Amal Neerad’s latest film Bougainvillea follows the director’s 2022 hit Bheeshma Parvam, and marks a shift in tone as he tackles a psychological thriller. With Kunchacko Boban and Jyothirmayi in lead roles, the film opens on a visually captivating note, characteristic of Neerad’s signature cinematic style. The plot revolves around Reethu (Jyothirmayi), who paints the mysterious bougainvillea every day while grappling with both retrograde and anterograde amnesia, becoming entangled in a police investigation.
Based on Lajo George’s novel Ruthinte Lokam, the film navigates the complexities of memory loss. Neerad’s direction keeps the narrative intriguing in the first half, using his strengths in framing and building suspense. The combination of excellent editing and striking action sequences holds the viewer’s attention, though the story begins to lose momentum in the second half. Despite the faltering pace, Sushin Shyam’s background score complements the film’s mood, elevating key moments.
Jyothirmayi delivers a remarkable performance, making a powerful comeback, while Kunchacko Boban exudes undeniable charm. Their on-screen chemistry adds depth to the story, though predictability in the later parts detracts from the film’s overall impact. While Bougainvillea carries Amal Neerad’s distinct flair, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of his previous masterpieces like Iyobinte Pusthakam or Bheeshma Parvam, faltering where it could have soared. Nonetheless, it remains a visually stunning psychological thriller with strong performances.
