Padakkalam Movie Review: A Clever, Chaotic Mix of Fantasy and Fun

You know those movies that don’t really tell you what they’re about but manage to pull you in anyway? Padakkalam was one of those surprises. I went in without expecting much, and came out smiling. It’s bizarre, chaotic, kind of all over the place and honestly, that’s exactly why it works. It’s like someone threw a campus comedy, a fantasy film, and a supernatural drama into a blender… and somehow, it didn’t explode.

If you’re someone who enjoys college-life movies but wants something totally offbeat, Padakkalam has just enough madness to keep you hooked. It doesn’t always make complete sense, and it doesn’t care to but it has its heart in the right place, and the fun is very real.

Magic, Body Control, and the Whole World of Chaos

Set in a typical bustling college campus, the film follows four chilled-out students — Jithin (Sandeep Pradeep), Ramsad (Arun Pradeep), Nakul (Arun Ajikumar), and Kannan (Saaf), who are more about having a good time than scoring grades. Jithin’s also dealing with a heartbreak from his girlfriend Jeevika (Niranjana Anoop) wants a break, and he doesn’t quite know why. Trying to fix things, he writes her a note… but oops, it lands in the hands of a professor. Cue chaos.

Meanwhile, we see Professor Renjith (Sharaf U Dheen) performing some full-on black magic in an empty staff room, yep, not kidding, and Jithin just happens to witness it. Freaked out, he tells his friends, but of course, no one believes him until they come across a creepy old box, and Jithin slowly starts acting like someone else. Turns out, he’s being controlled by Renjith sir, black magic is real in this world, and it gets wild from here.

We also meet Shaji sir (Suraj Venjaramoodu), a sweet and well-meaning professor who’s recently been demoted, apparently because of that very box. He’s got history with it, and he’s not happy. The key to unlocking the box is hidden in a locket worn by Renjith, and just when the students plan to steal it, Shaji swoops in and grabs it first. That’s when he joins forces with the students to put an end to this madness.

Except they mess up. Badly. A wrong move during the “shut it down” plan causes them to swap souls. Yup. Total body swap. And that’s when the movie goes full-blown hilarious chaos, everyone is stuck in someone else’s body, trying to figure out how to get back before things go even more sideways.

Performances that Keep It Grounded (Even When It’s Wild)

Sharaf U Dheen plays Renjith with such eerie calmness that he’s not loud or over-the-top, but there’s a strange stillness to him that makes him unsettling. Suraj Venjaramoodu is pure gold here — funny, sincere, and especially hilarious once the soul-swapping kicks in. His comic timing is unbeatable.

Sandeep Pradeep gives Jithin a nice emotional edge, balancing the heartbreak and the magical madness pretty well. The student gang (Arun Ajikumar, Arun Pradeep, and Saaf) is fun to watch; their chemistry feels real, and their banter keeps things light.

On the downside, Niranjana Anoop as Jeevika doesn’t really get much to do. Her character feels sidelined, and honestly, the story wouldn’t have changed much without her in it.

Direction & Writing – Bold and Bizarre, But Fun

Saajir Sadaf, who directed Padakkalam, clearly had fun with this one. It’s a tricky tone to get right, mixing supernatural black magic with campus humour, but for the most part, he keeps it together. Even when things get absolutely bonkers, there’s still an emotional thread that holds the story in place.

The screenplay by Suraj Kumar and Jishnu Sreekumar is packed with ideas, and not all of them land smoothly, but the ride is still entertaining. Some transitions between comedy and drama feel a bit jarring, but overall, it’s sharp, fast-paced, and full of moments that surprise you.

The only letdown? The songs. For a movie this energetic and quirky, the soundtrack just doesn’t click. None of the tracks stick, and that’s a bit of a bummer; better music would’ve taken the film up a notch.

Final Verdict: Worth a Watch for the Chaos Alone

Padakkalam isn’t trying to be perfect, and that’s probably why it works. It’s weird, different, and totally okay with being a little messy. If you’re in the mood for something fun, genre-bending, and not too heavy, give this a shot. It blends fantasy, college chaos, and soul-swapping madness in a surprisingly refreshing way.

Also, Suraj Venjaramoodu’s performance alone is reason enough to hit play

If you enjoyed Padakkalam, you might also want to check out Bhool Chuk Maaf—a romantic comedy with a quirky premise and a dash of redemption. Read my full review of Bhool Chuk Maaf here and see how it compares to Padakkalam in terms of charm, chaos, and character arcs!

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