Sureshanteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hrudayahariyaya Pranayakadha Malayalam Movie
As a spin-off from 'Nna Thaan Case Kodu' (2022), lead pairs Sureshan and Sumalatha are not treading water here but make us submit to the journey of their love affair. Writer-director Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval has further amped up these characters by instilling a sparkling identity to transform them as protagonists. 'Sureshanteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hrudayahariyaya Pranayakadha' (SSHP) unravels their flashback set in the backdrop of theatre arts. Ratheesh has chosen a village where drama and theatre are the very essence in the life of villagers. The director has leveraged the possibilities of three different periods to narrate the tale dunked in fantasy and reality.
Indeed, at times, the viewing process appears to be heavy and protracted, but the tremendous performances and fresh premise sustain its quality in the making. The fantasy element aesthetically blends with the simple love story. The film begins with the scene of Kozhummal Rajeevan (Kunchacko Boban), the hero in 'Nna Thaan Case Kodu,' sitting on a beach and he gets a replica of Taj Mahal.
Rajesh Madhavan reprises Sureshan, who returns home following the death of his grandmother after a sabbatical. His elder brothers and their wives are eager to divide the land properties but Sureshan poses a hindrance to it. On his return to village, Sureshan tries to resuscitate the theatre group in the village with the aim of buttressing his relationship with Sumalatha, played by Chithra S Nair. Though his relatives are against forming a drama troupe, Sureshan accomplishes in getting his sister-in-law Charulatha (Sharanya Ramachandran) as the heroine. Meanwhile, Sumalatha's father Sudhakaran, fabulously played by Sudheesh, also joins the drama as the hero. But things were not easy for Sureshan to reunite with his lover.
'SSHP' brings out the signature style of the director, who strikes gold in adorning the proceedings with genuine humour and extracting natural performances from actors. The bizarre narrative pattern of interspersing the same scenes with black & white and colour shots is a tad baffling. And the complex fantasy element poses a hindrance to appreciate the movie perfectly. Still, what makes this uneventful plot unusual is the treatment and delightful performances of a bevy of newcomers.
This flick is a subtle ode to theatre movement and its impact on society. Even as the intermittent songs and choreography give the effect of a lengthy exercise, the arresting performances of relatively newcomers make the film stay afloat. Sureshan, who is a caricature sort of character, is well moulded in the hands of Rajesh Madhavan, whose perfect chemistry with a flexible Chithra totally elevates the film. Apart from the staggering performances of the newcomers, Sudheesh steals the show with his dominance in a powerful role. Besides, Sharanya has lapped up the opportunity perfectly as a performer making a deep impact.
Bristling with natural performers, this film creates a cinematic landscape where the spasm between drama and reality is tenuous. However, amidst exuding its aesthetic value, the frequent deviation of events and periods vividly whip up confusing moments. The music by Dawn Vincent as well as Sabin Uralikandy's visuals equally lends an aesthetic charm to the flick that explores the impact of drama in a village. The prolonged romantic tale is unevenly spread in different periods, but bright performances and narrative style are hard to ignore.
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