Virunnu (2024), directed by Kannan Thamarakkulam, is a Malayalam-language action thriller that delves into a web of mystery and suspense. The narrative begins with the enigmatic suicide of businessman John Kalathil. Six months later, his wife, Elizabeth, suffers a fatal accident. On her deathbed, she entrusts auto driver Hemanth with a secret message meant for Comrade Balettan. This sets Hemanth on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind the couple’s deaths, revealing a complex conspiracy. The film features Arjun Sarja as Deva Naarayanan and Nikki Galrani as Perly, supported by a cast including Mukesh, Baiju Santhosh, and Aju Varghese. The musical score is composed by Ratheesh Vega and Saanand George Grace, with Ronnie Raphael providing the background score. Virunnu was released on August 29, 2024, in both Malayalam and Tamil languages.

Despite its intriguing premise, Virunnu received mixed reviews from critics. While Arjun Sarja’s performance was praised for his commanding screen presence, the film’s execution was criticized for its chaotic screenplay and overuse of background music. Reviewers noted that the narrative suffered from disjointed scenes and underdeveloped character motivations, which detracted from the overall suspense. The film’s attempt to maintain a fast-paced thriller atmosphere resulted in a lack of emotional depth and clarity. Nevertheless, certain action sequences and the film’s visual style were acknowledged as strengths. Virunnu stands as a film with potential that is undermined by its storytelling approach.