Family bonds are an intrinsic part of Anjali Menon’s films.
In Koode, an adaptation of Sachin Khundalkar’s Marathi film Happy Journey, Menon explores a relationship not often feted in films — the bond between a brother and his little sister.
Joshua, who works in Dubai, arrives at his hometown in Ooty for a close family member’s funeral. We soon meet his family — father Aloshy (director Renjith), a car mechanic, and mother (theatre artist Maala Parvathy), a homemaker. Walking into his sister Jenny’s room with Joshua we get to know his late sibling through her creative work and drawings. Not to forget her companion, Brownie, the pet dog. We also learn about her congenital disease.
It doesn’t take long to sense Joshua’s aloofness towards his parents. Flitting between the past and the present we understand the reason for his anger and a deeply lodged pain. Having been compelled to leave home at 15 to support the family with a job in Dubai, Joshua has missed out on several things, including spending time with Jenny.
He is a caring son though and his resentment does not manifest in actions or confrontation with words, but sometimes he cannot help himself with his sarcastic jabs.
Going on a flight of fantasy, the siblings bond over many things. In the company of his free-spirited sister, Joshua changes from a brooding man to find himself, his love for Sophie, and his passion for football game.
Menon’s writing carries power. Her characters are marked with fervour — they are real and vulnerable. Though opening with a tragedy, her story is devoid of melodrama, yet the pain and sorrow is palpable. There are no meandering dialogues, and apart from Jenny, the characters don’t speak much, instead conveying more with a look or a silent moment.
The casting is pitch perfect. Prithviraj and Nazriya bond lovingly as Joshua and Jenny. Zubin Nazeel Navas as a young Joshua, with his love for football and train models, and an even bigger love for his sister, impresses on his debut. Nazriya is back with a bang — her onscreen vivacity reminds you of her Pooja Mathew from Om Shanti Oshana. Prithviraj handles a wide spectrum of emotions with finesse. He is at his best in the scene when Joshua realises that Jenny is gone forever — that’s when the tragedy of losing his sister sinks in.
Director Renjith is a wonderful surprise as his Aloshy wins everyone’s heart. Renjith’s act is a master class in performance. Maala Parvathy fits well into the shoes of Joshua’s mother.
Parvathy and Prithviraj play love birds once again. As Sophie — a victim of marital abuse — Parvathy reiterates the wonderful performer she is. Both Parvathy and Nazriya look lovely in their natural look, with barely any make-up.
The narration is speckled with warm moments — young Joshua picking up a fallen nest and restoring it to its place. Jenny in all the family photos carries a framed picture of Joshua, a cute expression of her love for her far away brother.
There are moments that stay with you. When the adult Joshua finds his father working on his train model from childhood days, a long festering bruise gets its balm. The silence in their stares speaks out their hearts emotions.
Koode has its share of good clean humour especially with Jenny and her ways. My favourite is the condolence meeting in Jenny’s school where a boy decides to sing to the audience in her memory, Daddy Mummy Vettil Illa -an inappropriate number.
Cinematographer Littil Swayamp’s frames depict perfectly the quaint hill town of Ooty while ushering a warmth into the narrative.
Menon, who has Vincent Van Gogh’s quote on her blog — “I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say he feels deeply, he feels tenderly” — once again connects with viewers through her celebration of relationships and homecoming in her films.
Koode is about living in the now.
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Don’t miss it
Koode releases in the UAE on August 2.
