Prince And Family Movie Review
Prince And Family: A Familiar Family Drama with a Social Media Twist
Dileep shoulders this predictable yet emotionally engaging family drama that critiques social media addiction through a moralistic lens.Prince and Family is a typical family drama that leans heavily on familiar tropes but manages to strike some emotional chords thanks to Dileep's assured performance. Dileep plays Prince, a bachelor from an upper-middle-class family who inexplicably shoulders all financial responsibilities for his two married brothers. A fashion designer by profession, Prince lives a life of discipline and order until he falls for Anna, a bank employee. Just as things begin to look up, a twist in the first half derails his plans, adding intrigue to the otherwise predictable narrative.
Directed by debutant Binto Stephen, the film walks a well-trodden path, but Dileep's subtle and confident portrayal helps ground the story. The content, however, is cliched at its core. The narrative shifts into a moralistic tone when the negative impact of social media is introduced as a central conflict. Despite this shift, Stephen manages to extract effective performances from the cast, mining the script for its emotional potential.
Scripted by Sharis Mohammed, known for Jana Gana Mana and Malayalee from India, the film places a deliberate emphasis on the toxic effects of social media, especially in the context of family dynamics. The climax even features a didactic speech by the Health Minister, warning against the rise of self-proclaimed new media journalists. While overly preachy, the emotional cues land well enough to deliver a somewhat satisfying, feel-good ending-though the sequence feels more constructed than organic.
The real tension in the story arises after Prince marries a quirky woman obsessed with making reel videos. Her addiction leads to significant consequences for Prince, placing their relationship under stress. The film opens with scenes that establish Prince's internal struggles as the eldest son of Baby Chakkalakkal (Siddique) and Jancy (Bindu Panicker). His brothers, Jince (Dhyan Sreenivasan) and Shins (Josekutty Jacob), are already married but still depend on him financially. As his attempts at marriage continuously fail, Prince becomes drawn to Anna, with encouragement from his friend Krishnakumar (Johny Antony). The film's early stages feature some light-hearted moments during this phase of courtship.
Manju Pillai shines as Safiya, a key emotional anchor in the story. Her performance brings depth to an otherwise formulaic tale. While the lively portrayal of Prince's wife initially adds humor, the film starts to falter once the narrative hits saturation. The social media critique then takes over, feeling overdone and somewhat intrusive. Dileep, however, remains consistent, holding the film together during its critical moments.
Dhyan Sreenivasan, on the other hand, is underutilized and has little to contribute in terms of impactful scenes. The film finds a comfortable rhythm for Dileep, aligning with his strengths, and that works to its advantage. Prince and Family is ultimately a quasi-family entertainer that over-relies on its social media commentary. While it attempts to critique modern digital behavior, it ends up offering a simplistic, moralistic view that only partially supports the film's emotional base. Though it occasionally engages, the film lands as a passable affair-didactic, familiar, and emotionally safe.
