Mangalyam Thanthunanena

Director Soumya Sadanandan's ambitious debut feature film, Mangalyam Thanthunanena (Sacred Thread of Marriage), based on the chronicles of a fresh matrimony life (especially in Kerala) is relatable to the core but is only letdown by its amateur screenplay and sketchy, cliched comedy. I am actually impressed by the lead actors' - Kunchacko Boban and Nimisha Sajayan - performances more than anything in the film which goes on and on about a husband's dependence on his wife's not-so-much riches. He often finds himself at the mercy of his wife's gold ornaments which he pawns to get rid of his overgrowing debt that could one day bring permanent turmoil to their matrimony. How the characters develop their future together might make for a great watch for today's husbands but for me, it just is a haphazard comedy drama about the institution of marriage that stops being fun after the 20th minute. The comic relief by Hareesh Perumanna is noteworthy and so is the annoying performances by Shanthikrishna and Molly Kannamaly. If you are a couple already in matrimony or looking forward to it, get a whiff of Sadanandan's product and you will get a fair idea how marriage sometimes works. But don't believe everything it says. TN.