Bheemante Vazhi movie review: A strong script paves way for delightful moments in this Kunchacko Boban-starrer

3/5

Story: A group of families decide to widen the pathway leading to their houses, after years of struggling to make their way through the lane that is hardly broad enough for two people. While all families initially agree to give a part of their property for the passage, Kosthep, who owns the final piece of land, stands as a ‘roadblock’. Parallel to the narrative of widening the path, Sanjeev aka Bheeman, who takes the initiative for the task, also discovers the error in his ways and finds a new path.

Review: A stand-out feature of Chemban Vinod Jose’s scripts are how the characters in them are unique and yet widely relatable. Combine this with the direction of Ashraf Hamza, whose earthy and funny Thaamasha is still special for its warm characters, and you get a rooted-to-reality tale with everyday characters and delightful moments. In a nutshell, that’s what Kunchacko Boban-starrer Bheemante Vazhi is.

The movie in essence is about a group of families coming together to widen the path leading to their houses. The lane that they now use is so narrow that two people can’t walk abreast; cinematographer Gireesh Gangadharan shows confinement is so many brilliant ways as just like the characters, the audience have to make their way back and forth this path – while precariously balancing a motorbike or observing from a tree as ‘Spider-man’. Just like relinquishing any property – even if it is for the broader good of the society is – this too is a struggle. From carefully stroking the egos of owners to jumping hoops and procedures, the movie mirrors the unending hurdles that lay ahead even if majority of the group is for the plan. In this case, the biggest roadblock is the manipulative Kosthep (Jinu Joseph) – who owns the final property leading to the main road.

Just like its path, the strength of this script is how laser focused it is. It doesn’t wander too often and when it does, it is to unravel of parallel narrative of its protagonist Sanjeev aka Bheeman, who takes the initiative to widen the path for a selfish interest. Bheeman has Kunchacko playing a role that isn’t the usual gentlemanly type who holds up virtues; in fact, he is more interested in physical aspects of a relationship rather than the emotional. But as the story progresses, he realises the error in his ways.

The dialogues, scenes and characters of the film – which is largely an entertainer – is also fresh and realistic, in the sense, you have a woman councillor who also has a political gain in her mind as she helps out with the plan, a railway engineer who doesn’t mind going to a local bar for a beer and makes the most real proposal, and a widow who doesn’t go back to her family and rather prefers to make her living with teaching children judo. Chemban’s character – who is a confidante to Bheeman as well as a doctor (Ashvin Mathew) – is probably his most subtle and endearing turn yet. Each character gets their due and that’s the highlight of a focused script that is clear about what it is trying to achieve.

A particular stand-out scene that also shows the satirical side of the script is when Bheeman, morally-upstanding Tarssus (Suraj Venjaramoodu) and self-destructive auto-driver Dasan (Binu Pappu) go to meet the doctor to convince him to give a part of his land. The character of Tarssus is a mirror to the society of how such people go that extra mile to make sure they are regarded well by only doing what the society perceives as ‘right’ and by extension becomes a paragon of sorts. Jinu Joseph as the wily Kosthep delivers his most memorable performance till date.

While the characters and the script have several delightful moments, the movie isn’t without its flaws. Every time it does sidestep to focus on Bheeman’s narrative, it does lose steam and takes a while to get going again. While the first half sets up the story, the events are predictable. But the second half is breezy and makes up for that.

Verdict: Kunchacko Boban’s Bheemante Vazhi is a realistic satire, packed with situations and characters that are relatable and delightful, so much that this small film will seamlessly find a way into the hearts of the audience. The cool visuals almost make you feel like a bystander observing the road works while the families get into tiffs and arguments.