2020 Indian Malayalam language film directed by Anwar Rasheed

Trance is a 2020 Indian Malayalam-language psychological drama film directed and produced by Anwar Rasheed and written by Vincent Vadakkan. It features Fahadh Faasil in the lead role, while Nazriya Nazim, Soubin Shahir, Vinayakan, Chemban Vinod Jose, Dileesh Pothan and Gautham Menon play supporting roles. Amal Neerad was the cinematographer and newcomer Jackson Vijayan composed the film's songs, the background score was by Vijayan and Sushin Shyam.

Filming began in July 2017 and was completed in September 2019. Trance was released in Kerala on 20 February 2020.[2]

The plot follows the life events of Viju Prasad, a Kanyakumari-based wannabe motivational speaker and someone who has psychological problems. He is hired by Solomon and Issac for their corporate body to work as a Christian pastor and is given six months training in the gimmicks by Avarachan. He is introduced as Joshua Carlton and he successfully captures devotion of masses by being a good entertainer. Both Solomon and Issac make millions of dollars and their enterprise grew across countries with more than 300 major centers. However, things start to fall apart when Joshua agrees for an interview with Mathews. Joshua's mental health also begins to deteriorate. Both Solomon and Issac sees this and tries to eliminate him. Joshua as an endgame tries to publicize the truth through Mathews. The truth is publicized and Joshua gets acquitted from his crimes due to his mental health. In the end, he goes to meet Esther, an ex-employee of his organized ministerial show, and someone who he has grown close during his ministry tours and mental health crisis.

In a March 2016 interview, Fahadh Faasil revealed that he would be acting in Anwar Rasheed's next directorial and its subject is fresh that has never been attempted in Malayalam cinema.[3][4] Trance was officially announced with a title poster in June 2017.[5] The film was produced by Rasheed himself. The film marks the debut of Vincent Vadakkan as screenwriter. Rasheed was earlier supposed to direct a short in 5 Sundarikal (2013) based on the screenplay by Vadakkan. But it did not work out as he did not got the right cast. Later, Vadakkan narrated the story of Trance, but then he was not ready to produce the film because of its high production cost. Rasheed had Fahadh in mind for the lead role then itself. Later, Fahadh happened to hear the story from Vadakkan and insisted Rasheed to reconsider the project. By then, the storyline had changed and bankability of Fahadh had also grown and Rasheed was confident in producing the film.[6]

Filming began in July 2017.[7] A week-long first schedule of filming was completed in December 2017 in Mumbai.[8] For the first time in Malayalam cinema, Bolt High Speed Cinebot cameras were used to shoot some scenes in the film.[9] The film is shot with sync sound. The film was shot mainly in coastal Kanyakumari, across various locations in India and Dubai, and the climax was shot in Amsterdam. In July 2019, it as reported that Trance is expected to cost close to 20 crore when it completes production.[10] Amal Neerad was the cinematographer and Resul Pookutty was the film's sound designer.[11][12] Filming was completed on 1 September 2019.[13] The film was made on a budget of 35 crore.[1]

Music is composed, arranged and produced by Jackson Vijayan, while the background score of the movie is set by Sushin Shyam and Jackson Vijayan.[14] The soundtrack album also consists of a title track composed and Arranged by Vinayakan TK.[15]

The film's release was postponed multiple times. It was initially scheduled to be released on 22 March 2019.[17] Then there were plans to release the film during Eid al-Fitr (June) but was later shifted to Onam (September) due to pending visual effects work.[10] Release date was again scheduled for 20 December 2019 before postponing to February 2020 due to delay in post-production work.[18] Then it was scheduled to 14 February 2020 on Valentine's Day.[19] But the regional Central Board of Film Certification in Thiruvananthapuram referred the film to a revising committee in Mumbai since Rasheed was not willing to cut a 17-minute long sequence that could hurt religious sentiments.[20] On 15 February 2020, the film was leaked on the website Tamil Rockers a week ahead of its release.[21] The film was released in Kerala on 20 February 2020.[21]

Goutham V. S. of The Indian Express rated 3.5 in 5 and said: "The abstract style of filmmaking, and the narrative structure that visualises the complex layers of the protagonists psyche is bound to make Trance a trendsetter in the Malayalam film industry ... Fahadh steals the limelight by portraying a character that is hysteric and disturbing at the same time". He also praised the "vivid visualisation, colour tones and the brilliant use of sounds" and cinematography and background score.[22] Critic from Sify also rated 3.5 in 5, describing the film "bold and thrilling", writing "Trance is a genuine and brave attempt that is gripping from start to finish ... Anwar has packaged the movie deliciously, adding lots of emotions, in an honest way. With top notch visuals, music and sound the viewer is in for a grand experience ... But in a way, this film belongs to Fahadh Faasil, who is absolutely brilliant".[23] Prem Udayabhanu from Malayala Manorama gave 3.5 in 5, stating that "it is psychedelic and vibrant, flamboyant and gripping ... Trance is magical, hysterical and depressing and you need to transcend the mundane line of cinematic offerings to relish it". He praised the sound design, background score and cinematography.[24]

Rating 3.5 out of 5, Sajin Shrijith of The New Indian Express said: "If you are into films with a slightly eccentric touch, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the overall audio-visual experience ... Anwar Rasheed, cinematographer Amal Neerad, editor Praveen Prabhakar, and composers Sushin Shyam-Jackson Vijayan keep us hooked by delivering a film that feels part-dream, part-nightmare. However, post-interval, you begin to sense Trance losing some of the potency established in the first half".[25] Cris from The News Minute also gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote that "Fahadh delivers a great performance ... Anwar's filmmaking keeps you engaged the entire first half during which a captivating story begins to unfold. The last half does not keep up to the first, scenes that you enjoyed earlier becoming stretched, almost like you took a pill yourself and everything seems to take too long. But it doesn't let you down, with some excellent performances coming from a very promising cast".[26]

Sanjith Sidhardhan of The Times of India awarded 3.5 out of 5 stars and stated: "Fahadh as a subdued Viju and the flamboyant Joshua is the maniacal energy that drives the film ... Director Anwar gets the first half absolutely right in its pacing and content. However, the second half of the script, by Vincent Vadakkan, loses steam with the plot then almost reflecting Joshua's mindset in those scenes. The makers seem to have chosen style over substance in the latter half". He praised the cinematography and background score.[27] Rating 2.5 in 5, Nirmal Jovial from The Week wrote that "Trance is definitely a bold attempt for its theme, as far as Malayalam cinema is concerned. But it fails to do justice to the theme it explores with its weak script that becomes so cluttered and confused towards the third act", but praised the cinematography.[28]

S. R. Praveen of The Hindu called it "a half-baked attempt", stating "the first half of the film, which captures this transformation is gripping, owing much to Fahadh's performance, ... The film attains its high by the interval point, almost having the viewer in a trance ... Unfortunately, from there, the script goes downhill. One gets to see the writer taking the easy way out at crucial points, bumping off-key characters in a tame manner and depending on the usual television newsbreaks to untangle tricky situations".[29] Critic Veeyen states that "Trance does address a theme that is radically important and proffers a compelling investigation into the unexplored realms of religion, faith and belief." But he adds that .."its also a movie that eventually gets choked by the mistiness that pervades its plot and design, and ends up a pale shadow of the head turner flick that it should have been.[30]

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