Kuruthi () is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language neo-noir action thriller film directed by Manu Warrier, written by Anish Pallyal, and produced by Supriya Menon through Prithviraj Productions. It stars an ensemble cast including Roshan Mathew, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Naslen K. Gafoor, Murali Gopy, Mamukkoya and Shine Tom Chacko. Jakes Bejoy composed the original songs and background score. The film is about how enduring human relations that transcends boundaries struggle to survive trials of hatred and prejudice.
Principal photography lasted about a month from December 2020 to January 2021. Kuruthi was scheduled to be released in theatres on 13 May 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was released through Amazon Prime Video on 11 August 2021. This film received positive reviews for the main cast's performances, cinematography and screenplay.
Plot
Ibrahim is a rubber tapping labourer who lives in the lonely mountain ranges and is trying to leave behind memories of a traumatic monsoon landslide in which he lost his daughter and wife. He lives with his father Moosa, and younger brother Rasool. Ibrahim is unaware of Rasool's involvement in terrorism, guided by the supposedly friendly Kareem. A woman named Sumathi also visits them often. Sumathi has a brother Preman who makes a living by climbing trees. One night, an injured cop barges into Ibrahim's house with a prisoner and seeks refuge for the night. He reveals himself as Sathyan, an SI. With him is Vishnu, a murderer who stabbed a Muslim shopkeeper to death after the latter refused to close on the former's order. Vishnu is now being chased by communal factions, to be killed before he reaches stations. They have attacked the convoy and the police will not be able to reach them until next morning. Rasool is visibly enraged at his presence.
Meanwhile, Sathyan informs the others in the house about the situation and closes every window in the house. He also confiscates everyone's mobile phone and every weapon in the house and finds an old non-functional gun belonging to Moosa Khader, who used it in his time as a personal driver for the Mysore Maharaj. Suma arrives with food and is also told to stay in Ibrahim's home, for the night. While eating, Vishnu and Rasool argue about the morality behind the murder, prompting Sathyan to stop them. After eating, they sleep for some time before Kareem arrives. He engages in conversation with Ibrahim, while Sathyan, Vishnu and Suma hide in the rooms. Ibrahim spots a bike key with Kareem and asks whose it is. Kareem names him as Laiq, who comes inside and greets everyone. Laiq tells them that he's from Bangalore and needs to stay there. Laiq asks for food as he's hungry and spots Suma, who lies that she's staying there because of the plumbing problem in her house. Laiq sees through the story and openly asks about the boy. Sathyan, tired of hiding and armed with a pistol, confronts Laiq. Laiq's henchman Umar, arrives and Ibrahim starts to get confused and scared.
Laiq prepares a handknife from his keychain while Sathyan prepares a gun, both sitting on the opposite ends of a table. Laiq flips the table and stabs Sathyan in the neck, while Umar pushes Ibrahim down. Laiq breaks into the room in which Vishnu and Suma are hiding. Suma holds Laiq at gunpoint with Moosa's gun and accidentally tries to fire it, revealing its broken nature. Ibrahim quickly grabs Sathyan's gun and drives Laiq, Kareem and Umar out of the house. Sathyan, in his final moments, convinces Ibrahim to promise on the Quran to keep Vishnu safe until the cops from Kenachal arrive the next morning. Ibrahim uncuffs Vishnu as Laiq attacks the window he was cuffed to with an axe. Ibrahim shoots at the window, scaring Laiq away. Umar cuts the power to the house and Suma lights a matchstick and everyone spot Vishnu and Rasool, the latter with a screwdriver. Suma states that the reason behind Vishnu's murder that the temple that Vishnu grew up in was destroyed, prompting him to take revenge. When Ibrahim asks Suma how she knows this, she reveals that she gave him food on a regular basis because he had nowhere to go. Umar climbs the roof of the house and tries to make his way in, but is knocked down on the other side of the roof by Ibrahim armed with a makeshift explosive.