Captain Malayalam Movie
In an airport, when Indian football captain V.P. Sathyan and his wife are waiting for a flight, nobody recognises this great defender. Like insult to the injury, a couple of girls borrow his pen to get an autograph from a cricket player, who arrives at the VIP lounge. There is no better scene to showcase the state of football players in India that time as shown in the film "Captain," a biopic on one of the country's greatest defenders of the game.
Sathyan encounters disgusting experiences in life, on and off the field, and his leg injury aggravates his depression. With a sulky mind, he bids adieu to his life. Jayasurya as V.P. Sathyan leaves some in pain and some in remorse. The depth of emotion finds its zenith in the character and he exudes well the angst and disappointment of the player. Albeit the mind is craving for playing more matches, the injury in his leg curtails his career. The bitter experiences from people around him also give a push to evoke the ennui in him.
Jayasurya lives up to the expectations in portraying highly sensitive characters. It's a delight to watch in Jayasurya the phases of changes that occur in Sathyan's life. Anu Sithara's portrayal of Sathyan's wife Anitha is subtle and serious. The character is a litmus test for Anu in terms of showing maturity and giving support to Sathyan as he is sinking deeply in the untraceable trenches of life. She has given a great performance with restraint expressions that are sufficient to leave viewers choking with emotion.
Deepak Parambol essays the character Sharafali, the former football player in Kerala Police team. He is the bosom friend of Sathyan and stands by him through thick and thin.
Kudos to debutant writer-director G. Prajesh Sen for the manner he presents a biopic without the intrusion of cinematic fripperies and being faithful to Sathyan's life story. Prajesh makes a candid attempt to showcase his life by randomly flashing the events to create the feel of purgation of minds at the end. However, the portrayal of South Korean players and the spectators at the stadium during a match appears farfetched as the players have no resemblance to the Koreans! The cinematography by Roby Varghese Raj, especially during the football matches is riveting and laudable.
No wonder if this journey through the eventful life of this Kannur-based player haunts our minds. A befitting and touching tribute to the great player!