Oru Small Family Malayalam Movie
Oru Small Family claims that it's a film that would make a stern statement against alcoholism. But given its dismal quality, do not be surprised if a few of its distraught viewers head straight for the nearest beverage counter to quench their distress.
There is no way in which this film could have been directed by Rajasenan, who had given us such pleasant entertainers as Meleparambil Aanveedu and Ayalathe Addeham. One of the director's staunchest admirers who watched the film with me couldn't help hide his disappointment and muttered - 'And I thought Bharya Onnu Makkal Moonnu was the nadir!'
The film concerns itself with Viswanathan (Rajasenan) who works at a government office, who wouldn't even hear of accepting bribes or taking the wrong turn in life. His wife Kausalya (Seetha) is a strange woman in that she derives some sort of a vicarious pleasure from serving the hoardes of men who queue up outside the beverage shop in front of their house. She's therefore often busy beating up omelettes for them or serving the much-in-need pickles.
The couple has a daughter Ammu (Ananya) who is continually impressed by her college mate Kishor (Kailash). Little does she realise that Kishor belongs to a 'Small family' where everyone including the grandfather, mother and uncles are certified drunkards who have been running the liquor business for long. When Viswananthan learns of his daughter's heart being stolen by a member of the small family, he immediately takes to drinking!
Everything about the film makes you wonder how it is that such films make it to the screens. The members of the small family are given such names as Caesar, Bejoyce, Hercules and what not, and they suffer from the same disease; that of shaking hands and fingers. The men are therefore unable even to hold a plate, and do acts that require finger coordination together.
Unable to stand her alchoholic husband any further, Kousalya gathers the fellow wives with similar plights together. The mission is to gulp down a drink and show their worthless husbands what they have been doing to the women all the while. The scene ends in an unbelievable mess with a whole lot of pushing around between the husbands and the wives.
Barely a few months after the man takes his first drink, Viswanathan ends up having cirrhosis. And Kalyani (KPAC Lalitha), the sole woman alcoholic in the film ends up losing her uterus!! There would be no comments on the performances in the film, since the acting prowess of the actors hold no significance in a film as this. But what is KPAC Lalitha doing in A Small Family? I would like to believe that the incredible actress was just taking a break.
With not even the faintest trace of a sensible script to be found around, 'A Small Family' is Rajasenan's worst film till date. It's just a worthless addition to the mounting heap of junk being piled up in the name of films.
