Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam review: 3.9/5
In Kerala, marriage functions and related celebrations are something everyone looks forward to. For some, it could be looking forward to the reunion of family members. For others, it could be an opportunity to hog on some delicious food. However, more often or not, such celebrations turn into something highly controversial with different family members taunting and complaining about the arrangements or the family members. At times, these are fun to watch, but things can get real ugly as well.
Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam is a representation of such a marriage function going wrong. The film is written and directed by Senna Hegde, with the screenplay written by Senna and Sreeraj Raveendran. The film stars newcomers which include Manoj K U, Ajisha Prabhakaran, Anagha Narayanan, Unnimaya Nalappadam, Arpit P R and others.
Premise
Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam is set in Kanhangad, a town in North Kerala, where Vijayan (Manoj K U) is busy with his younger daughter Suja’s (Anagha Narayanan) engagement celebration. Guests come and go in and the preparations are in full swing. Everything seems perfect until there are ego clashes between the family members. As you can guess, several secrets about the family are revealed, especially about Vijayan running into a financial crisis and Suja being unhappy with the alliance. How these issues are sorted and how ugly can things get is what forms the remaining part of Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam.
Direction and writing
The film was great to watch!
Senna Hegde‘s directorial venture Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam rides high in its solid script and a brilliantly developed story. The concept and main theme of the film are highly relatable to people from different communities. The depiction of nagging family members, extra authoritative father, helpless children, grand preparations for a function and many more elements are extremely rooted and realistic.
The script is simply outstanding. It has a mix of humour, sentiments and some hard-hitting thoughts, which society should definitely understand and incorporate in their lives. The manner in which several characters interact as well as the quirky dialogues in the humorous scenes make Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam an absolute entertainer.
I personally loved how the writers decided to introduce a completely new character towards the end when an intense scene takes place. The introduction of the character proved to be the perfect comic relief and caught me by surprise.
The direction tropes used in Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam by Senna Hegde isn’t new. The clear vision to portray the story right and his decision to have long takes with a steady camera position were brilliant because it helped the viewers immerse themselves into the happenings of that particular scene.
Acting performances
Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam stars a large number of newcomers. One look at their acting prowess, and you’d be shocked at which each of them acted out their character. Manoj K U as Vijayan was a revelation. The sudden change he brings in his mannerisms from being extremely flirty and friendly to becoming absolutely angry was superb to watch. The remaining cast members, literally each and every one of them, were simply outstanding with their performances and we can possibly see them reaching greater heights in the near future.
Technical Aspects
Thinkalazhcha Nishchayamdoesn’t boast of a great cinematographic display. The cinematography by Sreeraj Raveendran, who also co-wrote the screenplay of the film, is basic but beautiful to watch. It was meant to be that way. I personally loved the scenes that took place in the night. It looked natural. Without the use of artificial lights, the visuals were raw and rudimentary, which is exactly what the film required.
Editing by Harilal Rajeev was great too. His slick editing skills helped in keeping the film fast-paced and interesting for the viewers. However, it is the music and background score by Mujeeb Majeed that stands out the most. The use of authentic musical instruments and having a fusion of them with Western instruments gave rise to some beautiful tunes, which were soothing to the ears. It helped in elevating the emotions of a scene.
Overall verdict
As a whole, Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam is a film that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It is a social commentary with enough humorous moments. It has the potential of grabbing the viewers attention and making them intrigued to know how the events would unfold. The authenticity in the storytelling and dialogues, the brilliant concept and story, superb acting performances and an honest attempt at creating something entertaining for the viewers is what makes Thinkalazhcha Nishchayam a film worth your time. It rightfully won two Kerala State Film Awards in 2021, for the Second Best Feature Film and for the Best Story.
