A scene from ‘Visheshyam’
Malayalam words visheshaam It has several meanings, both pleasant and unpleasant, depending on the context in which it is used. visheshaam The title of Sooraj Tom’s film alludes to the latter, pointing to the unpleasant questions that newly-wed couples face from relatives and strangers.
At one point, the makers seem to clarify their stance on such questions when one of the lead characters, Sajitha (Chinnu Chandni) loses her cool at a woman in the neighbourhood who keeps pestering her with questions about having children. But not like Jude Anthony Joseph Sarah’sTom’s film deals with such societal pressures faced by a couple, but it is not entirely based on that. Rather, it deals with the emotional turmoil that a couple goes through when they succumb to such pressures.
Anand Madhusudhanan, who wrote the screenplay for the film, also plays the lead character Shaiju Bhakthan, an online motivational speaker and organic farmer who is struggling with a lack of motivation in his personal life. After a broken marriage on the first day and multiple rejections in his second attempt to get married, he befriends Sajitha, a police officer who has also survived a bad divorce.
The evolution of their relationship, from initial discomfort to meeting each other’s ideas, is relatively well-portrayed, made all the more effective by the earnest acting of the lead pair. But, the same cannot be said about the narrative which falls flat at times due to some aimless writing. At some turns, it almost seems like a public awareness ad film about infertility clinics, but after a few pointless repetitions of the same plot point, the film takes another direction. In the end, it almost doesn’t turn out to be a good advertisement for such centres.
visheshaam
Director: Sooraj Tom
Cast: Anand Madhusudhanan, Chinnu Chandhani, Althaf Saleem
Story: Soon after marriage, a couple faces societal pressure to live up to conventional expectations, which takes an emotional toll on their lives
Duration: 136 minutes
visheshaam This can be seen as an example of the filmmakers making a film based on a particular issue, and paying more attention to the issue than to the different aspects of filmmaking. Despite having recognizable protagonists, whose everyday life the film outlines several times, and some emotional high moments, the film doesn’t really leave any impact due to its mostly predictable approach. The writing also doesn’t seem adventurous in making some extra effort to avoid rocking the conservative boat too much, as is the case in the films. Sarah’s It did. It only takes guts to take action against those who interfere in the personal lives of others and make their lives hell with their unwanted opinions. But, even this is no small step.
Visheshayam is currently running in cinemas
