User reviews

Ullozhukku, written and directed by Christo Tomy, offers a raw and sincere take on human vulnerabilities and their long-lasting undercurrents. All it takes is a solid screenplay for the magnificent revival of powerhouse performers like Urvashi and Parvathy Thiruvothu, especially the former. Urvashi, portraying a mother (and mother-in-law) dealing with her son's illness and eventual demise in a frequently flooding backwater town, is in a league of her own. She reminds us what an asset she is to South Indian cinema, with even the minutest changes in facial expression and demeanor wholly accounted for. On the other hand, Parvathy plays a character that's etched in such a way that she's initially difficult to side with, but the layered writing keeps telling us there's more to her than what meets the eye. She also brings a methodical yet gripping take on Anju, a woman who's forced to marry someone against her choice, and then left in a dire situation between her (ex) boyfriend and mother-in-law.

The writing carries the heft of a family drama with secrets unfolding one by one, and it even exhibits shades of a thriller occasionally, because we're led to think something drastic might happen with each little plot development. DoP Shehnad Jalal smartly plays with character focus, switching between Leelamma and Anju in intense scenarios featuring both. The constant flooding in and around their house also comes across as Mother Nature playing its own game and messing things up further, only to resolve them in due course. A delayed burial, a mistimed phone call, a conversation being overheard, an old medical report being found, a moment of familial reconciliation - every event has an emotional payoff. Death and birth begin to take different meanings in the household.

The supporting cast, including names such as Arjun Radhakrishnan, Alencier Ley Lopez, and Jaya Kurup, is also really good. Sushin Shyam's work on the score is a definite plus, and he brings his A-game. Kiran Das keeps the drama pegged at a good 2 hours and he's wise not to stretch a single scene to milk further sentiment. Christo Tomy and his 8-year journey with Ullozhukku ends on a highly satisfying note. I get the feeling he and his crew benefited big time by shooting the film in sync sound.

P. S. Did I expect things to go insanely overboard in the climax? YES. But, was I satisfied with the route Christo took to end the film? ABSOLUTELY!

Ullozhukku

An ocean of emotions portrayed through sunken human minds.

The plot of the story is about the survival of a young women in a unhappy married life covered up with lies,emotions and her deeply rooted relationship with her mother in law.

Christo has excelled in portraying the inner emotions of each characters in the movie very brilliantly. Not a single lag was felt and it is evident from the way he has penned the script. He has associated the emotional agony of each characters with the endless downpour in the movie.

Urvashi...The real queen...What a versatile delivery. Parvathi's performance with Urvashi especially in the darker areas was at par. Impressive delivery by Prashanth Murali,Alencier,Arjun & Jaya Kurup.

Sushin Shyam has got a feather on his hat again. He has proved that he can shoulder music for any genres. The Background score was so soothing and blended well along with the heavy downpour.

Shehnad Jalal's hands behind the camera was top notch and the way he captured the real beauty of Kuttanad and the hardships of the people in monsoon.

An emotionally touching family drama after Kaathal - The Core.

Rating - 3.75/5.

Movie 7, Urvashi Chechi Oscar.

Urvashi Chechi as the Meryl Streep of kutanad.

Best performance yet by the GOAT.

Movie is slow, great visuals of kutanad.

Urvashi Chechi Oscar worthy performance, her performance is the only thing to talk about in this movie.

The movie is average Urvashi Chechi kills her part.

Her best lead performance movie yet.

Parvathy Thiruvothu is the other lead performer in the movie.

Flood issues of kutanad presented well as the region is mostly flooded and boat journeys are required.

GOAT of Malayalam Urvashi Chechi is the only reason to watch this movie, her performance adds pain to the movie.

Torrential rains in Kuttanad are used to portray melancholy in the Malayalam film #Ullozhukku. There's plenty in the movie for everyone to be sad. Leelamma is sad because her son just passed away. And, because her daughter-in-law has brought shame to the family. Anju is sad because she was coerced to ditch her boyfriend and marry someone whom she did not love. Rajeev is sad because he wants to start his own venture but is forced to work as a waiter. Why therefore should you view a film that is so filled with "sadness"? Because this movie portrays women as brave enough to make difficult choices and support one another in times of need, while still being vulnerable. Because of the exhilarating performances by Urvashi and Parvathy. Because of the brilliant direction by Christo Tomy. Rating 4/5.

Rave reviews and a stellar cast are surely the best ingredients to allure you to watch a movie, and that is exactly what pulled me to watch this one.

It is the story of an ailing husband who succumbs to death, leaving behind his wife and mother. The delay in burying him due to floods brings out hidden truths, lies, and the complexity of relationships to the forefront.

