Pathemari

When half a dozen of national award winners meet,one will not expect anything short of a memorable experience and Pathemari is nevertheless a truly remarkable piece of film-making that brims with grandeur from acting,directorial and technical brilliance.

Undoubtedly among the best films to come out this year,Pathemari is a heartfelt tribute to all those expatriates who struggled & is struggling hard for their loved ones without expecting anything in return.Director Salim Ahammed solidifies his position in Malayalam Cinema with yet another striking movie after critically acclaimed Adaminte Makan Abu & Kunjananthante Kada.

There's something masked behind the Yardley perfumes and colorfully covered chocolates that we correlate with a gulf returnee and Pathemari throws light on those numerous souls who had strong belief that the most important achievement in ones life is the betterment of his loved ones rather than his personal well-being-A hearty tribute in all means! For someone like me who has dealt with and known people like Pallikkal Narayanan in person,Pathemari gave a feeling as if I'm a part of the narration with a major share of hard-hitting dialogs and situations experienced before or heard of.

The climax portions were simply outstanding and Mammookka nailed it with his brilliant act that made it difficult to control tears rolling down the cheeks.If someone ask me the most touching movie of 2015 I watched from theaters ,my immediate answer will be Pathemari.Period.

Hats off to our pride Mammookka for the touching portrayal of Pallikkal Narayanan who reminded me of few I know in person.Megastar enacted various transformations in the life of protagonist excellently with necessary variations and perfection.A class apart you are,Mammookka <3 Siddique and Sreenivasan were impressive in their respective roles as Launch Velayudhan and Moideen respectively.Jewel Mary made her debut performance memorable.Saleem Kumar,Joy Mathew,Santhosh Keezhattoor etc come in supporting roles and did their part well.

Music & score by BijiBal was soulful and calls for repeated hearing.The title song in Shahabaz Aman's vocals was the best part of the album and blessed with thoughtful lyrics by Rafeeque Ahammed.Oscar winner Rasool Pookkutty did his best part with sound design.

This review ill be incomplete if I left out veteran Madhu Ambaat who captured the visuals brilliantly.Another name to be noted is of Pattanam Rasheed who did a commendable job in the makeup department producing convincing make-ups for various transformations of Narayanan.

Overall,Pathemari is a must watch film for all those who love good films that reflects life as it is.Watchout for the climax which is sure to bring tears to your eyes !

I have seen this movie several times, but when I watch it now doing a course of International Humanitarian Action I am able to find parallel between some of the struggles of the Malayali Migrants at that time of 1950s and also the Syrian Refugees struggling to reach Europe. This movie clearly shows the need to change Refugee laws and also better the condition of the refugees and Migrants in host countries. The other aspect which I felt this movie throws a spotlight on this the current treatment of Malayali Migrants from Middle East which has to an extend stayed the same since the release of the movie. This needs a change and this movie is an open question of why that perception change hasnt happened fully.?

This is a Malayalam language film starring Mammootty.

It is a really good reflection of the initial folks from Kerala who had to migrate to the Middle East in order to escape poverty and hunger in the Communist state Kerala.

Even today the Kerala economy primarily runs from the remittances of these emigrants who had to labour and sweat to pull their families out of hardship. They actually never got to live a wholesome life as in most cases they couldn't take their families along. Living with roommates as boarders all their adult lives, just hearing stories of life that's moving ahead back in their homelands, yearning to be with loved ones, it's truly tragic. The director has depicted these beautifully without melodrama.

This is not even the story of the middle class Indians who reside there now. Having the best of cars and lifestyles, they are now there by choice.

This is the story of the hard workers who had to pay the price of believing their Communist political leaders.

How the protagonist opens everyone's eyes informing that when they send money, it is mostly by borrowing. And how the boatman opens the protagonist's eyes by bluntly saying they value the money you send more than you. The truth is so on-the-face, without Narayanan even informing the boatman Velayudhan about what's happening at home.

It is really touching when you hear in the end that he feels successful that thanks to his efforts, his family could lead a good life..

A hats-off to those pioneers truly is not enough. Our prayers to them.

A must watch movie for such an honest depiction.

Best movie i have ever watched...mammootty shows the real life of peoples working in gulf countries

Pathemari (2015) : Brief Review -

An Ode to True Hardship Spirit of Migrated Malayalis. A film that touches heart as well as brain with life long message. Pathemari must have been worshipped by many Malayalis i don't know because i am not from Kerala and haven't experience their lifestyle. That little bit i know about them is hardly something and lot indirect and this film is a detailed take on a Malayali's life from 60s decade till his death. I have to admit that it would have worked even better if i had been a Malayali. However, it has worked as human drama for me and that social sense is there in me to understand the life a simple human being affected by migration during 60s when it was actually a serious issue for many south Indians and has remained for decades later too. The plot follows the life of Pallikkal Narayanan who migrated to the Middle-East in the early 1960s, when the Kerala Gulf boom was just beginning. The film shows his life in simple manners, no hardcore drama or melodrama like 90s family movies, just a simple presentation of the actual problems any poor but good man faces. That's it but that's too much to be honest. And then there is uplifting climax with life long message about money, hardship, family and true human spirit with heart touching emotions. The music plays an important role here. You know usually I skip the songs while watching non-hindi/English/marathi movies if it doesn't suit me in first 40 Seconds or so but here every song in Pathemari has worked. I didn't skip a single song and that's a very rare thing to me. You know sometimes while watching any emotional film you wish that there must be a terrific Melodious song at right situations which you can take along with you even after the film is over, Pathemari Title Song is exactly what i ordered. Yet another remarkable performance be legend Mammootty and yet another remarkable film in director Salim Ahamed's short but fantastic filmography.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.