Kumbalangi Nights (2019)

Did I like it? YES. I really liked this film. 
Would I watch it again? YES. 
Would I recommend it? Yes! Watch it! 

The film centers on the relationship of four siblings, four brothers; Saji, Boney, Franky, and Bobby as two of them begin a journey into other relationships. 

The cinematography in this film!! Oh my goodness, absolutely stunning, it's as if you're transported directly to Kumbalangi. There were two nagging faults that I had.

There is a moment in the film where Saji (Soubin Shahir) recognizes that he's not okay and he asks his brother to take him to see someone, and during the session with a therapist he says the quote below and my heart just hurt so much for him and his family, but then a split second later the director chose some unfunny comic relief to lighten the mood so that the audience, I suppose, doesn't have to sit with the gravity of that moment. It felt manipulative. I didn't like that decision. Also, I was somewhat uncomfortable with the portrayal of Shammy (Fahadh Faasil) during portions of the film, because it was obvious that he needed help and his plight was shown in the usual stereotypical light.

My favourite pairing besides the brothers are Nylah (Jasmine Metivier) and Boney (Sreenath Bhasi). I loved the romance that blossomed between them. The film is set on the island of Kumbalangi (Kerala, India), and it is about 90% Malayalam (the language of Kerala) but also subtitled in English.

It hurts when people say that we are fatherless.

Director: Madhu C. Narayanan

Writer: Syam Pushkaran

Stars: Shane Nigam, Soubin Shahir, Fahadh Faasil, Mathew Thomas, Jasmine Metivier, Sreenath Bhasi

Rated: PG
Time: 2h 15min

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Subtitled

Click to Watch Kumbalangi Nights on Amazon Prime.