Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Crime drama

Appan (2022): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Appan (2022) movie poster

Appan is a 2022 crime drama directed by Maju, starring Sunny Wayne as Njoonj, Alencier Ley Lopez and Pauly Valsan. It runs 2 hours 9 minutes. Its Echo Score is 83/100.

Appan (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 9m (129 min)
Director
Maju
Genres
Crime , Comedy , Drama
Original language
Malayalam
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Appan About?

The premise of Appan without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After narrowly escaping death, a spiteful man is confined to his bed, and begins to torment his wife and son. As his family anxiously awaits his passing, the local villagers grow increasingly hostile, demanding his execution due to his past actions. When he manipulates his wife into granting him a private meeting with another woman, his family is forced to confront a difficult decision with potentially life-altering consequences.

Cast & crew

Appan Cast & Characters

Sunny Wayne leads the cast as Njoonj, with Alencier Ley Lopez as Itty and Pauly Valsan as Kuttyamma. Directed by Maju; 19 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Appan Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 83/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in story & flow (75).

83 /100

Appan Echo Score Breakdown

Appan delivers a resonant cinematic experience anchored by powerful performances and a deftly rendered realistic world. The film’s direction maintains a focused narrative while the visual composition and music reinforce its emotional core. Though the second half and climax show predictability, the thematic depth and character work sustain engagement. Consequently, the movie stands as a noteworthy addition to contemporary Malayalam cinema.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 88

    ART: The direction exhibits disciplined control, guiding a tight, single‑location setting without visual fatigue. Cinematography captures Kerala’s rubber fields and interior spaces with nuanced lighting and varied angles, while production design grounds the story in authentic surroundings. Editing ensures a smooth flow despite occasional pacing dips, resulting in a cohesive artistic presentation.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    CHARACTER: Performances constitute the film’s strongest asset, with Sunny Wayne, Pauly Valsan, and Alencier delivering layered portrayals that evoke empathy and revulsion as required. The ensemble’s chemistry enriches the familial dynamics, and supporting actors add depth to peripheral roles. Minor inconsistencies appear in a few secondary arcs, yet the core characters remain compelling throughout.

  • Story & Flow 75

    STORY: The narrative tackles an under‑explored familial abuse theme with originality, weaving tension through measured pacing in the first half. While the plot introduces compelling conflicts, the climax and latter sections become predictable, slightly diluting the overall impact. Nonetheless, the script maintains engagement by probing moral ambiguities and sustaining audience curiosity.

  • Sensory Experience 86

    SENSORY: The film’s score and sound design underscore emotional beats without overwhelming dialogue, while ambient noises enhance the domestic setting. Visual style benefits from natural lighting and deliberate framing that highlight the austerity of the house and surrounding fields. Though the soundscape remains subtle, the combined auditory and visual elements create an immersive atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 78

    REWATCH: Appan’s emotional potency and strong performances encourage repeat viewings, as audiences discover additional nuances in character motives upon revisiting. The realistic visual palette and effective soundtrack also reward subsequent watches. Predictable plot points and a conventional climax may lessen novelty over time, yet the film’s thematic depth sustains its appeal for future viewings.

Plot

Appan Plot Summary

What happens in Appan from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Njoonju, Sunny Wayne is a rubber tapper who shares a modest home with his father, his mother, his wife, and their young son in a small, quiet village. The family’s routine is marked by quiet dignity, even as the household bears the strain of a difficult patriarch.

Ittychan, Alencier Ley Lopez, Njoonju’s father, is bedridden but remains relentlessly narcissistic, cruel, and a womaniser. His presence dominates the home, and despite his condition, he continues to harass, abuse, and torture his wife, Kuttyamma, and his son. Their lives are overshadowed by fear and longing for relief from his tyranny, a tension that weighs heavily on every member of the family. The village itself seems to sense the danger he poses, and many residents have their own painful memories of his behavior.

Full summary

The whole story of Appan, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Appan?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main protagonist of the story?

Seen Appan?

FAQ

Appan FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Appan, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Appan?

Appan runs 2 hours 9 minutes (129 minutes).

When was Appan released?

Appan was released on October 28, 2022.

Who directed Appan?

Appan was directed by Maju.

More films by Maju

Who is in the cast of Appan?

Appan stars Sunny Wayne as Njoonj, Alencier Ley Lopez as Itty and Pauly Valsan as Kuttyamma, among 19 credited actors.

Does Appan have a post-credit scene?

No. Appan has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Appan in?

The original language of Appan is Malayalam.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app