Inside a forest in Kerala, a group of young people on a bus headed to an NCC camp are eager to prove themselves to the world. Among them, a guy and a girl exchange secretive glances, prompting the guy's insecurity to question his friend sitting beside him about who the girl is looking at. Unfortunately for him, his friend breaks the news that the girl is interested in him, and the two later take a long walk together during the camp, causing the guy to feel embarrassed and hurt. Suddenly, a dead body appears, leaving the audience wondering which of the three individuals could be the victim or have a significant impact on the investigation to follow. However, once the police arrive and conduct their investigation, the intriguing plot points established earlier fizzle out, as is the consistent theme in Suraj Venjaramoodu's cop drama, Heaven. It becomes evident that these plot points were merely a Chekov's Gun, leading to a disappointing final act.

 

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Director: Unni Govindaraj

We are fully invested in everything happening on screen, yet the pace of the film seems rushed. Some parts needed more attention to detail, while others could have been toned down. Unfortunately, director Unni Govindaraj struggles to find a balance, leading to some issues with the overall flow of the film.

Heaven starts with a murder, which introduces us to Suraj's character, Peter Kurishingal, who is arrested for the crime. We are then shown another set of murders where Peter is the investigating officer. It would have been more effective to see these narratives intercut to observe how the past and present unfold. However, once the past narrative begins, we forget about the film's opening due to the engaging investigation scenes. Peter's inner struggle and his quest to solve the case are impressive, and the supporting cast, including Alencier Ley Lopez, Jaffer Idukki, Deepak Parambol, Sudheesh, and Vinaya Prasad, all deliver convincing performances.

Suraj's portrayal of Peter is dignified and nuanced, setting him apart from other cop roles he has played in the past. Gopi Sundar's background score also adds to the film's tension, making it a decent investigative drama. However, some writing choices occasionally test our faith in the film, making it feel like we need to reaffirm our commitment to it.

Overall, Heaven is not a bad film, but it also doesn't reach the level of greatness. Even the red herrings don't feel red enough, leaving us with a sense that the film could have been better. However, credit must be given to the team for keeping the film on the better side and avoiding creative limbo.

Cast: Suraj Venjaramoodu, Alencier Ley Lopez, Vinaya Prasad, Deepak Parambol