Ullozhukku Movie Review: Urvashi and Parvathy Thiruvothu Are Stellar in This Sensitively-Handled Tearjerker (LatestLY Exclusive)

Ullozhukku Movie Review: All things considered, I see Ullozhukku, the new Malayalam film written and directed by Christo Tomy (Curry & Cyanide: The Jolly Joseph Case), as a love triangle. The film centres on a woman choosing who she wants to spend her life with and whom she ultimately selects. The process of making these decisions and the factors that influence them make Ullozhukku stand out. The film sensitively addresses the need for a woman's agency and autonomy rather than being seen as someone's property. The stellar performances by Parvathy Thiruvothu and Urvashi, in a career-best role (which is saying something), further elevate the film. Ullozhukku Movie Review: Critics Laud Urvashi and Parvathy Thiruvothu's 'Brilliant' Performances In Christo Tomy's Directorial

Anju (Parvathy) is married off to a well-to-do family in Kuttanad by her Christian family, despite having a lover, Rajeev (Arjun Radhakrishnan), a Hindu boy still struggling to find a good job. Her married life is challenging, as her husband Thomaskutty (Prashant Murali) is diagnosed with a brain tumour and is nearly bedridden. Her mother-in-law, Leelamma (Urvashi), treats her lovingly, unaware of Anju's scandalous secret.

Anju discovers she is pregnant, but her husband passes away the next day. The film then follows Anju's efforts to hide her secret and the impact this revelation has on both her family and her husband's family, all while their village is flooded, delaying her husband's funeral.

Watch the Trailer of Ullozhukku:

Ullozhukku Movie Review - An Unexpected Slow Thriller in a Moving Drama

As I mentioned in the first paragraph, I see Ullozhukku as a love triangle. Simultaneously, the film embeds a slow thriller within the human drama, keeping the audience hooked on what will happen next. When Anju nonchalantly talks to her lover on speakerphone, I was worried someone would overhear the man's voice. When Leelamma discovers Anju's pregnancy and insists she inform her husband, I was anxious about his reaction.

The screenplay offers several nerve-racking moments with surprising resolutions, subtly woven into the story of a family realising the true nature of its members only after a death. This concept has been attempted in Malayalam cinema before, notably in Anjali Menon's underrated debut  Manjadikuru and Lijo Jose Pellissery's subtly powerful Ee.Ma.Yau.

Ullozhukku Movie Review - Well-Written Characters and Situations

Ullozhukku is a fine addition to these films. It not only reveals the cracks in relationships but also exposes the true nature of people we think we understand but without vilifying them. The characters display varying levels of selfishness, including Anju. It is admirable that Anju finds her sense of agency, which she never had before or during her marriage, even if it is born out of guilt and desperation. Yet, at times, I wonder if she truly thought things through. Her determination to leave the house immediately after the funeral felt extreme at first to me, though she had her reasons.

Leelamma's possessive nature towards Anju and her unborn child can be seen as a grieving mother finding a second chance to raise her son again. However, when a secret emerges from her own house, her protectiveness comes into question. And they are not the only ones holding secrets. The well-interwoven dynamics of lies and broken trusts make these characters fragile, but that is not what makes this movie so good.

Ullozhukku works beautifully because the characters evolve and adapt to become either better or worse people. Their actions and decisions, especially in the third act, may seem unbelievable to me only because Ullozhukku hits close to realism; it is rare to see people act so rationally in real life.

Speaking of realism, the demise of Thomaskutty hit me closer to home than I could have imagined, reminding me of a similar loss in my family. I was in tears by the end of the scene. But that is not the only scene that left me emotional. Leelamma's grief over her son's death and her impending sense of abandonment and loneliness also affected me deeply. Leelamma is not the epitome of goodness; she has always treated Anju with love and care but has been oblivious to her daughter-in-law's struggles. Leelamma's behaviour is a conditioned product of years of marital neglect, harshly reminded to her in the film's most powerful conversation between her and Anju.

Ullozhukku Movie Review - Stellar Performances From Urvashi and Parvathy

The biggest reason why you feel empathetic towards Leelamma, despite her flaws, is Urvashi's note-perfect performance. The veteran actress, who - I learnt, to my surprise - has only won one National Award for a performance which was well within her comfort zone (Achuvinte Amma), delivers her most poignant act in years. In an ideal world, this should earn her another National Award. Her range and tone modulation are remarkable. Just observe how tenderly she talks to the ailing Thomaskutty, mingling sorrow and dread, and then notice the rigidity in her voice when things do not go her way with Anju. It is a terrific feeling to observe and admire such a class act from beyond the screen. Even in scenes where she does not speak, her eyes and facial expressions convey plenty. If you have not been a fan of Urvashi before - seriously, why not? - you certainly will be now.

Matching an actress at the peak of her form is challenging, yet Parvathy excels at it. She convincingly portrays both the frailty of her situation and the steely determination she later adopts. Parvathy impresses as the woman wronged for years who is determined to live life on her own terms, yet she is still a girl seeking validation from her parents. The best part of the film is the silent, firm grasp of hands between Leelamma and Anju while on a boat, one conveying her decision and the other tearfully accepting it. The way the scene frames them together side by side while on the same boat - ahem - is lovely.

In a year when Malayalam Cinema delivered both in content and at the box office, the biggest criticism was the lack of films with well-written female characters. Ullozhukku, along with Aattam, refreshingly bends this trend, even if they do not revolutionise audience perceptions of box office success. Aattam Film Review: Anand Ekarshi's Directorial Debut Shines in This Powerful #MeToo Drama With Exceptional Performances.

Arjun Radhakrishnan (Rocket Boys, Kannur Squad) performs well in his role, but his character feels like an outlier in the unfolding drama at Leelamma's house. Rajeev's character is not explored in-depth, and his sudden change near the third act feels disconcerting, even if I get his desperation. The supporting cast, including Prashant Murali, Alencier, Veenah Naair, Smruthi Anish and Jaya Kurup, is commendable.

Special mention should be made of Shehnad Jalal's composed camerawork, which provides well-composed frames of the flooded house and village. Sushin Shyam's background score is another highlight. The best use of background music is when it complements rather than dominates the scene, and Shyam's music works beautifully throughout the film, especially in the final portions.

Ullozhukku Movie Review - Final Thoughts

Ullozhukku is a deeply moving human drama that sensitively portrays and asserts the need for women's agency in a patriarchal society like ours without going overboard. Christo Tomy's nuanced storytelling, combined with powerful performances by Parvathy Thiruvothu and Urvashi, ensures that Ullozhukku resonates with you on both sentimental and intellectual levels. Do not miss this, and certainly do not forget to bring the hanky with you.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2024 06:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).