Malayalam film ‘Officer on Duty’, which released on 20 February 2025, is a tremendous crime action thriller. The film is directed by Jeetu Ashraf and written by Shahi Kabir. Kunchacko Boban, Vishal Nair, Jagadish and Priyamani appear in the lead roles. The film became a huge hit among the audiences due to its strong acting, thrilling storyline and impressive music.
The story of the film revolves around a tough police officer, Harishankar (Kunchacko Boban), who is removed from the post of Deputy SP and made Inspector at Aluva Police Station due to his short-tempered nature. He begins investigating a simple theft case, but soon realises that the case is linked to several heinous crimes. As the story progresses, Harishankar’s own personal life also gets entangled in the case, making the film even more thrilling.
The cinematography of the film is superb and the theme of the 1980s has been presented brilliantly. Although the screenplay lacks tightness at some places, the fast-paced story and strong action of the film keep the audience engaged till the end.
| Movie Name | Officer on Duty |
|---|---|
| Release Date | February 20, 2025 |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Genre | Crime, Action, Thriller |
| Director | Jithu Ashraf |
| Writer | Shahi Kabir |
| Producers | Martin Prakkat, Renjith Nair, Siby Chavara |
| Starring | Kunchacko Boban, Vishak Nair, Jagadish, Priyamani |
| Cinematography | Roby Varghese Raj |
| Editor | Chaman Chakko |
| Music Director | Jakes Bejoy |
| Production Company | Martin Prakkat Films |
| Running Time | 137 minutes |
| Budget | ₹12 crore |
| Box Office Collection | ₹50 crore |
Officer on Duty Story
The story of the film Officer on Duty begins in Bangalore, where Inspector Joseph of Karnataka Police dies mysteriously. His suicide is the result of a criminal gang named Christy, who is involved in drugs and crimes.
Eight months later, in Kerala, police officer Harishankar (Hari) is shown as a short-tempered and strict inspector. He was earlier a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP) but was transferred after attacking a senior officer. Hari, posted at the Aluva police station, is assigned a minor case where a bus conductor Chandrababu tries to pawn a fake gold chain. This seemingly minor case gradually gets linked to several serious crimes.
During the investigation, Hari is confronted with a painful truth from his past life. His daughter Neela’s suicide is also linked to this criminal gang. Christy and his associates had victimized not only Hari’s daughter but also other innocent girls. Enraged by this revelation, Hari kills one of the criminals in custody.
Finally, Hari confronts Christy’s gang to save his wife and young daughter. The climax of the film is a powerful action sequence where Hari kills all the criminals.
After some time, Hari decides to quit his police job and focus on his family. But when Christy’s gang plots to kill him, Hari cleverly poisons their medicine, killing all the criminals.
Movie Review
Officer On Duty is an emotional crime investigation drama that tests the perseverance and professional struggle of a police officer against the backdrop of urban culture. The film is not just a thrilling thriller but also tells the story of a police officer whose professional and personal life get entangled because of a case. As he gets to the bottom of the case, he comes face to face with some painful truths from his past. He then embarks on a mission to catch the criminals who took away everything from him.
Story and Screenplay
Writer Shahi Kabir has once again established himself as the “firebrand of police investigation stories” in the Malayalam film industry with his powerful writing. The story of the film moves forward in a non-linear structure where all the events are intertwined before the interval but the way it is presented layer by layer keeps the audience glued to the screen. The flow of the story does not slow down, rather a new thrill and suspense is added to every scene, which keeps the audience curious.
Director Jeetu Ashraf has directed the film very impressively. He has succeeded in showing how the personal and professional lives of policemen collide with each other. Every character has been written with great depth and their role has been presented in an excellent way.
Acting and performance
Kunchacko Boban in the lead role has mesmerized the audience with his brilliant performance. He has portrayed the emotional and aggressive side of his character very naturally on screen. His acting is the strongest side of the film.
Priyamani has played a strong and bold character. She has established a great rapport with Kunchacko Boban and has given an impressive performance. She has portrayed the emotional ups and downs shown in the husband-wife relationship very well.
Apart from this, Jagadish, Vishal Nair, Manoj, Vaishakh Shankar, Vishnu, Ramzan, Leya Mammen and Aishwarya Raj have also given excellent performances in the film. All the supporting cast has played their characters strongly and brought the story alive.
Technical aspects
Robbie Raj’s cinematography is superb. The visuals of the film, especially the action and chase sequences, have been shot very well. The camera work in every scene has further enhanced the depth of the film.
Chaman Chacko has done the editing of the film in a great way, which keeps the flow of the story intact and keeps the audience interested.
The background score (BGM) given by Jakes Bejoy is exciting and effective. The music maintains the mood of the film and deepens the suspense.
The variety that Ramesh CP has brought in the color palette matches perfectly with the theme of the film. At the same time, Ronex Xavier has played an important role in highlighting the emotional side of Kunchacko Boban.
Movie Trailer
Conclusion
Officer on Duty is a great crime investigation thriller that manages to connect with the audience emotionally. The story of the film is deep, mysterious and impressive, which keeps the thrill at every turn. The excellent acting of Kunchacko Boban and Priyamani has made it even more special. Powerful cinematography, great background music and tight editing make it worth watching on the big screen. If you want to watch an impressive, emotional and suspenseful thriller, then Officer on Duty will be a great experience. Don’t miss this movie!