On the surface, it may look like a simple tale, but it has multiple layers that draw you in. The screenplay is tight and helps you understand the intent behind every action taken by the characters. The best part about the movie is that everyone is right in their perspective, yet everyone can be called wrong if you switch on the societal compass.

Legendary actress Urvashi is a force to reckon with when it comes to acting. She still is the best and delivers a standout performance. The emotional turmoil she faces comes across naturally through her facial expressions. Parvathy Thiruvothu is another example of an exemplary actress, and she proves it yet again. Prasanth Murali, even with limited screen presence, does well.

Captain of the ship, Christi Tomy, creates an immersive experience for viewers where silence speaks volumes. The cinematography is another brilliantly done aspect, with picturesque frames that captivate you. It is not your run-of-the-mill story; rather, you get to see a progressive story set in a small village in Kerala.

Get ready to watch a movie that is slow yet highly engaging. Don't miss this gem at any cost and be ready to watch never seen before relationship between daughter in law and mother in law.

#pranureviews #Ullozhukku #UllozhukkuReview.

10: Awesome acting by Urvashi and Parvathi 10: Feelings of being not heard, being cheated by parents and everybody by hiding the truth, feeling guilty of the affair - all are portrayed very clean

1: Yet another movie to degrade Hindu religion.

The dialogue by the lover clearly makes anyone angry and anyone would quit him. However, showcasing him as Hindu was unnecessary.

There are upper-lower castes concept in any religion(even in Christianity- in case to show that her father disagreed to her marriage with lover). That could have been used instead of showing it has cross- religious and then falsifying his dialogue.

It's not Hindu - Lover who spoke that last statement.

It's a man-with-ego spoke that last statement.

Absorbing and emotional Drama at its Best !

Powerhouse performances of urvashi & Parvathy Thiruvothu ;they both lived as their characters and delivered a Fabulous experience !

Music by Sushin Syam added to movie's Strength and Excellent direction from christo tomy !!!

All technical department did a very good work ; cinematography ,editing and artwork ,all are in top standards and commendable performance from rest of the cast too !!

In one sentence i can say about this movie is " a Outstanding drama deserved to be Experience it from Theater "

go watch it cinemas near you !!!!

My Rating 9.

Ullozhukku is achingly beautiful, so bittersweet and it a poignant tale of empathy and human connection amidst rising waters.

I want to appreciate director Christo Tomy for using rain in "Ullozhukku," not merely as a backdrop, but as a pervasive force. It evokes a sense of suffocating discomfort, yet possesses a strange, melancholic beauty - a perfect metaphor for the lives of the central characters, Leelamma (Urvashi), a deeply religious woman, and her daughter-in-law Anju (Parvathy). The narrative takes a dramatic turn with the death of Leelamma's son, Thomaskutty. However, the unforgiving rain adds more to the emotional turmoil within the household as the funeral is delayed creating a ripple effect.

The waterlogged setting is established masterfully, forcing the characters to confront their secrets as truth surfaces. This sets the stage for a deeply bittersweet humane drama.

Despite its weighty themes, Ullozhukku avoids sensationalism. The score, particularly the scene at the interval, perfectly capturing nature of the unfolding drama. In one of my favourite scenes, Parvathy and Urvashi confronting their grief before Thomaskutty's coffin, bathed in the bleak glow, is a masterclass in emotional storytelling.

The final sequences lingering in the cemetery followed by the departing boat deserves a standing ovation. This scene sums up director Christo Tomy's ability to navigate emotional complexities with grace and depth. This film might be big yawn for those accustomed to only popcorn masala flicks and it is definitely for the acquired taste with discerning palate. But this is the kind of movie that passionate cinephiles must support and SPREAD THE WORD.

A silent bow to the director, the cinematographer, the music director, and the entire crew for gifting us this poetic gem.

Brevity in story telling by Christo Tomy with excellent cinematography by Shehnad Jalal .. not only resurrects the soul of the Shakespearean drama that unfolds but also highlights the surreal beauty of kuttanad through breathtaking visuals.

Subtle background music by Sushin Shyam in classical western style is captivating and adds to the core feel of the movie.

Besides excellent emote from all - principally an ageing Urvashi and the young Parvathy Thiruvoth .. the film is the combined result of all elements of movie making fused together brilliantly, drawing in the viewer emotionally too.

The movie with the right type of subtitles is sufficient to pull itself off singularly before any discerning international or national audience sans spend on marketing for such is its narrative strength. This point is beyond debate.

The film is a text book case for all budding film makers to watch over and over again to understand the nuances.

