If you do have a checklist of Sathyan Anthikad inevitables, you can happily go for a check mark for most of them with the director’s latest Jomonte Suvisheshangal.Vincent (Mukesh) is an affluent businessman and father of four. His youngest, Jomon, (Dulquer Salmaan) is a wee bit too delusional and irresponsible, yet quite the amicable fella. (Multiple bells ringing?)
The film moves slowly and indeliberately in the first half, all through Jomon’s escapedes, complete with a breezy romance. And right before the film takes a break, we start to see the first sparks of trouble as the business empire starts to crumble.
The second half has the camera turned to Tiruppur. By now, it’s quite apparent that it’s the classic underdog story. However, in a surprise move, the story turns to the weavers’ lane in Tirupur, the largest exporter of cotton garments in the country.
A tryst with the weaver community, however short-lived, makes a stronger statement than the good-old father and son tale. The handweavers and garment industry could have been a potential story maker here, but the issues don’t progress from being a significant plot point.
A good tip for the viewer would be to choose Dulquer Salmaan and Mukesh as the two bright spots on the wall and fixate on them, and in the process, heave a sigh of relief that your money didn’t go to waste. Mukesh excels as the father whose witty lines in the first part colour themselves sober in the latter half. And Dulquer Salmaan just went ahead to prove that however cliched the story, he would still put up a credible face and just wouldn’t disappoint.
While Anupama Parameshwaran is a fleeting memory, Aishwarya Rajesh, for the sheer merit of having featured in the better part of the story, does well.
Vidyasagar’s BGM eases in, and the weavers’ lane glistens on S Kumar’s camera, shading it with just the right colour of emotion. Is the movie a safely made one in a familiar setup? Yes! Is it watchable? Still yes, for it’s that holiday movie that families would like during the season that just passed us by, reviving hope and restoring cheer. A bit late, nevertheless, here ye! here ye!