Peeling back the layers of Narayaneede Moonaanmakkal - how it presents a complex and nuanced portrayal of sibling bonds, generational differences, and the intricacies of human emotions and also invites us to reflect on the complexities of our family ties.

There has been a silence of 25 years between Bhaskaran (Suraj Venjaramoodu) and his estranged brothers, Sethu (Joju George) and Viswam (Alencier). Bhaskaran’s elopement with a Muslim girl led him to London, but not before severing ties with his family. But then, now fate, in a twist of irony, has presented before him an opportunity for redemption, which can not only reunite him with his roots but also mend the frayed bonds of kinship.

Narayaneede Moonaanmakkal, directed by debutante Sharan Venugopal, revisits a classic trope reminiscent of the 80s Malayalam cinema, weaving a thoughtful narrative around a familiar yet timeless theme. If MT Vasudevan Nair’s Alkootathil Thaniye (1984) explores the decline of an upper-caste Hindu ancestral home, delving into themes of patriarchal lineage, familial dysfunction, casteism and the quest to reconnect with one’s roots, Padmarajan’s Thinkalazhcha Nalla Divasam revolves around warm, aging matriarch, whose unwavering love for family, nostalgia and tradition subtly conflicts with her sons’ reluctance to trade the urban comforts they have grown accustomed to, leaving their mother to face the challenges of aging alone.

But Sharan Venugopal, unlike his predecessors, is keener on exploring the darker areas of familial bonds, tackling stigmas, and the unaddressed elephants in the family room.

The........

© Mathrubhumi English