Photographer Movie Review:
Directed by Ashraf, Photographer stars Ashraf, Janani Swaminathan, Karunakaran, Uriyadi Siva, Aadukalam Naren and Devi Mahesh.
The film follows a photographer who suffers from Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and dreams of photographing the ‘Golden Tree’ located inside the restricted Madikettan Sholai in Kodaikanal. Despite the restrictions, he ventures into the forest in pursuit of the tree. However, he soon loses his way and gets stranded inside the forest. Whether he manages to find his way back forms the crux of the story.
As the protagonist, Ashraf spends most of the film alone in the forest, struggling to survive. He manages to make us empathise with his character, and his performance feels natural. Interestingly, Ashraf is private jet pilot in real life. Despite having a lucrative profession, his passion for cinema has brought him back to acting, with Photographer being his second film.
As a filmmaker, Ashraf shows an understanding of how to keep the screenplay moving at a brisk pace. However, the film seems caught between different genres. At various points, it appears unsure whether it wants to be a horror film, a thriller, a fantasy or an emotional drama. Choosing one particular genre and committing to it could have made the film more effective.
The technical departments are among the film’s strengths. Cinematographer Raees Ahmed makes the forest itself an important part of the thriller experience, creating tension through the visuals. Editor Ranav keeps the proceedings crisp, while composer Rajkumar Chandrasekaran’s score effectively adds to the suspense.
Among the supporting cast, Janani Swaminathan gets limited screen time but makes an impression in the scenes she appears in. Aadukalam Naren, as the protagonist’s father, leaves a mark. Devi Mahesh gets a substantial role as his mother and gets ample opportunity to showcase her acting. Karunakaran as the friend and Uriyadi Siva as the tourist guide also fit well into their respective roles.
The social message that Photographer attempts to convey is quite strong. However, the film takes its time getting there and tests the audience’s patience in places. At the same time, it deserves credit for delivering a technically polished film without compromising on quality despite its limited budget.
While Photographer has its share of shortcomings, the team deserves appreciation for attempting something different and taking a fresh approach to the survival thriller genre.