Swapna Sanchari Review

After the critically acclaimed 'Ghaddhama', senior director Kamal is once again back on tracks with his new movie 'Swapnasanchari'. A flick that is meant exclusively for the families, the movie offers plenty of social critic on the nature of modern day Malayalees. Making you smile sporadically, it's just like watching a TV serial, that's not hard to predict. But the central concept is really interesting with a believable going-ons.

The movie has Jayaram as Manikkoth Ajayachandran Nair, who from a humble start as a peon in the local government office has emerged as a rich man with his hardwork in Gulf. Though good at heart, Ajayan wants to show everyone that he and his family are enjoying the best of the lives, with the immense money that he has acquired in a short time. To add to his show offs, he buys a theatre and a Benz Car, plans for a Nalaukkettu, donate huge amounts to the local temple and offers money to many others of the area. His father Achuthan Nair(Innocent), wife Reshmi (Samvrutha Sunil) and his daughter ( Anu Immanuel), but don't support the spendthrift life of Ajayan and still opts to live with the minimum. Ajayan also want to take on the good image of the president of the temple committee, Raveendran(Irshad), who happens to be the husband of Ajayan's old heartthrob(Kavitha), currently the president of the panchayath. The good name that Ajayan earns with his show-offs suddenly faces doom, as some unexpected happenings in the middle east makes him realize the quality of living within their earnings.

The only problem with the movie is that it is highly predictable, as the heavy-handed storytelling by K Gireeshkumar relies on the same old tricks and situations that we are made to watch in every family flicks, coming out these days. With some aimless series of adventures that occasionally move on to a preach-a-thon, 'Swapanasanchari' takes a filmi route in its second hour and robs the film of its freshness, reminding of 'Kamal's 'Mazhayethum Munpe' in the finale. You do smile at times, not because the scenes are funny, but because the dialogues with plenty of social observations are witty. The characterisations, including that of Ajayachandran Nair is not consistent as he looks funnier in one scene and in next appear very emotional and mature.

But the director in Kamal is rightly back to success formula of family films handling the subject material in the apt manner. The modest ensemble operates with a convincing rapport and no particular fault can be found with any of the performances or the simplistic message.Jayaram, though in another role reminding 'Veruthe oru Bharya', plays tothe needed demands of the character, while Samvrutha sunil is just oklargely due to the typical, sketchy characterisations.Anu Immanuel as Jayaram's daughter play to the role though with limited expressions.  The supporting cast including Innocent, Harishree Ashokan and Salimkumar works safe as usual.

In the technical front, the movie is wisely cinematographed by Azhagappan, but one expects a little more pace in proceedings.  Music by M Jayachandran is soothing and a couple of melodies including 'Vellaram mala' are tuneful.

On the whole, 'this Swapanasanchari' is strictly for families, who like to have a soft leisure time on theatres. With a convincing story line, yeah, this deserves to be better than just mediocre.

Rating:5.5/10