Java is simple. And powerful!

Operation Java starts, as you would expect, with an operation by the Cyber Crime unit. It’s episodic in nature – each case is a different type of crime on the internet including uploading one of the most anticipated Malayalam films on to a Torrent sites by vested interests, cyber honey traps and the blackmailing thereafter, social media-enabled thefts, phishing and financial frauds. Most of them pertain to loss of reputation with victims falling into traps unwittingly.

Having said that, Operation Java isn’t just about a bunch of nuanced investigations that lead to thrills and startling reveals. It’s about people who are affected by cyber crimes – innocent victims facing social stigma both from the society and the very people who are their last resort, the cyber crime unit. The film treats these characters with empathy and understanding – the repercussions of falling prey to cyber crimes such as morphing, how it tears families apart, the trauma of the spouses and the children in particular.

Through some great characters from the cyber crime unit, the interns and the victims themselves, the film digs deep into crimes, their motives, the impact and how many of these issues can be resolved with a sympathetic ear, trust, love and the most difficult thing – believing that being the victim of a cyber crime is not the end of the world.

Tharun Murthy is a director to look out for. He has set the benchmark higher for thrillers with his casting, editing, photography and the writing. Irshad as the chief of the Cyber Unit shines and his humor never feels forced. Prashant was a revelation in this film and so was Dhanya Ananya. Vinayakan shines in a small role with one of the best scenes in the film. Mamitha Biju is good as Balu Varghese on-and-off love interest. Balu Varghese is subtle as a job seeker with an engineering degree. However, it’s the office who plays Joy Pulimoottil that steals the show along with Shine Tom Chacko in this thriller. The movie doesn’t belong to a particular actor or character, it belongs to all the characters big and small. And a special mention goes out to Lukman. What an actor!

Java is simple because it explains cyber crimes in layman’s language.

It’s powerful too because it moves you with its nonjudgmental approach.