Being a cop in films is the way to superstardom," director Vinayan remarked while making Satyam with Prithviraj, a couple of years ago. Now, the actor seems to have taken the veteran director's comment to heart, playing a cop in every other film.

The latest is Malayalam film, Khaki, directed by debutant Bipin Prabhakar and scripted by T A Shahid. The story is about two brothers in the police force, the elder a head constable and the younger one a sub-inspector. The first part of the movie is devoted to comedy while the latter to drama and action.

Ramakrishnan (Mukesh) is a timid head constable, who tries to stay away from trouble. Nicknamed 'the spineless police', he is the exact opposite of his younger brother Unnikrishnan (Prithviraj) -- gutsy to the point of being reckless. In the beginning, the difference in the approach of the two brothers towards life is demarcated.

Next, we notice that Unnikrishnan is being projected in the Mammootty and Suresh Gopi mould, taking on everything bad in the society from Kanjavu Mafia to video pirates and sex racketeers. To give the credit where it is due; the first half moves at a tizzy pace with Prithviraj shining through.

But the narrative goes off on a tangent in the second half with family matters taking the driver's seat.

T A Shahid's story shows influences from his previous works like Baletten and Rajamanikam. The father played by Nedumudi Venu is a case in the point, though not well etched out here.

Prithviraj does his role as an accomplished pro with ease. Mukesh's supporting role as a butt of jokes is strikingly similar to that of the character he played in Vinodayathra.

Leading lady Manasa's presence as a television journalist is not justified. She hardly gets a few minutes of screen time. Similarly, Meera Vasudevan's role as the wife of Ramakrishnan is ornamental.

On the whole, this Khaki requires a little starching to make it stiffer.

Rediff Rating: