Parimala and Co (2026), misses the mark

Parimala and Co. wants to be a dark comedy, but it never quite succeeds on the dark side. The comedy works in a few places, but not consistently enough. The film is largely carried by the fine performances of Jayaram, Urvashi, and Mysskin. Director Pandiraj‘s touch is visible in the first half, but the second half, especially when the murder mystery begins to unravel, feels stretched and tiring. Mangoidiots gives this film a Raw.

Jayaram plays the head of the family, a man named Parimala. His wife, Suthandiram, is played by Urvashi. Their daughters, Sakthi and Madhu, are portrayed by Sanjana Krishnamoorthy, who was memorable in Lubber Pandhu, and Ananthika Sanilkumar. Playing a bold and spirited character, Sanjana impresses throughout the film, though her character is not given the payoff it deserves in the climax. Ananthika also does a good job in her role. As the mother of the family, Urvashi excels, delivering both emotional moments and witty dialogues with ease. Mysskin, appearing as the local police inspector investigating a murder, leaves a lasting impression with a memorable performance.

The story revolves around the murder of a local drug peddler, played by Sandy Master, who has been harassing the younger daughter, Madhu. When he is found murdered one day, the question becomes whether someone within the family is responsible or if the culprit is an outsider. The first half, which introduces the family and explores the dynamics between the sisters, including their frequent squabbles, is enjoyable to watch. Unfortunately, once the murder takes place, the film struggles to maintain momentum. The investigation moves in circles at times, and a few scenes feel repetitive. The film could certainly have benefited from tighter editing. While the performances keep you engaged, the screenplay does not do enough to sustain the intrigue till the end.

In the end, Parimala and Co has a capable cast and a promising setup, but it falls short of delivering either an effective dark comedy or a gripping murder mystery.