Rahul Sadasivan’s Bramayugam is a haunting film that delves into the realms of power, oppression and the human psyche, with Mammootty pushing both himself and us — as performer and viewer — out of our comfort zones.

Set in the 17th century, the story unfolds within the walls of a crumbling mansion, in the middle of a forest, where Koduman Potti — played by Mammootty — is the last surviving member of a once-proud family. Koduman Potti lives in the house with his cook (played by Sidharth Bharathan). Thevan (Arjun Ashokan), a low-caste singer seeking freedom from slavery in his village, unexpectedly finds himself in the mansion. Enamoured of Thevan's singing, Koduman Potti offers him food and lodging.

As Thevan explores the sprawling house and its overgrown surroundings, he discovers dark secrets lurking around, one of which is that guests arrive at the mansion of their own free will but leaving is not in their hands. The cook reveals that a demon (chathan) had plagued the Potti family for generations until Koduman, a sorcerer, arrived to catch it. Now, the all-powerful Koduman Potti possesses the demon’s power and rules over the mansion. Thevan and the cook then join hands to free the house from the chathan's curse and free themselves too.

As a viewer, one unwittingly becomes a part of this quest for freedom, trapped within the labyrinthine walls of the manor with no glimpse of the outside world. One’s experience mirrors that of Thevan’s, who is caught in a timeless loop where the nights seem interminable and the hope of escape is the only thing that keeps you alive.

Mammootty's formidable presence looms large throughout the film, even in scenes where he is absent, creating a pervasive sense of fear. His precise dialogue delivery is coupled with the malevolent aura he emits through subtle expressions and smirks.

Siddharth Bharathan as the cook who is numbed from years of servitude to a monstrous master and yet plotting his escape acts as the perfect foil. Arjun Ashokan’s subdued performance as the bewildered outsider compelled to face his deepest fears complements Mammootty's commanding presence.

Bramayugam is more than just a horror film; it is a reflection on the nature of power and its corrupting influence. A game of dice played between Koduman Potti and Thevan serves as a metaphor for the unequal power dynamics in society, where the marginalised are pawns in the hands of the powerful who always rig the game in their favour.

Rahul Sadasivan builds an eerie world where there is perpetual rain and the decaying mansion, along with the film’s black-and-white aesthetic, enhances the disturbing but hypnotic ambience. The cinematography by Shehnad Jalal, combined with Christo Xavier's music and Shafique Mohamed Ali's editing, captures the unsettling horrors faced by the characters in their quest to confront the chathan.