It doesn't take more than a minute into the trailer of Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan to realise there's no similarity between Saiju Kurup's titular character here and the iconic Arakkal Abu he played in the two Aadu films.
This is because the film approaches his character, that of an ex-henchman, as a changed and serious man. The tone doesn't appear to be that of a fool and instead, it appears to be about a Gunda who seems to be the only one to step up during a family crisis.
The crisis is question in the wedding of Gunda Jayan's niece after what looks like the groom's escape. Despite having richer, more respectable uncles like an NRI and an army colonel, it looks like Jayan is the one to take the responsibility and conduct the wedding.
In a scene, you can see him correct a man when he refers to him as a Gunda and this hints at the arc of a reformed ex-criminal. With multiple characters played by a talented ensemble of actors in a family setting, Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan could be a solid family drama about a plot that merges Valsalyam with Meenathil Thalikettu. It releases next week.
Watch the trailer here:
Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan is Saiju Kurup's return to playing a lead character after 2019's Janamaithri. It is also the actor's 100th film. Its director Arun Vaiga had previously directed Chembarathipoo in 2017. Bijipal has composed the film's songs. Kiran Das is editor and the DOP is Eldho Issac.
Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan was written by Rajesh Varma and other actors include Johny Anthony, Siju Wilson, Sabumon, Biju Sopanam and Shabareesh Varma. Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films is distributing this family drama. It releases on February 25.