Action Hero Biju

Action Hero Biju
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Abrid Shine
Produced by	Nivin Pauly Shibu Thekkumpuram Abrid Shine
Written by	Abrid Shine Muhammad Shafeeq
Starring	Nivin Pauly Anu Emmanuel Jude Anthany Joseph
Narrated by	Lal Jose
Music by	Songs: Jerry Amaldev Suresh Thampanoor Score: Rajesh Murugesan
Cinematography	Alex J. Pulickal
Edited by	Manoj
Production company	Pauly Jr. Pictures
Distributed by	LJ Films
Release dates	4 February 2016 (2016-02-04) (Kerala)
Running time	145 minutes
Country	India
Language	Malayalam
Budget	₹2 crore (US$300,000) (approx.)
Box office	₹30 crore (US$4.5 million)

Action Hero Biju is a 2016 Indian Malayalam drama film directed and co-written by Abrid Shine and starring Nivin Pauly in the title role. The film is Shine's second directorial and Nivin's debut as a producer. Jerry Amaldev composed the original songs, while Rajesh Murugesan did the background score. The filming which began in May 2015 was completed in October. After being postponed several times, Action Hero Biju was released in Kerala on 4 February 2016 and rest of India on 5 February 2016. The film tells the story of Biju Paulose, a sub-inspector with the Kochi City Police and a recollection of cases he solved before his fatal occupational hazard.

Plot

The story opens as sub-inspector Biju Palouse (Nivin Pauly) informed of the location of a few wanted criminals in his jurisdiction. As he corners and apprehends them, he gets injured when one of the criminals stabs him. The story cuts back to some time before the incident when Biju and other officers handle a series of different types of complaints and cases, petty and major, that is registered at the police station.

Biju receives a call from the hospital informing him of a ten-year old girl who mauled by a dog when she tried to pluck some fruits from a highly influential businessman's house. Eye witnesses report that the businessman had purposely let the dog out and Biju sets out to his house to arrest the said person. However, some local politicians try to use their political power to avoid the registration of the case and Biju refuses to do so. Biju tracks the culprit to a club and arrests him.

The next complaint tackled is lodged by a lady who is yet to receive her pending salary. When Biju tries to mediate a negotiation between the employers and the lady, the employers act callously which enrages Biju. He threatens them shutting down citing company registration inaccuracies if the dues are not paid and the employers immediately comply.

Later, Biju encounters a case of suicide attempt and missing of a Navy personnel who goes after to rescue the woman and child. During the subsequent search operation, he and his sub-ordinates manage to save the life of the woman but the child dies as the people who rescued the child from the river thought she died and emergency services didn't take her to the hospital on time. This emotionally affects Biju and the search for missing Navy man fails. Throughout the course of the next few days, he handles different types of cases including that of an auto driver who stalks a woman he loves, bikers without helmet and a drunkard who steals an wireless-set from a careless police officer.

When investigating a substance abuse and battering case by an adolescent he goes after the rising narcotic sales that targets school children, he discovers a group of teenagers purchasing marijuana from a notorious criminal during random vehicle checks. He arrests them in the presence of the magistrate and takes them to police station and uses third degree interrogation on the criminal and informs the parents of the teenagers. Biju after giving warnings lets them off without registering the case to avoid spoiling their future. Later he solves a case regarding eloping of a timid Pavithran's wife with their daughter.

Biju tackles a case assigned by his superiors whereby some jewelries stolen from a house. Deducing from the clues and circumstances, Biju suspects the housemaid is the thief. He visits her and during interrogation, finds flaws in her alibi. They confirm her as the culprit and arrests her. Meeting her husband and children, a child is a respected NCC student cadet whom he knows; Biju faces moral dilemma when he comes to know the mother did it to pay school fees. Biju half-heartedly follows the law and takes her to station. The film cuts back to the time before incident shown in the beginning of the movie. Through an informant he finds out location of a murderer and his cohorts in hiding. While pursing to arrest, gets stabbed by one of them. Biju successfully manages to prevent them from escaping until the rest of the police force arrives.

As treated for his wounds in the hospital, he jokes with his fiancee that injuries are common in his occupation and that she is free to marry someone else. Later, showing his survival he is apprehending another gang of criminals in the middle of this his father calls and informs him that his wife has given birth to a daughter. He joyfully receives the news but continues his assigned task of arresting the criminals. A voice over brief that Biju is not a superhero but one of the many dedicated police officers in the state.

