Aashiq Abu, known previously for Salt n Pepper, has delivered an exceptionally daring film in 22 Female Kottayam, presenting a woman's story from her own viewpoint. Similar to his earlier work, this movie rises above the average fare. While imperfections exist, it’s certain to capture your attention. 22 Female Kottayam draws inspiration from films such as Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, Sriram Raghavan’s Ek Hasina Thi, and N Sankaran Nair's Cabaret Dancer. The story follows Tessa K Abraham (Rima Kallingal), a nurse who has relocated to Bangalore from Kottayam with aspirations of working abroad. She meets Cyril (Fahad Fazil), a visa consultant, and they develop a relationship that leads to intimacy after one night of drinking. Tessa subsequently moves in with him, and the two enjoy a period of happiness together. However, fate intervenes when Tessa is brutally assaulted. Her life dramatically changes as she struggles to overcome both the physical and emotional pain resulting from this experience. Among its merits, the film portrays rape in an unusually raw and distressing way, prompting viewers to connect with the protagonist's suffering. 22 Female Kottayam represents a sincere effort to depict contemporary womanhood in an urban setting without portraying women as rebellious or flawed characters. The screenplay by Abhilash Kumar and Syam Pushkaran is noteworthy, as are Shyju Khaled’s visuals and the music composed by Rex Vijayan and Biji Bal. A potential shortcoming lies in the fact that while Aashiq Abu seems to be opening doors for female-centered films with a modern sensibility, the narrative occasionally falls into familiar patterns of male dominance. The character of Rima Kallingal could have been developed more effectively; at times it's unclear whether Tessa is intended to be portrayed as resilient or vulnerable. Rima Kallingal delivers an outstanding performance, arguably one of her finest to date. She conveys a wide range of emotions with honesty and conviction. Aashiq Abu has elicited strong performances from the entire cast. Ultimately, 22 Female Kottayam feels like a breath of fresh air. It deserves recognition for director Aashiq Abu's willingness to explore such an original and groundbreaking storyline.

Source on TMDB