Ee.Ma.Yau.

Exactly at the 100th minute, Chemban Vinod Jose's troubled and dismayed (because he couldn't pull of what he promised few hours ago) character goes berserk at the prospect of not being able to send his late father off like a legend by giving him a respectful funeral with pomp and loudness and that's when you know that Lijo Jose Pellissery's Ee. Ma. Yau has arrived with its platter full of real-life connotations about how death is perceived by the onlookers who don't but realize that their wildest emotions can still wreak havoc affecting not only the dead but also those who they leave behind. TN.

How often do we think about death? Our brushes with mortality are often when misfortune strikes loved ones or through books and movies. But while there have been great movies centred around grief and dying, one aspect that is sidelined to very simplistic projections is the funeral. Usually, in South Indian movies, you see a gathering where women are wailing and men standing sober faced around a body covered with a white sheet. This scene is often just a few minutes of the movie itself.

Ee. Ma. Yau is different. The entire movie is about the funeral - the messy affair of saying a final goodbye. A poor fisherman's son wants to bid goodbye to his late father with some dignity. But when death strikes suddenly, time is against you and you are poor, this is no easy ask, especially in a society where the distinction between private and public blurs - where rituals, religion, neighbours, corruption, bureaucracy, everything converge to hassle you before you can take even five minutes off to grieve. This is not your usual film that follows an arc - the one where problem strikes, hero suffers, he fights and then overcomes it all. This is more like a documentary on the sociology of death that pays attention to the details - how women grieve differently in front of different people, how a village with little to look forward to creates its own entertainment around death and the dynamics of power that is asserted by religion in times of crisis.

The movie in itself is a little boring - there, I said it. Because, as I mentioned, there is little plot; the genius is in the realism and attention to subtle, societal details. You need patience to sit through the first half, at least. But it does push one to think of the complexities around mortality. Towards the end, all at once, strong emotion hit me. And I did dream a thing or two about death for a few days.

Cheers to the most elaborate funeral in Indian Cinema!

In Ee. Ma. Yau lijo has once again built a place and a set of great characters, who feel grounded to the setting they are placed .With an ensemble cast , lijo has made a film which is rich in atmospherics and dark humor. Strong performances across the board and Shyju Khalid's beautiful night frames has elevated this films to be one of the best films to come out of the Malayalam film industry recently.

Had anyone ever thought of making a film on a funeral ceremony which was in turmoil? Literally no one would have unless it was LJP no words take a bow _/\_ I can see nothing other than his making as it was absolutely realistic and sublime. Performances, cinematography and bgm added more quality to the story. Highly recommended for movie buffs.

Don't you have one of those bad afternoon naps? Wherein you're disturbed by a bad dream? Not necessarily a nightmare, but one disturbing thought that creeps into your head, when you're not sure if you're awake or asleep? Ee.Ma.Yau is one such experience.

This won't make you laugh. This won't leave you with a single happy thought. This won't lift your spirits if you feel down. Yet, this movie connects with you. This movie slowly makes its way into your head. This movie makes you not want to blink. This one neither makes you laugh, nor does it make you cry. Lijo Jose Pellisseri makes you numb. He casts his spell, and takes you away from all things materialistic in this world.

Everything about this film, is perfect. Not all films need a story. A powerful script, extraordinary actors and one great director can prouduce magic. And the end product, Ee.Ma.Yau speaks for itself.

Surreal experience. Take a bow, everyone . Probably my greatest theatre experience till date. Now is when it's all happening in Mollywood.