Why Paranthu Po is the lightest film you would have watched this year but has big takeaways

Director Ram, known for emotional films like Peranbu, presents a lighter side in Paranthu Po, a musical comedy road-trip film starring Shiva, Grace Antony, and Mithul Ryan.

Paranthu Po

Director Ram is known for making heavy movies that can leave your heart rolling out with emotions, with films like Peranbu, Taramani, and Kattradhu Thamizh. But for his most recent film, Paranthu Po, he did something completely different. The film starring Shiva, Mithul Ryan, and Grace Antony, is the lightest film he has made so far, and probably the lightest of all the films that have come out so far this year. It is because Ram takes simple moments of detour, ropes in an actor like Shiva, and makes the audience watch the film for its journey and not its destination.

Paranthu Po could be your lightest watch this year

Paranthu Po is a musical comedy amalgamated to the road-trip genre. Gokul (Shiva) and Glory (Grace Antony), who had married against the wishes of their parents, now live in an apartment in the city and strive their best to provide everything their eight-year-old son Anbu (Mithul Ryan) wants. Anbu is notorious like any other average boy of his age, loves his skateboard, and loves to pull tricks on his parents. Ram crafts an ideal house setup for any decent upper-middle-class family who are balancing EMIs and luxuries by trading time spent with their son.

At any point, Ram never attempts to school Anbu on his antics, or us, the audience, about how we should spend time more with family and loved ones. Instead, he makes Gokul and Anbu take a road trip during which they meet people at various pitstops; from Dharma - the Great and Emperor who find joys in the little they have, to Gokul’s childhood crush Vanitha (Anjali) and her husband Guna (Aju Varghese) whose humble content lives is about spending time with their own.

Also read: Paranthu Po movie review: Director Ram crafts a delightful and whimsical road trip drama that makes you pause and smile

Paranthu Po might talk about worldly topics such as urbanisation, losing oneself to the race, and even the commodification of humanity, but Ram is intelligent enough to let us know that these cannot be prevented. He does not want to coax us into believing that the growing commercialisation of our lives can be prevented, or chasing after items of luxury you wish for is a sin. But he tucks in a reminder that once in a while, it is okay to step out and breathe the fresh air, and go back to our chasing. And that is exactly when the miracle happens or to answer Anbu’s question, if a dinosaur can hatch out of a duck’s egg. It cannot happen, but it is good to think about what if and detach from reality only to come back again with some freshness. By this, Ram crafts a light watch, full of songs with simple lyrics, and comedy that seems to ease in with Paranthu Po. The film is largely a journey, which takes place due to Anbu’s notoriety.

Also read: Paranthu Po director Ram: The nature of an artform like cinema is to be progressive | EXCLUSIVE

As the film culminates in a sequence of chase with Glory and Gokul chasing after Anbu, who keeps outrunning them with his childish energy, it is we who understand to appreciate the little things in life. Like when Gokul appreciates how Anbu learnt to climb down the hill in this journey, and how a thirsty Gokul kept running with the water bottle in his bag without knowing all this while. By these, Paranthu Po, with its light and simplistic moments, becomes a poignant watch as it gives food for thought in its lightest way.

Where to watch Paranthu Po?

Watch Paranthu Po streaming on JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium right now. The film is available in several Indian languages to stream with English subtitles.

FAQs

Q. What is Paranthu Po OTT platform?

A. Paranthu Po is streaming on JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium.

Q. Who all are part of Paranthu Po cast?

A. Shiva, Mithul Ryan, Grace Antony, Anjali, Aju Varghese and others are part of Paranthu Po cast.

Q. Who is Paranthu Po director?

A. Ram has directed Paranthu Po.

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