Masthishka Maranam Review: Cyberpunk Thriller Takes Us on a Satirical Trip Into Our Virtual Obsessions
Rating: 3.5./5 Suyog Zore
While most cyberpunk thriller movies linger in the shadows of a bleak, rain-soaked future, writer-director R.K. Krishand’s Masthishka Maranam takes a sharp turn down an entirely different alley. The film boldly subverts the unwritten laws of cyberpunk thriller set in a dystopian world, replacing the usual brooding silence with a vibrant, chaotic energy and a script dripping with razor-sharp dark humor.
Set against the neon-drenched backdrop of 'Neo-Kochi' in 2046, Masthishka Maranam imagines a dystopian Kerala where the memories of the deceased have been commodified into digital entertainment. In this world, the virtual identities of female celebrities are harvested for the voyeuristic fantasies of men seeking an escape from their bleak realities or the weight of past traumas. At the center of this narrative is Bimal (Niranj), a man drowning in grief following the loss of his daughter. Seeking solace in a virtual reality simulation, Bimal chooses to interact with the digital memory of India’s beloved superstar, Frida Soman (Ranisha Vijayan). However, what begins as a quest for private pleasure spirals into a nightmare as he unearths a dark secret buried beneath Frida’s public facade—a discovery with devastating repercussions that threaten to shatter both their worlds.
At its core, Masthishka Maranam is a creative powerhouse that examines the digital tethering of the modern era. It specifically captures the pulse of the Gen Z generation, illustrating—with both wit and a creeping sense of dread—the ease with which the youth are being synthesized into the virtual world. By trading traditional dystopian tropes for a fresh, inventive narrative style, Krishand delivers a thriller that doesn't just keep the audience on a high; it forces us to question the very "reality" we navigate every time we unlock our screens.
The film doesn’t just stop at our growing obsession with 'Virtual Reality; it takes a massive dig at the toxic marriage between celebrity culture and social media algorithms. It skewers an industry obsessed with 'looks'—gym, airport, traditional, or bold—designed purely to bait engagement. It’s a biting commentary on the Indian dichotomy—where actresses are pressured to be provocative, wear revealing clothes to gain more followers on social media, only to be publicly shamed by the very same followers for 'offending our culture.' Masthishka Maranam highlights the disturbing reality that a woman’s body is often just another piece of content for the masses to both desire and degrade, whether in the past, present or future.
There are also echoes of Michel Gondry’s cult-classic 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)' woven into this story. Krishand plays with the idea of memory as a fluid, editable commodity. I won't reveal how this is intersected into the film to keep the mystery intact. Masthishka Maranam's absurdist energy isn't just confined to the script; it bleeds into every technical frame. The aesthetic—saturated with neon hues—presents a vision of a futuristic Kerala that feels uncomfortably close to our present. This is further elevated by the striking costume design, especially for Frida Soman. Her wardrobe, bursting with punchy, high-contrast colors, serves as a visual extension of her eccentric persona and towering superstar ego, effectively immersing the audience in the film’s unique, off-kilter reality.
The journey through Neo-Kochi isn’t entirely without its bumps. The pacing feels slightly dragged, and the narrative could have been far crisper had it leaned more into its signature meta-humor rather than over-relying on the heavy emotional core. However, Masthishka Maranam sticks the landing with an explosive final thirty minutes. This closing segment, which ruthlessly skewers our media-obsessed society, serves as a brilliant payoff that makes the earlier lulls worth the wait.
Performance-wise, Rajisha Vijayan is a force of nature. She perfectly embodies the 'superstar' archetype—merging a volatile, erratic temperament with the massive ego that comes with being the generation's digital obsession. Standing in sharp contrast is Niranj, whose portrayal of Bimal’s grief is deeply moving. He effectively charts the journey of a father lost in a VR-induced fog, only to be jolted awake by a terrifying discovery. The ensemble is rounded out by stellar turns from Ann Saleem delivering a poignant performance as Bimal’s wife and Jagadish providing a solid, grounded presence as the investigating officer.
Overall, Masthishka Maranam is a fun cyberpunk thriller that perfectly captures the Gen Z condition: laughing at the absurdity of our own digital extinction. It’s dark, it’s witty, and it’s a terrifyingly accurate map of the hole we’re all falling into.
Cast: Rajiasha Vijayan, Niranjan, Divya Prabha, Jadadish
Writer: R.K. Krishand’
Director: R.K. Krishand
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