Cast

• Nivin Pauly as Sub-Inspector Biju Paulose
• Anu Emmanuel as Benitta Dominic
• Major Ravi as Commissioner Rajasekhar IPS
• Saiju Kurup as Circle-Inspector Manoj Mathew
• Joju George as Head Constable Minimon
• Dr. Rony Davis as Constable Subair
• Sreeja Das as Constable Mariya Joseph
• Prajod Kalabhavan as Constable Nirupan
• Suraj Venjaramoodu as Pavithran
• Rohini as Maid
• Meghanathan as Maid's husband
• Suresh Thampanoor as drunkard/singer
• Jude Anthany Joseph as Shinto
• Abhija Sivakala as Pavithran's wife
• Kochu Preman as Benitta's relative
• Sajan Palluruthy as Kumar
• Balachandran Chullikkadu as Biju's father
• Valsala Menon as Benitta's relative
• Devi Ajith as Rizwan's mother
• Ambika Mohan as Benitta's relative
• Jayashri Sivadas as NCC cadet leader
• Vinduja Menon as Hari's wife
• Azees Nedumangad as a card player
• Madan Mohan as the Navy witness
• Madhu Mohan as DYSP of Police
• Bobby Mohan as Dominic
• Manju Vani as Sherly
• Parvathy T. as Benitta's mother

Production

After the success of his debut venture, director Abrid Shine began pre-production on his second film. He wanted the subject to be action oriented and discussions with Nivin turned it to a police story. In August 2014, Abrid subsequently made an official announcement that his next venture would be titled Action Hero Biju and would feature Nivin in the lead role. The movie started rolling in May 2015. Nivin Pauly took special fighting classes and followed special diets to gain more weight and followed workout regimens, to fit the role of a police officer.

About the title, the director says "The title, Action Hero Biju, stems from my interest in narrating a common man's story. Biju is an extremely common and secular name in Kerala and I felt it has cuteness about it. My film tells the story of a common man who becomes a brave cop, and I felt the title is a perfect fit". And also explains "The film is a light take on policing, it is not the hardcore police kind of story – it is a mix of humour and action. It is about a police sub-inspector’s heroism. We see the world through his eyes – we experience his views, experiences and emotions". Abride collaborated with Muhammed Shefeeq for scripting which took almost ten months to complete.

Soundtrack

Action Hero Biju
Soundtrack album by Jerry Amaldev
Released	28 January 2016
Recorded	2015
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	18:09
Language	Malayalam
Label	Satyam Audios
Producer	Nivin Pauly
Jerry Amaldev chronology
No. 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North (1995)No. 1 Snehatheeram Banglore North1995 Action Hero Biju (2016)

Jerry Amaldev composed songs for the film while Rajesh Murugesan wrote the background score of the film. Lyrics were written by Santhosh Varma and BK Harinarayanan. The film features 4 tracks.

Tracklist
No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Pookkal Panineer"	Santhosh Varma	K J Yesudas, Vani Jayaram	4:23
2.	"Oonjalilaadi Vanna"	Santhosh Varma	Chinmayi, Jerry Amaldev	4:14
3.	"Chiriyo Chiri"	Santhosh Varma	Vineeth Sreenivasan, Vaikom Vijayalakshmi	3:27
4.	"Hara Hara"	BK Harinarayanan	Suchith Suresan, Jerry Amaldev	4:00
5.	"Muthe Ponne Pinangalle"	V Suresh Thampanoor	V Suresh Thampanoor	1:40
6.	"Vande Mataram (Cover)"	Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay	Swetha Mohan	1:59
Total length:				18:09

Release

Action Hero Biju released in Kerala on 4 February 2016 in 131 screens. The film was released in 116 screens in rest of India and in more than 10 screens in the United States on 5 February.

Critical reception

Veeyen of Nowrunning.com lauded the film. He states that "the cinematic reconstruction of the life of a police officer that Abrid Shine attempts in 'Action Hero Biju' is efficient to the core, and the craft elements on display exceptional. The mother of all gambles that the film indulges in - of keeping conventionalities at bay - makes it a level-headed film that traverses the rugged planes of law, justice, truth and life with consummate ease."

Arathi Kannan of Malayala Manorama rated of 3.5/5 and said "With a salute to the cops, who sweat their ways through their duties and moral obligations, Abrid Shine leaves a sparkling note of thanks before the screen blackout."

Box office

The film grossed ₹1.59 crore (US$240,000) on its first day in Kerala and ₹4.38 crore (US$650,000) after 5 days. It opened well in Tamil Nadu, grossing ₹18.63 lakh (US$28,000) in the opening day from more than 12 screens, which is the highest opening gross for a Malayalam film there. Action Hero Biju was made at a budget of ₹2 crore (US$300,000). As of April 2016 the film grossed an estimated total of ₹30 crore (US$4.5 million) worldwide. The film ran over 100 days in theatres.

External links

• Action Hero Biju on Facebook
• Action Hero Biju at IMDb