Sila Samayangalil

This film is about the happenings at a medical laboratory where seven people are anxiously waiting for the results of their HIV test. Ashok Selvan is the most chatty one among them and he initiates a conversation with a reluctant Prakash Raj first, followed by the other five people. Each one opens up about why they're doing the test except for one person. As the test results are only released after a few hours, Ashok tries to get the help of one of the counter staff (Shriya Reddy) to reveal the results earlier, by offering her money in exchange. As she desperately needs the money, she agrees. However, getting the results out is no easy task as there are strict protocols in place. The doctor in charge is a no-nonsense character (brilliantly portrayed by Nasser) who monitors the staff carefully. The counter staff tells Ashok that out of the 7 blood samples, only one has tested positive for HIV. However, she does not reveal the name of the patient. The waiting continues with much suspense. Was there really a HIV positive result among the seven patients? The answer is revealed in the climax. This film was produced to create awareness on HIV/AIDS and had no theatrical release. It is available on Netflix.

'Sometimes' succeeds in setting the mode, tone and character nuances for the idea that was intended to be conveyed. Right from scene 1, you find yourself amongst the anxious people who put their fate to 'test' at a clinic while waiting what it feels like forever, to be reported on their HIV contraction. The entire movie is a situation that most of us would witness in our daily lives at a hospital/blood test center. The emotions of each character inject themselves into your mind slow and strong that although you may constantly try to judge why they behave the way they do, you however are constantly in understanding the root cause of said actions. Everyone has their own reasons, justifiably simple and realistic. Toward the end, you are left with a minute discomfort, which makes you think about it all over again. This movie does strike the right cord. Every actor played their part with subtlety and within bounds. A valuable lesson on how to make a movie. It screams directorial excellence to me.

12 Angry Men, The Man from Earth, Exam, and Cube are some well-known Hollywood flicks coming to mind immediately when you hear about a chamber play (A movie shot entirely around a single set or maximum two, importance being given to the character development and their emotions rather than the location or the movements). It was about time someone does a well-executed Indian take on the same - Trust the ever brilliant Priyadarshan to pull it off to perfection in Sila Samayangalil (Sometimes)! Based entirely inside a diagnostic centre from morning to evening, the movie is all about 7 people who have done an HIV test in the morning and waiting for results which would be delivered the evening only. Added to this tense and broken brigade of characters is the receptionist going through a financial crunch and the lab technician whom she manipulates. The 7 waiting persons decide to bribe the receptionist so as to know the results early since the wait till evening 5 is killing them out of anxiety. After sometimes they come to know that 6 among them have been tested negative, while only one is being declared positive, the catch being that the technician couldn't specifically record who the unlucky one amongst the 7 was! From there the movie develops through their emotions, guilt, anxiety and stress. Apart from being an intense drama on this serious topic, Sila Samayangalil strives to create more awareness on this disease, dwindling more on the social stigma and ostracization associated with it rather than the more common medical implications. The sound recording is a minute but laudable aspect of this flick, silence replacing the BGM for the majority part. The day to day street sounds , the hawkers and vendors resonances and the white noise comes in as a blaring hindrance whenever the doors or windows of the diagnostic centre opens briefly, otherwise masked by the eerie periodic chime of the token number only. Amongst the cast, Prakash Raj does a cakewalk as the introvert middle aged man out to test his status, plagued by guilt over his brief encounter in the past. But it's Ashok Selva who gives a brilliant performance as the outspoken youngster coming in to test his status. His hyperactive mannerisms and the stark difference with the introverted Prakash raj and the amusing acquaintance they form over the course take the screenplay further. Chances are there this flick will bore you if you are not patient enough to let the proceedings unfold slowly but surely without any songs or BGM, each frame exploring the characters one by one. Time and again such rare gems have the same fate of not getting a theatrical release, in this case at least being released in Netflix. 34 years since he has marked his presence as a director, Priyadarshan is a man who has been mocked often for his inspired stories and screenplays from Hollywood and his uncanny knack of remaking films into Bollywood from the south. The new gen wannabe intellects have even gone to the extent of labelling him as a slapstick churner in favour of the recent Kochi based crop of self-declared new wave filmmakers, but Priyadarshan has proved again why he is one the most creative and technically brilliant filmmakers out there who knows what they does exactly. Sila Samayangalil would easily go in as one of his best creations - together with Kaalapani, Kancheevaram and all the hit 90's flicks with Lalettan!

Priyadarshan delivers yet again! This time in the most mind-blowing way one can expect! I humbly request everyone who reads my review to promote this movie to every Indian. This is not just a movie, but a real life answer to many who don't know enough about AIDS. It's so informative to the extent that being 35 years old, there were many things about AIDS that I didn't even know, which I learnt from this movie.

Everyone in the movie totally delivered above and beyond their ability, and it goes without saying that Prakash Raj conquers his role like every other movie. There's no movie made in India such as this. The intention is not to bag awards (however, I'm sure this will be rated the best movie shortly and I will stand by it any given day), instead, it is to spread awareness to those who know little about AIDS and how they should handle their crisis. The story revolves around 7 people who come to a diagnostic centre to test if they are infected. The movie then goes on to even show the corruption in these diagnostic centre's and the sheer greed and ignorance of some people who work there, that can take away the life of the innocent.

I'm not going to write anymore as I want everyone to watch this movie and share it with all. As for Priyadarshan, I still stand by my word over years of watching his movies that I will stop watching Indian cinema the day he retires. He was, is and will remain the best Indian Director! Thank you so much for yet another brilliant life lesson, every minute of it was well spent and taken away to spread awareness to all who I know.

If this production doesn't get an award in every box office, THEN NONE SHOULD! This should be rated the best movie ever made in decades!!!

Silence captivates this thriller to a breathtakingly shot climax. Pure thriller that concentrates on nurturing and delivering uaing shots. Vijay and Priyadarshan ji... Take a bow!