With his new movie `Sufi Paranja Katha', Director Priyanandanan has once again proved that why he is at the helm of award ceremonies in the previous years. Continuing with his characteristic ease in selecting and presenting themes with maturity, the movie is a simple poignant story based on writer K P Ramanunni's award winning novel.
The movie has Sharbani Mukherji, whom you had seen before in movies like J P Dutta's Border and Priyadarshan's Rakkilippaattu. Karthy, a beautiful girl born into the prestigious Meleppullara Tharavadu, she shared a more than curious relationship with her Uncle Shankunni Menon. Later when she gets attracted to a handsome Muslim trader Mammootty, they decide to elope to his place. Karthy converts to Islam and their happy married life often gets into problems as she finds it tough to renounce her original beliefs. With the consent of her husband, she builds a temple near their home. But gradually this became the talk of the area igniting communal issues.
Sharbani Mukhrejee proves that the choice of finding her for the role was extremely a right one, and oozes enough sensuality as the character demands. She is meticulous in playing the complex character. Prakash Bare, the producer of the movie, who is a techie based in Hyderabad plays Mammootty with remarkable ease and performs as if he is a seasoned actor . And together they form a glorious pair often competing to steal the scenes from each other. While actor Babu Antony plays the role of Sufi (a Muslim mystic), his brother Thampi Antony impressively emotes the turmoils of Sanku Mamu. Another special role is of Jagathy sreekumar who plays Avaru musaliar. Vineeth kumar, Samruvatha Sunil and Indrans also play to the demands of their roles.
Director Priyanadanan even while sticking to his conventional ways of film making, proves that he can create the mood and set the balance in narrating even without much experimentation. In the technical front K G Jayan's cinematography and Mohan Sithara's music adds to the quality of the movie
`Sufi Paranja Katha' comes at a time when the Kerala society, heavily immersed in discussions of love-jihad and communal segregation, truly demands such a topic. The honesty with which the director and crew handled it definitely makes it a must watch for the connoisseurs of good cinema.
