Arkariyam — Who Knows!
Anupama Chopra keeps referring to the movie, almost getting the pronunciation right. My wife confirmed ‘you will like it’ (she knows my taste), so chose to check out. I am very selective about the movies I watch. Also promote #SayNoToBingewatching 🙈😁
Shirley (Parvathy) and Roy (Sharaf), a married couple, move from Mumbai to her home in Kerala ahead of a nationwide lockdown.
Roy’s consignment from China is stuck, even before the lockdown requiring payment of an additional bribe to get released. Roy’s relationship with his childhood friend is at a breaking point owing to accumulated debt of 2–2.5 CR!
The announcement of the lockdown by the PM happens before they could go and get their daughter from her hostel.
Shortage of liquor, inability to travel, get consignment released thus affecting the business to property sale to clear debts, and banging plates are all captured in the story.
The story revolves around the offer from Chachan to sell the property so that he himself can move to an apartment in the city with some help (‘home nurse’), and the couple can clear their debts.
The story turns when Chachan shares a Drishyam like secret with Roy! The sheer weight of carrying the secret, and the turmoil Roy goes through, caught between his love for family, his need to clear off the debt is the crux of the story.
One of those rare films which you can actually watch with family on OTT!! More importantly, ‘U’ certified a rarity today.
A good, light film with good acting the lead actors, with a story, interior Kerala well-captured, and very real. A father’s love for his daughter, the way the couple takes care of chachan, the child’s response to the lockdown, Mallu friends speaking in Hindi 😁, one of them losing control when drunk, subtle nuances of various relationships… all these make it a good watch.
