‘Ayalum Njanum Thammil’ (Malayalam)
Director: Lal Jose
Cast: Prithviraj, Pratap Pothen, Narain, Samvrutha, Remya Nambeesan and others
A film will become really enduring and inspiring if it can properly tie together the connective tissues and create an emotional bond with the audience. Director Lal Jose’s latest flick ‘Ayalum Njanum Thammil’ has succeeded in it and has come out as one of his best outings so far.
The film is told in a non-linear manner as the scriptwriters did in ‘Traffic.’ Cutting back and forth, it unfolds the story of Ravi Tharakan (Prithviraj), a medical practitioner who goes into hiding after an incident that takes place in the beginning of the movie. Through the memories of his friends, Ravi’s character, his love, life and views are revealed.
Simply, the movie is about how Ravi as a doctor comes to know about the ‘divinity’ of his profession. And the man who taught him the potency and purity of his profession is Dr Samuel (Prathap Pothen) and it is the story between Ravi and Samuel.
The script-writing pair of Bobby and Sanjay has done an outstanding job here. Medicine being a profession very familiar to them, the duo has drafted a clever script which skips melodramatic situations and conclusively cuts right to the heart of the matter with some succinct but meaningful lines, which reflect heavy emotion and thought. The movie looks quite sharp and picturesque too, with Jomon T John - who cranked the camera - ensuring a crisp definition to frame beauty.
‘Ayalum Njanum Thammil’ belongs to Prithviraj too. He is pitch perfect as Ravi Tharakan, the immature junior, who later transforms into a responsible doctor at the same moment who is loveable. It is one of his best performances as the solo hero. Prathap Pothen too delivers exactly what his character demands. The rest of the actors, including Narain as Vivek and Samvrutha as Sainu, Remya Nambeesan’s Supriya and Rima’s Diya are certain kinds of extended cameos, but perfectly jelled with the flow of the movie.
And finally, to the man who called the shots, Lal Jose, the real hero of this movie. It is captivating and offers masterful visual aesthetics in most of the scenes. The experienced campaigner, once again proved that invigorated directing can make a real difference on the screen.
He simply stole the show at the end with this feel-good movie. No! One can rather ‘Feel a good movie’ in ‘Ayalum Njanum Thammil.’