Officer On Duty, directed by debutant Jithu Ashraf and starring Kunchacko Boban in the lead, revolves around a police officer struggling with past trauma while investigating a case involving victims. However, the film’s use of the “women in refrigerators” trope, where female characters are harmed to drive the male protagonist’s arc forward, raises concerns about its narrative choices.
In the film, Harishankar (Boban), a demoted police officer, is transferred to the Kochi City station where he investigates a seemingly small case involving a counterfeit gold chain. The investigation leads to the discovery of a criminal network exploiting young girls, with the central plot revolving around their suffering. Harishankar’s investigation reawakens his own unresolved grief after a tragic event, creating an emotional backdrop that drives his quest for justice. However, his aggressive and morally ambiguous nature as a character makes it hard for the audience to empathize with his motivations, despite the film’s attempts at redemption.
While Kunchacko Boban delivers a compelling performance, Officer On Duty struggles with weak writing, leaving many emotional moments underdeveloped. The film touches on serious topics such as abuse and trauma but fails to explore them with the depth they deserve. The screenplay, written by Shahi Kabir, lacks the emotional punch seen in his previous works like Joseph (2018) and Nayattu (2021), and as a result, key scenes fall flat despite their potential.
One of the film’s more jarring flaws is its portrayal of Harishankar’s relationship with his family, which is strained due to his past actions. While the film later tries to redeem Harishankar, the inconsistency in his character makes it difficult to root for him. Though the film has moments of brilliance, especially in portraying Harishankar’s internal conflict, they are few and far between, leaving the movie feeling emotionally incomplete.
In conclusion, Officer On Duty is a thriller with potential but marred by its dependence on certain tropes and weak emotional storytelling. Despite a strong central performance, the film fails to fully capitalize on its dark themes and complex characters.
Rating: 2.5/5
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