Sakutumba Sametha review: A breezy, tender marriage story that could have been a tad more ambitious

2.5/5

Story:

Shraddha, having met her future husband Suri through a matchmaking app, is only days away from tying the knot when she gets cold feet. She then urges Suri via a text message to put things "on standby" as far as the prep is concerned, compelling the two slightly dysfunctional families to get together and talk things out. What then ensues is an awkward yet cathartic meeting that helps each individual grow in their own little ways. 

Review:

As the title suggests, Sakutumba Sametha is all about a happy coming-together. While the term Kutumba means the film is essentially about families, director Rahul PK and his co-writer Pooja Sudhir are keen on lending it a new meaning. And the same newness is experienced by each of their characters as they, through the course of the narrative, forge new relationships and find their own little new families. At the outset, Sakutumba Sametha is a tender tale of love and union but at its heart, it is the story of the little moments of catharsis that family members deserve but are almost never able to access.

An interesting tool that the writers employ is that of pairings. The story of Sakutumba Sametha is concerned mainly with five characters but the narrative, quite deceptively, allows each of them to forge multiple little relationships amongst themselves, and that too in variation. Consider this: Suri's father, played by the delightful Achyuth Kumar, has bridges to burn with both his wife and son but, in tandem, he also strikes a chord with both of Shraddha's (the to-be bride) parents on an individual level. In a cute little scene, you see him guide the bride's mother, played by Pushpa Belawadi, to the ideal spot in his home to take her phone call and a few scenes later, we see him perched on a balcony with the father (Krishna Hebbale) for an intimate conversation. The same pattern is apparent in the film in the case of each character as they all find their respective new confidants, through the course of the evening.

There's also something interesting about the energy that Sakutumba Sametha carries. Rahul P.K. and his cinematographers allow for the everyday mundanity to lurk comfortably amid the simmering tension. The viewer can experience the usual silences and grimaces because the camera never pans away from the action but instead, the film takes pride in presenting the awkwardness. Through a smart setup that compels all the characters to be present under a single roof, the main narrative then unfolds over the course of a single evening. the viewer is also made privy to Shraddha and Suri's evolution as a couple through flashbacks. Bharath M.C., the editor, brings in these little flashes only at significant points and the screenplay too assures that these bits are never overbearing. Thanks to Midhun Mukundan's unassuming-yet-soothing soundtrack and Mark Reddy's efficient sound design that there is an ambient and natural vibe to the film.

That said, Sakutumba Sametha also suffers from the lack of any considerable conflict. Granted that the film is meant to be a gentle, light-weighted urban film but every time there's a hint of underlying conflict emerging, the result is shallower than expected. In an attempt to keep things relatable and middle-class(ish), the writers forego all possibilities to spice things up a little, or even allow the characters to bloom beyond their confines. There are categorical differences between the girl and the boy (played by Siri Ravikumar and Bharath G.B. respectively) that show through simple communication - she has "improved" or "polished" tastes in terms of lifestyle and fashion and he is a simpleton - but the same dialogue isn't effective enough to subtextually convey what Shraddha's going through. The simple justification the writers offer is career or confusion but for a film that has seeped through the ancillary conflicts of the parents, renders the main love story a little bland and underwhelming. It isn't that a dramatic showdown or anything to that effect is warranted towards the but one seeks a uniqueness to their dilemma instead of silliness and mundanity being the core reasons all along. While the boy, Suri, gets a valid attempt to express how all the prior rejections by his previous matrimonial matches have left him slightly scarred, Shraddha's side is left undercooked for odd reasons. For a film brimming with tender yet powerful little moments, it certainly needed a more well-rounded "love" story at the center. 

Verdict:

Sakutumba Sametha is certainly a worthwhile watch that boasts of many light-hearted but delightful sequences. The film's main charm lies in its relatability and the freshness with which it presents the subject, devoid of any unnecessary embellishments. There are shortcomings, surely, but the overall genuineness is likely to make up for it. Watch the film for its many resonating and endearing moments that often get overlooked in real life.