Avoid this Black Dahlia

In the new Malayalam film Black Dahlia, directed by Babu Raj (he also plays a bad guy in the film), Suresh Gopi appears as a forensic psychiatrist in just a couple of scenes though the film is marketed as his. In fact, the story is so similar to Chintamani Kolacase, one of his old films that at some point we doubt whether we are watching re-runs of Chintamani.

Black Dahlia is about a bunch of girls whose parents are rich NRIs. The girls are studying medicine similar to what we saw in Chintamani Kolacase. The only difference here is that instead of them getting embroiled in a murder case, a serial killer is killing off the girls one by one.

The plot is so tackily handled that it is hard to keep track of the proceedings. We don't understand how the murders happen or where they are headed.

The only purpose of this film is to show off Vani Vishvanath, who is the director's wife, as a strong police officer. Except for that, we find nothing else in the endeavour.

The problem with the film is that it is not only a replica of Chintamani Kolacase, but also that there is a complicated psychological problem behind every crime.

Suresh Gopi appears sincere in the couple of scenes he is allotted, as if he is carrying the film on his shoulders. Vani Vishvanath gets a big chunk of screen-time and she devours it. Babu Raj is good as the bad guy, the subordinate of Vani Vishvanath.

However, the final verdict is that this Black Dahlia withers away before it can even blossom.

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