Wednesday 19 December 2018

Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela (2017)

[**** stars / *****] 

What would one do if they belonged to a dysfunctional family and discovered that the mother had cancer? How about absolute panic, confusion and chaos? 

I booked tickets for Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela (An Intermission in the Land of Crabs) on a sibling recommendation. Director, co-writer Althaf Salim and co-writer George Kora adapt Chandramathi's novel of the same name to the big screen. 

My sibling insisted that it is best not to know anything about the movie before the viewing. It was a great suggestion for when the movie unfolded on the 70mm screen, I was happily taken aback. 

Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela is a little gem of a Malayalam movie, an unlikely, surprising comedy on how a family copes when the mother undergoes cancer treatment. Cancer is fast becoming a common disease in India now. In such a dire state of affairs, the feathery, tickling treatment is both inspiring and courageous.

Nivin Pauly, Shanti Krishna, Lal and the ensemble cast put in excellent performances. The only sore thumb is the contrived romantic track, otherwise, Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela is easily among the best movies to make light of fighting a grim disease.

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