Narayaneente Moonnaanmakkal

I have been looking forward to watch Narayaneente moonnaanmakkal the moment i saw Joju in the cast but still kept my expectations low and didn't watch the trailer , according to movie critic and youtuber Ashwant kok,one of the success of a movie lies in its ability to draw the viewer into its universe and keep you there without allowing you to drift out ,i whole heartedly agree with this view but kok seems not to be impressed with this movie by the debutante director Sharan Venugopal ,myself on the other-hand was immediately draw into the movie's universe , the cinematography is beautiful ,nothing fancy but it has its warm feel just as the movie demands ,the music and background score compliments well,checkout the aching soulful melodies of 'viral thodum',since time immemorial man is always searching he/she is reaching out towards the other who can somehow fill the void and this movie is a meditation on these themes , on love/separation the movie also touches on social issues centering on behavior of people which is rooted in deep bias and hypocrisy leading to some funny exchanges but it also points out that all this is furthering the misery towards others and themselves .... maybe we are all like that fish trapped in that bowl looking for that grand emancipation...

This movie is like a bittersweet hug-it warms your heart but also leaves it a little heavy. It's about how people, deep down, are good and kind, even when life doesn't go their way. The characters feel real, and you can't help but care about them as they face their struggles and try to do the right thing.

The film shows that love can happen anywhere, even in the hardest of times. But it doesn't sugarcoat things-love isn't always enough to fix everything. The relationships are touching and real, whether it's between friends, family, or two people who care deeply for each other. It's beautiful but also heartbreaking, because life doesn't always give us happy endings.

The movie is simple but powerful. The pictures are pretty, the music is moving, and the story stays with you long after it's over. It's not a feel-good film, but it's honest and meaningful.

If you want a story that feels real and makes you think about life, love, and the goodness in people, watch this movie. Just be ready for some tears-it's not all sunshine, but it's worth it.

This movie had the potential to be a thought provoking family drama, but its unsettling romantic subplot completely overshadows any artistic merit it might have had. The film boasts strong performances and a grounded visual aesthetic, the choice to explore a romance between cousins is deeply disturbing and unnecessary.

The Good things first!

The actors, especially mention standout performances, delivered compelling portrayals.

The cinematography and background score create an immersive experience.

The film's initial setup of family conflicts had promise.

The Problem!!

Any positive elements are overshadowed by the film's questionable creative choice. The romantic relationship between cousins is not just uncomfortable but it feels forced and detracts from what could have been a meaningful exploration of familial bonds. It's a theme that adds nothing valuable to the story and instead alienates a large portion of it.

Final Thoughts - Good performances and direction can't save a film from a problematic narrative. Narayaneente Moonnaanmakkal leaves a sour taste, not because it's emotionally powerful, but because it crosses a line many viewers won't be comfortable with. A film should challenge audiences, but this one does so in a way that feels unjustified and unsettling.

⭐ Rating: 1.5/5 - Could have been a great drama, but the storyline ruins it completely.

There is no plot in Narayaneente Moonnaanmakkal (The Three Sons of Narayani). Instead, it's a narration of a few days in the lives of the three sons as they get together at the wake of their mother's imminent death, not without the ghosts of their private and shared pasts. I had a peculiar (in a good way) feeling watching Narayaneente Moonnaanmakkal, with its mellow, meandering pace, performances that make it look like they're living it, and subtle music. It hit home with me because I've seen such family get-togethers get heated up personally, so it was a terrific watch. Save for one major story arc that seemed unwarranted, this film was worth it.

Somewhere in the middle of the movie, we see a frame frozen for a few seconds, depicting a typical Kerala house with three brothers sitting quietly and discordantly. This frame epitomises the entire proceedings of the film. Narayaneente Moonnaanmakkal, meaning "Narayanee's Three Sons" in Malayalam, is a film without a real story, a beginning or a typical end. It is just a slice-of-life portrayal that takes us through a few days in the lives of a discordant family. It feels as if Director Sharan Venugopal set up cameras and sound recording devices in and around the house to showcase the candid happenings there as a feature film!

An old mother (Narayanee) is in her final stages of life on a ventilator. Her three sons, along with their families, come together to be with her in her last days, attempting to bury their past hatchets, at least for the outside world. As their wait unexpectedly prolongs, relationships and intentions unravel. This type of narrative is not new to Indian cinema in general or Malayalam cinema in particular. However, Malayalam cinema excels in this genre by keeping it real, devoid of stars, drama, punch dialogues, lewd comedy, or loud music. This film has none of these elements.

As days pass, apart from the relationship dynamics between the three brothers, there are fleeting references to quite a few other issues-interfaith marriage and its aftermath, caste conflicts in society, adolescent love and breakups, the fraught relationship between a mother and daughter, small-town idiosyncrasies, and the rebellious streak of today's youth, among others. Every character, including the ailing mother who doesn't speak a single word in the film, comes in shades of grey and are as real as possible, thanks to some outstanding performances by the entire cast and impressive camera work.

I am certain that outside of Malayalam cinema, actor Alencier Ley Lopez is not very well known. However, as a character actor, he ranks among the best in the country today, in my eyes. In this film, Alencier, as the eldest son, feels as if he has stepped right out of real life. His performance adds to his already impressive filmography in Malayalam, including films like Thondimuthalum Drikshakshiyum, etc. Suraj Vencharamoodu and Joju George, as the other two sons, deliver equally effortless performances with their restrained portrayals. Even with this heavyweight cast, the ones who stood out for me were Garggi Ananthan and Thomas Mathew, who play the roles of the adolescent kids in the family. Garggi's charming face and her permanently moist eyes serve as a perfect foil for her character in this film. Thomas, as a representative of today's youth grappling with their parents, love interests, and life's purpose, is simply fantastic. Without the stellar cast, this film's straightforward and familiar narrative would not have resonated as effectively.

Director Sharan introduces a very uncomfortable sequence that touches on societal taboos, which could be explosive in a society like ours. He quickly shifts the focus to the core theme, which is the nature of relationships between the three brothers. The screenplay, which moves at a slow pace until then, suddenly accelerates towards the end sequence, which cannot be called the climax, as there is none.

The Director leaves the conclusion to the viewers' imagination, but it is not difficult to infer what might have transpired. At another level, the film echoes the essence of another fine Malayalam film-Ullozhukku (Read My Flash Review here). With numerous undercurrents, this film could easily pass as a sequel to that film, featuring a parallel set of characters!

Narayaneente Moonnaanmakkal, streaming on Amazon Prime, is a must-watch if you appreciate realism in movies, as I do.