Photographer film explores survival in Kodaikanal forests

The film "Photographer," directed by Ashraf, is a survival thriller centered on a photographer with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The protagonist, Veera, ventures into the restricted Mathikettan Sholai forest in Kodaikanal to photograph a rare 'Golden Tree,' but subsequently becomes lost and stranded.

Reviewers highlight the film's strong technical elements, particularly the cinematography and the portrayal of the forest as an immersive setting. While the protagonist's solo struggle for survival is noted as an engaging and natural performance by Ashraf, critics observed that the film struggles with genre identity, oscillating between horror, fantasy, and emotional drama.

The narrative also incorporates emotional backstory involving the protagonist's family, which some reviewers felt occasionally slowed the pace of the survival plot. Despite these pacing issues, the film is recognized for its technical polish and its attempt to explore a fresh concept within a limited budget.