“Perilloor Premier League” is not far from “Kunjiramayanam” but still remains fresh | Web Series Review

Perilloor, the world created by writer Deepu Pradeep on Praveen Chandran’s ‘Perilloor Premier League’ (PPL) Hotstar, bears a striking resemblance to Desham, which he created for the 2015 comedy ‘Kunjiramayanam’. As if, if Deepu had turned left at the 5 km board at ‘Kunjiramayanam’, we would have found ourselves in Perilore in 2015.

The similarity goes beyond topography and obscure symbols; Plot developments like an NRI struggling to find a bride and a B-movie becoming a deciding factor in the protagonist’s life add to the déjà vu. However, this comedy deliberately avoids the term political satire, as Malayalam moviegoers have seen KG George’s Panchavadi Palam and similar works, offering an easy viewing experience.

As Malavika (Nikhila Vimal) narrates, “Periloor is somewhere between the boundless sky and the abyss of hell.” Praveen’s decision to have the characters speak different Malabar dialects from Malabar, mostly the northern regions, adds an element of mystery to the geographical location of Perilore. Sunny Wayne’s Valluvanadan Malayalam, however, takes the fluidity out of his performance, making Sreekuttan stand out in the crowd.

The casting is spot on, from the main characters to the junior cast. The most expensive actors like Sunny, Nikhila, Shivaji, Vijayaraghavan, RJ Vijitha, Sajin Cherukayil, Sarath Sabha etc had an easy way out. As the rogue politician Pithambaran, Bharath Gopi’s Dushasana Kurup tribute in ‘Panchavadi Palam’, Vijayaraghavan is in his zone. Still, the character fails to challenge him as an actor. However, the standout performers of this web series are Ashokan as ‘Keman’ (Showman) Soman and Aju Varghese as ‘Psycho’ Balachandran.

The intricate detail with which Deepu has drawn these two characters, along with the performances of Ashokan and Aju, results in the audience developing a soft spot for Soman and loathing Balachandran. Soman’s sportsmanship and unwavering confidence in bouncing back despite repeated setbacks is inspiring. Though from two different poles, Soman’s assertiveness reminds Ashokan’s former character Vishnu from KG George’s ‘Yavanika’. Balachandran’s deceptive nature makes us loathe him. The web series ‘Kerala Crime Files’ and now ‘PPL’ show Aju mastering the finer points of acting.

All the shades of green and gray of Perilloor are convincingly captured in the production design by National Award winner Vinesh Bengalani. However, with seven episodes, each roughly 40 minutes long, questions may be raised about Praveen’s hesitation (potentially influenced by the demands of an OTT platform) to trim the script and eliminate clichés. His inattention to finer details in his storytelling can be a speed breaker. For example, showing a young Srikuttan in ripped jeans in the late 1990s or early 2000s (timed with Shakila’s ‘Kinnara Thumbikal’ prime-time TV release) might raise questions about Perilore’s exposure to the Western world.

On another occasion, Vasu (Srikuttan’s younger brother) and Srikuttan, despite being in a sea of ​​posters and pamphlets with Malavika’s photograph, only notice it when they find themselves under a larger cut of it set up opposite their elastic print shop. However, these moments are rare and won’t spoil the viewing experience much. Praveen Chandran’s ‘Perilloor Premier League’ (PPL) on Hotstar is the perfect choice for a lazy weekend without a care.