Dulquer Salmaan
Sukumara Kuruppu
Kurup
“THE STORY UNFOLDS INDIA'S LONGEST WANTED FUGITIVE”
2021
2h 35m
12A · MalayalamDirector: Srinath Rajendran
Overview
The Film is based on the infamous 'Charlie Murder Case' in the Indian State of Kerala where the main culprit Sukumara Kurup has been on the run for decades and is still not been caught. The story revolves around the perspective of Sukumara Kurup and the Police officers who were investigating the case.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Man Who Wasn’t There
I keep thinking about the moment in Kurup when the camera lingers on Dulquer Salmaan’s hands. They’re steady, almost delicate, as he adjusts the collar of a dead man’s shirt—his own stand-in, a stranger whose face will soon be burned beyond recognition. There’s no music, no dramatic cutaway, just the quiet precision of a man arranging his own disappearance.
It’s the kind of scene that doesn’t announce itself as pivotal, but it lodges in your mind like a splinter. What does it take to look at a corpse and see not a human being, but a transaction? What does it do to a person to spend decades becoming someone else?
Srinath Rajendran’s Kurup isn’t just a true-crime thriller; it’s a meditation on the mechanics of reinvention, and the cost of a life built on a lie. Based on the real-life fugitive Sukumara Kurup—who in 1984 murdered a lookalike to fake his own death and claim insurance money, then vanished for decades—the film resists the easy thrills of cat-and-mouse narratives. Instead, it asks: What does it mean to outrun yourself?
The answer, it turns out, is both more mundane and more haunting than you’d expect.
Rajendran’s direction is measured, almost clinical in its approach to Kurup’s story. This isn’t a film that glorifies its criminal protagonist, nor does it wallow in the procedural details of his crimes. (Though, to be fair, the real Kurup’s ability to evade capture for nearly 40 years is the kind of story that makes you question the competence of every law enforcement agency in India.) Instead, Kurup unfolds like a series of vignettes, each one a snapshot of a man slipping further into the shadows.
The nonlinear structure—jumping between the 1980s, the 1990s, and the 2000s—mirrors the way memory distorts over time. A fugitive’s life isn’t a straight line; it’s a series of detours, dead ends, and moments where you have to decide, again and again, who you’re pretending to be.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 7.8/10
"A gripping crime thriller with a standout lead performance, held back from greatness by pacing and predictability."
Dulquer Salmaan’s portrayal of the infamous fugitive Sukumara Kurup draws wide praise for balancing charm and menace. The stylish period setting and crime drama elements are engaging, but the narrative is slow in parts and the twists are too familiar for the genre.
What viewers praise
- Dulquer Salmaan’s performance Salmaan’s charismatic, layered portrayal of the title fugitive is the film’s strongest asset.
- Stylish period setting The 1980s aesthetic and visual tone build an immersive crime thriller atmosphere.
- Engaging crime drama The cat-and-mouse chase and life insurance fraud plot hold attention despite pacing issues.
- Strong supporting cast Indrajith Sukumaran and Shine Tom Chacko give memorable performances.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot Follows well-worn crime thriller tropes without enough surprises.
- Uneven pacing The middle act drags, slowing the momentum built in the first half.
- Underdeveloped side characters A few supporting roles lack depth and screen time.
Recommended for
Crime thriller enthusiasts Dulquer Salmaan fans Period drama lovers Malayalam cinema audiences True crime story followers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsDulquer Salmaan’s Kurup: The Real-Life Crime Drama That Sparked Controversy and Sequel Rumors
Dulquer Salmaan’s 2021 Malayalam biopic Kurup, directed by Srinath Rajendran, wasn’t just a box-office draw—it was a lightning rod for gossip, legal battles, and behind-the-scenes buzz. Based on the life of fugitive conman Sukumara Kurup, the film blended crime, thriller, and biopic elements, latestnetflix.com maintains, but its journey from script to screen was anything but smooth.
A Star-Studded Gamble
Salmaan, fresh off his Bollywood ventures, returned to Malayalam cinema with Kurup, taking on the titular role of a man who faked his own death in the 1980s to escape justice. The film’s ensemble cast—including Sobhita Dhulipala, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Tovino Thomas—added star power, but the real draw was the true-crime angle. With a runtime of 140 minutes, Kurup promised a deep dive into Kerala’s most infamous unsolved case.
Behind the scenes, the production wasn’t without drama. Making-of videos hinted at meticulous attention to period detail, with the team recreating 1980s Kerala—right down to vintage cars and retro aesthetics. But the film’s biggest challenge wasn’t just authenticity; it was controversy.
Legal Trouble and Public Outcry
Before Kurup even hit theaters, it landed in legal hot water. A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in Kochi, alleging the film glorified a criminal and could influence public perception. The case raised questions about biopics and their responsibility toward real-life victims—a debate that followed Kurup long after its release.
The controversy didn’t stop there. Rumors swirled about creative tensions between Salmaan and Rajendran, though neither confirmed nor denied them. In interviews, Salmaan spoke about the emotional toll of playing a morally ambiguous character, but specifics about on-set clashes remained unverified.
Sequel Speculation
Despite the backlash, Kurup was a commercial success, and whispers of a sequel quickly emerged. In a YouTube interview, director Srinath Rajendran hinted at the possibility, teasing that Kurup’s story had more chapters left to explore. Whether this was a marketing ploy or a genuine plan remains unclear, but fans latched onto the idea—especially after the film’s cliffhanger ending.
The Untold Story?
YouTube deep dives and fan theories claimed Kurup took creative liberties with the real case, omitting or altering key details. Some viewers argued the film softened Kurup’s crimes, while others praised its nuanced portrayal. Without official confirmation, these debates remain speculative—but they kept the film in the headlines long after its release.
The Verdict
Kurup was more than just a crime thriller; it was a cultural moment. Between legal battles, sequel rumors, and behind-the-scenes intrigue, the film’s legacy is as complicated as its protagonist. Whether it glamorized a criminal or simply told a gripping story, one thing’s certain: Kurup left no one indifferent.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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