Medium : Malayalam
Starring : Rima Kallingal, Fahad Fazil, Prathap Pothen, Sathar, T.G.Ravi, Reshmi Sathish
Director : Aashiq Abu
Music : Avial, Rex Vijayan, Biji Bal

Don't you feel, the title of new malayalam movie, '22 Female Kottayam' is a different one. This one comes from Aashiq Abu, after delivering a notable hit like 'Salt N Pepper'. Abhilash Kumar and Shyam Pushkaran (co-writer of 'Salt N Pepper) are the script writers. Shyju Khalid ('Traffic', 'Salt N Pepper' fame) is the cinematographer. Rima Kallingal and Fahad Fazil comes in the lead roles.

Few words on the unique promotional campaign used for this movie. The team behind has produced some videos in 'amateurish' style, featuring some common men and women, all of them unpopular faces, discussing the social issues faced by women in public, like robbery, eve teasing etc. The new style videos, without showing any visuals from the movie, has become a massive hit through the internet, thus creating big expectations on '22 Female Kottayam'.

Tessa (Rima Kallingal) is a nurse in a private hospital at Bangalore. She is expecting a visa to go for Canada. She meets Cyril (Fahad Fazil), who is helping her to go through such formalities. Soon, they started loving each other. With in few days before the journey, an unexpected incident has changed the life of Tessa and Cyril.

It is great to see, the director Aashiq Abu and the whole team delivering a female oriented subject (a rare occasion in the industry), which has got a social commitment and an inspiring message in the end. Thinking of such a good fact, we can avoid the small cinematic lags and dryness happened here and there in the movie, particularly at the captivity scenes and the old patient episode at the hospital. Also, appreciating the move to show the names of the english, hindi  and a malayalam movie, with which the story might have inspired (I am not quoting those names, as they might reveal the suspense factor).

Rima Kallingal is excellent in the lead role. Fahad Fazil, as usual there in his realistic style. It is good to see senior actors like Prathap Pothen, Sathar and T.G.Ravi placed in vital roles, performance of new face Reshmi Sathish as the culprit is notable. Songs goes with the visuals and mood. Bg score by Rex Vijayan and Biji Bal are good for the mood (didn't gave, who is having the soul responsibility for the bg score). Shyju Khalid's cinematography is excellent. Vivek Harshan is the editor. Script writers Abhilash Kumar and Shyam Pushkaran have done a neat job here, little more speedy and straight approach should have given an outstanding and unanimous result for the movie. The master of the team, director Aashiq Abu, had presented the subject, without much cinematic gimmicks. This one is another addition to the new trend movie style.

22 Female Kottayam is a new generation movie with a social commitment and a message. Even though, there are few cinematic hurdles in the middle, such bold attempts need to be promoted.

Rating : 7.5 / 10