Conclusion: Malayalam films are once again on the ascendancy by virtue of the creativity behind each, indicative of a welcome renaissance and shift away from action staples and crime/police stories that held centre stage so far .. we need to travel far more and the changing trend seems encouraging ...

premnath d trivandrum.

It was neither a great film nor a bad one. The film felt like a mix of Udal and Ee. Ma. Yu. It showed how fragile men were and how the close relationship between women has a driving factor to live out or to be in harmony with problems. Apart from that, it showed how human beings in general have an animalistic way of thinking and behaving. It didn't feel like the acting was astounding; they delivered what the characters and story required in their own manner. I believe the audience for the film starts from mature teens because of the complex dynamics. I would like to see Parvathy in a rendition of Sunset Boulevard and Manju in a rendition of Dodsworth. Both films have central female characters with a negative shade, and Malayalam industry actresses are increasingly distancing themselves from such strong and potentially negative characters that require them to perform beyond their do-goody framework and safe zones. I believe there is entertainment value in it, especially if they perform well.

The film Ullozhukku serves as evidence that any film may achieve great heights at any point in time with the right cast, director, and screenplay. Among the female characters in the movie is Urvashi, who has long been regarded as one of the best artists. This movie still reflects that recognition. Along with showcasing her acting talent, Parvathy has a compelling character. Every scene in the movie seems believable due to the plot and setting. It's amazing how the filmmaker finished the movie without breaking the scene's flow or omitting even a tiny bit of emotion. The fact is that when great stories are brought to life on the entertainment stage-which is what's referred to as cinema-with the aid of a screenplay, film also gains the important distinction of being a good art form.

A movie that I waited for long to get dubbed in other languages n finally ended up watching in Malayalam itself with help of subtitles. I personally loved the movie though it may test one's patience greatly. The entire story revolves around in depth relationship between a woman n her mother in law. A relationship which is covered by hidden lies, deceit to each other. Storyline is quite practical n realistic. By accepting each other's blunders n forgiving, both appeal as strong women. This movie demands main leads to portray lots of emotions in their acting n both Urvashi n Parvathy have done justice to their roles. Available in Amazon Prime. A reminder again about it being very slow but I liked the content, acting n message n here I rate 7/10!

Absorbing and emotional Drama at its Best !

Powerhouse performances of urvashi & Parvathy Thiruvothu ;they both lived as their characters and delivered a Fabulous experience !

Music by Sushin Syam added to movie's Strength and Excellent direction from christo tomy !!!

All technical department did a very good work ; cinematography ,editing and artwork ,all are in top standards and commendable performance from rest of the cast too !!

In one sentence i can say about this movie is " a Outstanding drama deserved to be Experience it from Theater "

go watch it cinemas near you !!!!

My Rating 10.

Parvathy Thiruvothu, her versatile acting skills n ability to portray a wide range of characters she brings depth and emotion to the character. She is the only woman who have guts to choose scripts like ullozhukku, Maryan, Uyare, ennu ninte moideen, poo etc She is a real lady superstar in this generation. Ullozhukku a great drama is the tactful writing, which becomes evident within a few seconds into the film

Urvasi, she is one the greatest master in Indian cinema. The actress shows her tremendous range ability to carry a film and screen presence in a story where she is largely required to be a grieving mother.

Can't say drama although this falls in that category but I would say it's originality and characters perfectly placed. Parvathy and Urvasi once again proved there are not acting but living through the characters. The scenes are organised much more precisely than an award winning movie and emotions carry over so that we will not feel pace of the movie. Colour grading and pattern are so good that it represents rainy season in Kerala without sun. Totally 18+ movie which shows different generations whose view of life is different in the same world, overcomes the dissimilarities when they love each other and decides to live for each other.

I think watching the trailer for this movie was a mistake on my part. It kind of made it seem like there's some mystery along with some intense drama in the movie. Considering that the director did Curry and Cyanide before this, that felt likely. But the film turned out to be a drama that is intense to the characters yet the film being a very compassionate and empathetic look at them. It shows how everyone makes huge mistakes simply because they're trying to make the best of the moments and how that can lead to so many choices but the camera never judges anyone. It's in Asgar Farhadi'd films that I was astonished with this kind of scriptwriting where so many things can happen and you can't really blame anyone except the world and the situations people are put in. Obviously, this is not as good as the Iranian master's films but it follows the same principle. Here, even when there's some characters who are clearly in the wrong, it's really not completely their fault but just how the society is structured and the expectations set à la patriarchy.

Partvathy was great in the role but it was truly Urvashi who stole the show. What an actress and what a performance. She can make you care for her in an instant with the subtlest change in her face. And at the end, I did tear up because of her exceptional acting.

