Koode

“Memorable study on love, solitude, estrangement and above all, homecomings.”

| Full review

“The film keeps cutting between the present (shot in cool tones of blue) and the past (bathed in warmer colours)… Zubin Nazeel Navas, who plays Joshua as a boy, not only looks like he’ll grow up to be Prithviraj, but his face is also so alive, so open to the wonder of life that it contrasts stunningly with the mask of a man he will eventually turn into. Prithviraj does some of the most complex acting of his career.”

Rating: 3 stars | Full review

“It is through music that we know the mood is going to change… If you think about it, there is a lot of transforming lives in the movie. Anjali, without making it obvious, tells how years could change lives so much.”

| Full review

“I’ve been someone who has looked for logic in everything I do. ‘Does this make sense’, has been a constant part of how I perceive everything. Anjali Menon‘s Koode showed me that some of the most beautiful things—emotions that are precious, like the joy a wide, toothless smile radiates, not necessarily needs to make sense. They just touch your soul—you won’t care about why your soul feels lighter or heavier. It just does… Koode is a celebration of touch, of how communicative it can be. It seamlessly but powerfully can convey any emotion… Touch is a language that is governed by instinct and pure emotion. And Anjali places her close ups as a reminder. It’s just beautiful to watch, considering we are in an era that judges touch like none other. Is there a more honest way to be Koode (together)?”

“Strong character development. A sufficient amount of time is spent with each character, getting us acquainted with them, and each and every little detail in their life. Every object inside a bedroom tells a story. Every gesture and facial tic tells a story. A lot is said between the characters with as few words as possible. You don’t need someone to tell you what each character is thinking. You feel as if you’ve known them for years. And giving them all company is an adorable Labrador, who is as much a character in the film as anyone else.”

Rating: 4.5 stars | Full review

“Koode is about second chances. The what ifs, the words that struggle to find a way to our tongue, the pregnant silences that we wish we had the courage to break… What is unsaid in Koode is as important as what is said… In that small town where everybody knows everybody, the characters don’t always say and do what they wish. It’s the opposite of all that Bangalore stood for in Anjali’s last film.”

| Full review