Contrary to the expectations set by a heavy title (Bullet), this film operates on a very low-key note and still manages to be largely likeable. Nine policemen from Kerala are sent to a Maoist affected area of Chhattisgarh as part of election duty. With this seemingly basic premise of cops-vs-naxals, the makers have packed a lot of surprises. They constantly prove our predictions wrong with sharp turns in storytelling and by staying focused on a bigger picture. Expectations are subverted simply by avoiding obvious cinematic choices. This behaviour has its own charm for we are outsmarted for expecting the obvious.

The bigger picture here is a commentary on the system and how it is letting everyone down. We get to hear stories of a lot of people who are playing in it, with it, and those who are affected by it. The characters are memorable, so are the jovial exchanges between them. These flushes in writing make Unda a very fulfilling experience. Also watch how Mammootty and the film derive “mass” from being plain modest. It is a class act.