‘Palum Pazhavum’ Review: A Charming Film Despite Its Deceptive Title

In the film, Meera Jasmine is frequently teased as ‘mudhukki,’ but the reality is that she still appears as graceful and youthful as ever.

What’s going on with the titles of Malayalam films lately? Just last week, we had “Vaazha,” and now it’s “Palum Pazhavum.” While “Vaazha” was a fitting title for a story about a group of boys labeled as wastrels by society, the reasoning behind “Palum Pazhavum” remains unclear. Perhaps it aims to reflect the quirky essence of the plot, but in an era where films are often dismissed for trivial reasons, titles play a crucial role in setting expectations. After watching the film, it’s hard not to feel that it could have benefited from a more fitting title.

Directed by VK Prakash, who is known for exploring various genres regardless of their success, this film revolves around the relationship between a middle-aged woman and a young man in his early 20s. The script, penned by VKP’s assistant Ashish Rajani Unnikrishnan, is set a few years back when social media was just gaining popularity. The story follows 33-year-old Sumi (Meera Jasmine) and 23-year-old Sunil (Aswin Jose) as they connect and fall in love on Facebook, unaware of each other’s true ages and family backgrounds.

In the film, Meera Jasmine is often humorously referred to as “mudhukki,” yet she continues to radiate grace and youthfulness. More than just her appearance, she delivers a strong performance as Sumi, an ambitious woman constrained by her family circumstances. Her dreams of gaining independence through a job are dashed when her mother (Shanthi Krishna) suffers an unexpected accident.

Ashish’s writing offers a fresh perspective on the mother-daughter dynamic, diverging from typical portrayals in films. While the mother expresses her frustrations towards her daughter from her hospital bed, Sumi finds herself with no outlet for her own feelings, feeling trapped within the confines of their home. This situation deprives her of the experiences and exposure she desperately needs.

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The film showcases several entertaining concepts, greatly enhanced by the performances of its skilled cast. In addition to the lead actors, seasoned performers like Shanthi Krishna, Ashokan, and Maniyanpilla Raju also have their moments to shine. Ashokan, in particular, delivers a comedic performance as a flirtatious bank manager who is hilariously determined to win over Sumi.

After a consistently amusing first half, Palum Pazhavum loses some momentum as challenges begin to arise in the couple’s relationship. In screenwriting, the lack of communication between main characters is a common device used to create conflict, and Palum Pazhavum utilizes this familiar approach. Nonetheless, the film manages to keep its head above water, culminating in a side-splitting conclusion.

With Palum Pazhavum, the creators aim to challenge societal norms by highlighting the irrelevance of age differences in contemporary relationships. However, it’s disappointing that a film promoting such progressive themes resorts to tasteless homophobic jokes for cheap laughs. Rajasenan’s insensitive depiction of a homosexual man trying to attract younger men only serves to reinforce harmful stereotypes against marginalized communities.

In summary, despite its flaws, Palum Pazhavum emerges as an entertaining watch. The title, however, remains an enigma…

Film: Palum Pazhavum
Director: VK Prakash
Cast: Meera Jasmine, Aswin Jose, Shanthi Krishna, Ashokan
Rating: 3/5