Pendulum (ETV Win) Movie Review – A Time Travel Thriller

Pendulum
A Malayalam movie released in theaters in 2023, Pendulum is an experimental film featuring a limited cast and driven by an intriguing storyline.

This mystery thriller, directed by Rejin Babu, explores concepts like lucid dreaming and time travel. The lead roles are played by Vijay Babu and Anumol. The film premiered on June 16, 2023, and is now available for streaming on ETV Win. Let’s take a closer look at the story.

Plot:
Mahesh Narayanan (Vijay Babu), along with his wife Shweta and daughter Tanmayi, returns to India from Australia. Being a doctor, Mahesh frequently commutes to the hospital. One day, he goes on a long drive with his family. When they reach a certain location, Mahesh feels a strange connection to the place as if he has been there before. He tries to recall his memories linked to that place.

Due to a mistake by Tanmayi, their car keys get stuck inside the car trunk, forcing them to stay overnight. The next morning, Mahesh is found unconscious in the roadside bushes. He tells Shweta that a lorry hit him the previous night, but she is skeptical. Mahesh even recalls the lorry’s number. However, an investigation reveals the lorry was disposed of 15 years ago, leaving everyone shocked.

Why do some places feel strangely familiar? How did a lorry that was scrapped years ago hit Mahesh? Confused by these mysteries, Mahesh meets John Master, an expert in dreams. John explains that Mahesh entered someone else’s dream, causing these strange events. Discovering whose dream it was could hold the key to solving this puzzle. What happens next forms the core of the story.

Analysis:
Everyone dreams, but sometimes unknowingly entering others’ dreams can affect their lives. This is the central theme of the movie. Inviting loved ones into your dreams or entering someone else’s dream is the unique concept explored here. The narrative skillfully weaves together elements of time and space.

This concept is quite novel and complex. Conveying such a story understandably is challenging, and hence, while the movie is mostly clear, it occasionally confuses the audience. The screenplay is the film’s strongest asset. This is a commendable experimental effort using a limited number of characters.

Watching a dream or narrating your own dreams is easy, but entering someone else’s dream and struggling to come out is intriguing yet complex. This movie’s plot is not instantly easy to grasp and may require multiple viewings.

Like in many movies, excessive flashbacks can confuse viewers about what’s real and what’s a dream. Similarly, this film keeps the audience guessing about reality and illusion, making it an interesting watch for those who appreciate complexity.

Performances:
The story and screenplay are the heart of the movie. The director has attempted an experiment with limited characters. The dreams and their twists feel like a puzzle to the audience. Vijay Babu and Anumol deliver natural performances. Arun Damodaran’s cinematography, Jean P Johnson’s music, and Suraj’s editing support the narrative well.

Conclusion:
Pendulum introduces a fresh and unfamiliar concept to Telugu audiences. Though the filmmakers tried to explain the story clearly, some parts still leave viewers puzzled. Overall, it’s an intriguing mystery thriller worth watching for those interested in psychological and experimental cinema.

Movie Details: