For every little girl, her father is a hero. Sara David (Anikha) is no different.
Her classmates call her Bragger Sara as she always has some heroic tale to share about daddy dearest, David Ninan.
When she becomes a victim of sexual abuse, David will leave no stone unturned until he kills the criminal.
Directed by debutant Haneef Adeni, this film talks about an issue that happens all over the world.
The pain and anguish that a family goed through when their child is abused is enormous — the feelings of guilt the parents wrestle with and the constant fear they live with over their child.
However, all this is missing in The Great Father.
Sara’s trauma is told in passing, while her mother (Sneha), who is a doctor, doesn’t have much of a role to play. This story is so obsessed with the father and his image that everything else has been completely overlooked.
The sensitive issue is overshadowed by David’s larger-than-life image. Not to forget Arya’s tough appearance as Andrews, the police officer on an investigation.
From the start, the film is about Mammootty. The actor’s introduction in the story itself is a grand affair. Led by a cavalcade of bikers, David steps out of an impressive car wearing a Louis Vuitton jacket. His daughter reminds him to put on his dark sunglasses.
When Arya is in the frame, the highlight is his rude and arrogant behaviour as an undercover policeman who means business.
Recently a Tamil film, Nishabdam, told a story about child abuse. A girl is abused on her way to school and the aftermath of this tragedy is explored sensitively.
The child is so affected that she dreads the touch of her father, the man whom she adored earlier. It’s her mother she seeks comfort in. The father, without intruding her space, works on bringing her back to normalcy while keeping a distance from his child.
Quitting work he follows her every day without her knowledge, posing as one of her favourite cartoon characters. That was a ‘great father’ indeed who bridged the gap with understanding and love reminding us what life is eventually all about.
The child psychologist in Nishabdam works with the child and the tenderness in her approach is so beautiful. These lessons are shared quietly in the movie.
This acts as a sharp contrast to the counsellors from the child welfare board who meet Sara in The Great Father. Does anyone shout to an abused child?
Unlike The Great Father, Nishabdam did not piggyback on a major star and was barely noticed, despite it being a good film.
The Great Father despite its lofty title fails to touch a chord. The ego clashes between David and Andrews gets on one’s nerves, as each tries to outdo the other. Not to forget the jarring background music with English lyrics that accompany David every time he is doing his investigation.
And, what was the contribution of actress Malavika Mohan playing a police officer? Her role was created merely to make sexist jokes.
As for the serial killer who calls himself The Joker and taunts the police force with random telephone calls... his life remains a mystery. What made him resort to this life is unclear.
One thing is clear though; the joke is on us.
Check it out
The Great Father releases in the UAE on April 13.