This film kind of reminded me of some films I used to watch in Doordarshan as a child, but can't remember exactly which ones. Maybe it's the setting and the mood, maybe it's the plot itself, but it felt very familiar. I did feel that there could've been a bit more drama at some point which could've made the ending a bit more satisfying.

In my opinion, a movie is best delivered when you don't feel there's a medium separating you from the characters. It should feel real, like you're just watching your neighbors through a different lens. This film achieves that with a beautiful narrative and excellent writing, handling the angst and responses of the two main characters, Parvathy and Urvashi, so well that you gradually slip into their world. You can't imagine anyone else performing these roles; the two great actresses truly lived these characters. The only take away from the movie was the bgm and the performance of every cast in this movie. People who really like a serial type of movie which have over emotions and all that things will surely like the movie but for me whatever type of movie it is, the movie should not be boring rather it should be engaging. And for me ullozhukku wasn't engaging.

Who determines the boundaries of the freedom of women? Everyone will say that it wasn't in the past and now there are no areas where women can't reach because they have the freedom to choose what they want. In fact, the fences of the freedoms granted by the society do not change whether they are old or new. If a girl speaks out loud, she automatically becomes the ruler of her husband/family. Leelamma had dreams! Anju has come together at the last stage of Leelamma's life journey where everyone has decided that children and family are the world. But even Leelamma is not able to recognize the desires of the Anju girl.

Have we not seen parents who consider it their biggest responsibility to hold a girl's hand when a girl is born, except in movies and in everyday life? Even today, our general society has not been able to claim a big change due to this mindset. From the stories he grew up hearing when he was a child A life that is only transplanted into the world of responsibilities. Desires to adapt to the living environment, sighs rising to the darkness. She'll show us that she's happy by taking off the veil of a smiley face that makes up for it all. If she explodes at least once in a while, she will be self-righteous and if questioned, she will become a feminist. And if you show your love to someone else, the problem will be worse.

Someone compared Leelamma and Anju's performance (I didn't see Urvashi and Parvathy) and I didn't feel the same way. I saw a mother and daughter-in-law living in a water-logged house in Kuttanad, their grievances, resistances, small dreams, and the inner currents of their minds.

Every now and then I get asked some questions from male superiors that I can't answer. I also need to change and understand the people around me more. They still need to speak up. There is no hope that films can change lives, but if they can change mindsets and shed some light, then the makers of the film have undoubtedly succeeded.

As I left the theater with my mind reeling with the answers I had left to say, so were those in the packed audience with the same expression on their faces.

It can be said that the script of a movie is the first cornerstone of a movie. Big budget Bollywood producer Ronnie Screwvala must have realized the glory of the screenplay that won the first place in a competition to select the best screenplays in India. Just google the movies produced by his production company.

It is not necessary to say that the camera has really captured the natural beauty of Kuttanad, but when the mood of the people of Kuttanad gets dark, when we hear the weather warning, it also pours a lot of mind to us. It also made the audience feel like "If only this damn rain would fall".

With two of India's best actresses in his hands and a screenplay to bring out their excellence, Captain Christo Tommy has put exactly what he has in mind in front of the audience.

And none of the actors made it worse. Jaya Kurup, Prashant Murali and Alencier are all good.

Every movie is a happy ending, Nothing is the end of nothing. Nothing is the beginning of something new Those who don't realize will be sad Those who realize will be happy That's life!

Jees Kaitaram.

Great direction and screenplay, but the climax was a bit easy to guess.

Urvashi absolutely stole the show with her phenomenal acting, and Parvathy gave her some serious competition! Both actresses were phenomenal.

The movie is filled with talented actors and natural scenes that really draw you in. The emotional moments were beautifully done, and the BGM perfectly complemented.

My only gripe? The hero's ask at the end felt forced just to reach the climax. It was a bit unnecessary and the only real letdown in an otherwise satisfying movie.

Overall, a great addition to the genre!

Great acting and a movie to remember 🙏

Leave it to Mollywood to consider a plot that that other industries won't touch with a 10-ft poll. The leads were phenomenal in this "All parties are at fault, but can you blame them?" storyline that not only showcases what phenomenal acting they can do, but also some amazing frames of Kerala in ways that you may not have seen before.

Much is said about how 'big names' in Indian cinema are mostly male names, but here's another example of why actors like Urvashi, who's been there and done that is all sorts of roles, are bigger than some of the 'big names' when it comes to acting chops.

This is a serious drama film - not for everyone, but definitely worth the watch so that when Urvashi receives a very well deserved award for this film, you know what it's for. If this were an American drama, the Oscar for Best Female Lead was pretty much guaranteed. Watch it for her and Parvathy, for an interesting portrayal of Kerala, for the writing and execution.