Father's Day Malayalam Movie
I really wish I could have appreciated the efforts behind Kalavoor Ravikumar's 'Father's Day'. I really do. As of now, however, there is very little that comes to my mind except a heart rending performance by Revathy that is undoubtedly one of the best that I have seen by an actor in recent times.
Revathy plays Seethalekshmi in the film; a college lecturer who harbors a dark, disturbing secret deep within. When Joseph K Joseph, a young researcher in criminology (Shehin) arrives at her door step asking her to relive a traumatic experience that she had been through, years back, Seethalekshmi is left with very little choice but to face the night mare yet again!
The psychological trauma that is associated with rape, is not something that erases with time. Seethalekshmi has realized this herself over the years, and when she is told that her son who was born after the atrocious crime was committed on her is waiting for her somewhere, she is almost driven to the point of insanity yet again.
Ravikumar's film thus dwells on an extremely pertinent theme, that has perhaps remained unexplored in Malayalam films till now. But does it stay on focus all the time? No is the answer.
The initial half an hour for instance is a real pain, with Seethalekshmi turning her face away from prospective suitors, and her brother (Vineeth) trying his best to convince her that a better life lies ahead, if she could strain her eyes and take a look.
And there is the researcher as well, who goes searching for the four men who had committed the crime years back. He does find them, and even succeeds in bringing them to book. But as he goes further in search of the real father of Seethalekshmi's child, the script starts running haywire.
Dampening things even further is the presence of Neenu (Indu Thampi), Seethalekshmi's niece who falls in love with Joseph. It doesn't help a bit that both the newcomers try to be at their emoting best; they succeed only in parts.
Revathy stands in stark contrast to the rest of the cast, with her stellar act. They say wine gets better with age, and here is an actor who has just proven it right. With her minute expressions and remarkable histrionic abilities, Revathy makes the film worth a watch, albeit for a very brief while.
'Father's Day' would have been much, much better, if it had dwelt on the principal character Seethalekshmi who has undergone the ordeal of being raped. When it concerns itself with the child born out of the dreadful act, much of what it could have conveyed otherwise, is lost in the process.
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