At the centre of Vala: The Story of a Bangle is, well, a bangle, which everybody seems to want. There is a legend attached to this precious stones-encrusted bangle of Arabian origins, which could lead the audience to think that maybe the film is along the lines of Padakkalam – an antique object with supernatural powers. No, the bangle doesn’t possess such powers. Vala is almost about greed, hubris, and redemption, among other things, but falls short despite the offbeat premise.
Written by Harshad, who scripted Unda, Dayom Panthrandum (which he also directed), Puzhu, and Kadina Kadhoramee Andakadaham, Vala has been directed by Muhashin. His last film was Kadina Kadhoramee Andakadaham.
This is the story of two couples — Banu Prakash and Vishalakshi, and Purushothaman and Sarala — and their pre-occupation with the bangle. Purushothaman Nair (Purushu), essayed by an impish Dhyan Sreenivasan, is a wealthy, small-time politician married to Sarala (Raveena Ravi), an employee at Akshaya Centre. The bangle belongs to Sarala, which, curiously, she cannot take off her wrist. The twist in the tale comes when Vishalakshi (Sheethal Joseph) sees it on a visit to the Akshaya Centre; incidentally, at the end of an argument between the two, Vishalakshi decides she wants a bangle that is similar.
The provocation is that she has eloped with Banu (Lukman Avaran), a policeman, taking along with her what she thought was gold jewellery from home. It happens to be her grandmother’s old box of trinkets. That realisation leaves her feeling inadequate despite Banu’s constant reassurance. She, however, fixates on getting a similar bangle, and that is the action of Vala.
It would be easy to blame Vishalakshi for being childish in her demand, but the audience understands why she behaves that way — she has left home, been disowned by her parents, and is living in a house with strangers. When we meet Purushu, we get a feeling that he is not as smiley as he appears; he has a greedy side to him. Harshad’s writing captures the inner thoughts of the characters, but one wishes for more depth to them. Especially the animosity between Banu and Purushu.
The narration follows the main stages of storytelling; however, the first half takes up time to lay the foundation, introduce the characters and their motives, and set the action in motion. A large part of the first half makes one wonder about what direction, if at all, the movie would take. Fortunately, the action picks up just before the interval.
Vala: The Story of a Bangle (Malayalam)
Director: Muhashin
Cast: Santhi Krishna, Vijayaraghavan, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Lukman Avaran, Raveena Ravi, Sheethal Joseph
Runtime: 133 minutes
Storyline: The film revolves around a bangle which gangsters, cops and everybody else seems to want.
The second half makes you sit up, because up until then, it feels like we are also aimlessly going about in circles. The second half lays bare the action, and most of the whys and hows are answered. The bangle can be taken off, we learn. We also learn who it belongs to, because in the first half, we find out that it is not a family heirloom as Sarala claims. The bangle belongs to Fatima (Santhi Krishna). It’s gifted to her by her husband Soopikka (Vijayaraghavan).
Soopikka and Banu have a history, albeit an unpleasant one, which is especially unflattering to Banu. Retrieving the bangle to return it to Soopikka and Fatima becomes a mission to redeem himself. Purushu, meanwhile, is desperate to get the bangle off his wife’s hand because he has taken money from a gangster for it. After some expected and some unexpected twists, the bangle reaches the hands of the Superintendent of Police.
ALSO READ: Jeethu Joseph interview | I want to tell as many different kinds of stories as possible
This is where the film challenges one’s common sense. Everybody connected with the bangle gathers at the SP’s house (why?), where the stolen property is handed over to him (again, why?). Soopikka is suspicious about the cop’s intentions (that he would pocket it), which we also understand.
This is problematic on many levels. The most basic question is “Can we trust our cops?” One sincerely hopes this does not happen like it does in the film. It is a terrifying thought.
Muhashin has extracted the best from his actors, and they have delivered, especially Lukman, whose performance has matured over the years. As the hassled, henpecked, and in love Banu, he tugs our heartstrings. Dhyan, as Purushu, with shades of grey, is in his element, very different from his goofy, clickbait-y online persona. Vijayaraghavan and Santhi Krishna make a sweet couple. Raveena, Sheethal, and others also impress. Music composer Govind Vasantha appears in a cameo.
Vala, despite its redeeming factors, fails to capitalise on a promising idea. Just when we think it will come together, it does not. There are some flashes of humour, which again aren’t enough to save the movie.
Vala is currently running in theatres
Published – September 19, 2025 07:23 pm IST
