Peranbu Review: An extraordinary take on human life and compassion

The much-awaited Mammootty starrer Peranbu has finally hit screens today. Thanks to the highly positive reviews from the festival screenings, the movie has come with a huge burden of expectations. Let’s see what the movie has to offer.

Ram’s Peranbu is primarily centred around two characters – Amudhavan and his spastic girl child, Papa. The narrative is split into eleven chapters and each one traces the events happening in the duo’s lives. I just don’t want to reveal anything about the plot because it is best when experienced by yourselves.

Unlike Ram’s earlier films, where the protagonists are loud and angry, Amudhavan in Peranbu is the epitome of patience. He does all that’s possible to make his daughter happy but still finds it hard to deal with the pubertal changes in Papa. Mammootty’s performance as the doting father and the subtle emotional outbursts that come from his helplessness is quite remarkable. He once again proves why he is rated among the finest actors that the country has ever produced.

Sadhana as the differently-abled child, with her hands and legs twisted, stands up to Mammootty and sometimes even outperforms him. Due to her illness, Papa constantly struggle to voice her thoughts, so all her actions have to be portrayed through expressions and Sadhana has a done a fabulous job. The characters played by Anjali and Anjali Ameer enter the lives of Amudhavan and Papa at different stages. With their convincing performances, both the actors make their roles memorable.

Music is as important to this movie as is the performances. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s beautifully composed songs and background score plays a major role in conveying the emotions precisely. And last but definitely not the least, director Ram deserves a huge round of applause for his constant quest to make movies that stand out from the regular run-of-the-mill ones.

In a nutshell, Peranbu is a gem that one should not miss from big screen at any cost. Don’t be apprehensive thinking it’s a tear-jerker. It surely tugs your heartstrings but it’s more than just that. The movie teaches you to value life’s little blessings. Compassion above everything else.