pig to a kidnapped bride (Mariam) to a full-scale massacre. The film meticulously builds towards a night of terror where Jose’s faction attacks Porinju’s wedding, leading to a devastating body count. The third act shifts to a revenge thriller, culminating in a public spectacle of beheading—a rare sight in mainstream Indian cinema. It is a gangster epic disguised as a family drama
No action film works without a formidable villain, and Sunny Wayne delivers. He sheds his "chocolate boy" image completely to play a menacing, cold-blooded antagonist. He is unhinged and terrifying, providing the perfect foil to the gritty heroism of Porinju.
The action sequences are raw and visceral. They aren't the stylized, wire-work heavy stunts we often see today. They feel heavy, painful, and real. The confined setting of the bar adds to the claustrophobia, making the violence feel more immediate.
3.5/5 Stars. Recommendation: Go in expecting a commercial potboiler with top-notch performances, and you won't be disappointed. Joju George proves once again why he is one of the most reliable actors in the industry right now.
