It is fascinating to see how cinema has been focussing on themes that advocate slowing down in life. It is almost as if the pandemic has spawned a sub-text narrative of a range of themes that include mental health, social media addiction, career and balance, fragile relationships and the value we place on the simple joys of life. #Home from director #RojinThomas, streaming on #AmazonPrime is a collage of all these and more reinforces the key message that true measure of greatness is selfless love for each other and not the pedestrian markers that the society imbues upon us.
#Home is the story of a meek old man Oliver Twist (#Indrans); diminutive both in terms of physical stature as well as his standing amongst his children. His elder son, Antony(#SreenathBhasi) is a film director, struggling with his script after delivering a blockbuster first film. He is overawed by his prospective father-in-law and dismisses his father completely. The younger son Charles(#Naslen) is a likeable teenager with claims to being a successful YouTuber but takes both his parents for granted. Oliver’s wife Kuttyamma (#ManjuPillai) understands his plight but prefers to stay in the background save for that one moment when she launches a tirade against both her sons. And then there is Oliver’s father (#KainakaryThankaraj) who is battling the indignity of old age. He is the man responsible for naming his son Oliver Twist, as an outcome of his love for literature.
This is a family in inertia and this is where we enter the household. The children are not the villains here; they are so caught up with themselves and their gadgets that they have no time or patience with the parents. In one scene where Oliver is washing Antony’s car, Charles saunters up with his bike and hands it over to be cleaned as well. In this scenario, Oliver is seeking nothing but relevance; he wants to be in on the game. A story that is no doubt being played across homes not just in Kerala, but also India.
Oliver seeks his friend’s (#JohnyAntony) advise. He even gets himself a new smartphone and notes down instructions on how to use it. All this to no avail. On the contrary, he messes things up in the process. Enter a Tai Chi master (#VijayBabu the producer doubling up in a fun role). The film touches upo several key themes in a collage format; all told in a comic style, never preachy and never harsh on any of the characters. What I found especially fascinating is how some very taboo themes are told so effortlessly. Seeking help for mental issues is a subject no one wants to bring up. Similarly, mindless addiction to digital devices and how this can cripple relationships.
#Indrans, the veteran war horse is in the role of a lifetime putting in a nuanced, heartfelt performance. He is so self-effacing that he wants Antony to remain silent about his heroic deed. #SreenathBhasi deserves special mention for his portrayal of a troubled soul. The women characters are not sketched out well and while #ManjuPillai and #KPACLalitha are special, the roles are not meaty enough. #DeepaThomas plays Priya, Antony’s love interest but again there isnt much to do here. #AjuVarghese, #PaulyValson, #AnoopMenon and #ManiamPillaRaju bring up the rest of the cast in cameo roles.
#Home is refreshingly bright story telling and you can see that it is the writing and the characterisation that wins at the end of the day. The plot takes its own time to unravel and makes the film feel a little too stretched. But there is no way you can hurry the pace here. Music by #RahulSubramaniam and cinematography by #NeilD’Cunha are brilliant.
#Home leaves you with the central theme that the home is where you are truly yourself, imperfect and emotionally raw. It is an innocuous little story that is guaranteed to make you reflect on your priorities in life.
Comments