Deepak Ramakrishnan

Sufiyum Sujathayum (2020) - പറയാതെ കാര്യങ്ങൾ പറയുന്നതിൽ അത്യപൂർവമായ ഒരു intelligence ഉണ്ട് ഈ സിനിമയിൽ... Brilliance! സിനിമകളിലെ സ്ഥാപിതമായ യാഥാസ്ഥിതികതയെയും അതിനെതിരെയുള്ള ശബ്ദമുഖരിതമായ വിപ്ളവത്തിനെയും ഒരുപോലെ നിരാകരിച്ച് വളരെ നൂതനമായ ഒരു വഴി തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത തിരക്കഥ എന്നാണു തോന്നിയത്.... The fact that it doesn't fit either of the patterns could be why some of the viewers' opinions say that the characters are not built up fully, the love story is not built up fully, the social commentary is not vocal enough etc... Makes one think - is Sujatha's and Sufi's love a normal male-female love at all (there are hints of physical attractiveness but with references to much more) and if at all it is not, then how could an auetheur present such a relation in a work of art... does he resort to normal techniques to make others say/speak about such a profoundity in such a relationship... Why does Sufi give his prayer beads to Sujatha and go - is it a mark of his love or something more like say what he calls his 'prayers'... What does Sujatha want to give back to the departed soul - her love or his own other bigger 'ideals' in his life... Mulling over the events in the story line it makes me think the movie has tried to elevate it's whole premise a level above many of the norms that narratives like this stick to around mortal feelings and events... Even with characterization of the Sufi (there isn't too many praises about him in flashbacks- most compliments about him are tempered down) or of Sujatha's character (she looks to be very compliant to many norms, even her speech is not there. But she still communicates effectively through sign and demonstrates a remarkable social and other types of intelligence) or their love (no conscious or deliberate effort to eye candy it, but subtle events and interactions and the innate beauty in the scenes allude about it) it says just about enough... Allowing the viewer to fill it up with more divinity, more intelligence or more love & romance as they want to each of these situations and the movie after touching on these elements goes on to etch more profound contexts... I am enjoying the process of mulling about the movie/screenplay after it was over, more than the pure audio/visual watching experience while I watched through it... But indeed the cinematography & background score and songs were simply great...