Home Review : ​Makes a heart-warming connection

Story: Mild-mannered Oliver Twist desperately wants to, but literally struggles to, connect with his older son, film director Antony. And he finds that a smartphone will only go so far

The Malayalam industry’s older actors seem to be having a moment. After Mamukkoya’s ‘thug’ outing in the recent Kuruthi, Indrans shows us again what a fine actor he is in the beautiful family drama #Home.

The actor plays mild-mannered Oliver Twist, who desperately wants to, but literally struggles to connect with his older son, film director Antony, portrayed by Sreenath Bhasi. With both Antony, and his younger boy, played by delightful, upcoming talent Naslen K Gafoor, constantly spending time on their phones, like most people these days, Oliver decides to upgrade to a smartphone to reach out to his sons. And while the phone helps them make a fleeting, ephemeral connection, the father finds that he still doesn’t get the respect and admiration he longs for.

Antony, who is a one-hit wonder, is struggling with a writer’s block on his next project, and that could be because he is not listening to and experiencing the things around him. #Home makes several points, apart from the obvious one about the hold that digital devices have on our lives, and how we forge frustrating relationships online while missing the real and ‘extraordinary’ stories around us. It also suggests that no one else can really change us, we must work on it ourselves. Oliver’s friend Satyan, played with his usual flair by Johny Antony, is forced by the women in his house to get psychological help; but you can take a horse to the water, you cannot make it drink. And it is Oliver who willingly consults the psychologist to find out how he can bring changes in his life. Antony, too, is offered advice by his high-achieving future father-in-law, but it is his self-made decisions that help him best.

These points are conveyed without being preachy and with plenty of humour. You almost feel that like every parent and child, writer-director Rojin Thomas, of award-winning Philips and the Monkey Pen fame, has lived these LOL moments - of the older man taking down detailed notes on each step of how to use social media, Satyan getting health tips from Facebook to his detriment and how the parents fondly and proudly divulge embarrassing details about their children to total strangers.

The various relationships portrayed - parents and children, friendship, siblings, husband and wife and more - are rounded, well-captured and stirring. Every child has seen their adoring mother turn the tables and take sides with her husband at key moments, for example. And after all the comic, sweet moments, the final 20 minutes tug at your heartstrings, like it should. So, this is a film where the script definitely reigns supreme. Having said this, these days a film seems daunting at 161 minutes, and #Home could have done well to have been at least 20 minutes shorter.

The production design by Banglan needs special mention, with the frames lovingly captured by Neil D'Cuncha, and crisp editing by Prejish Prakash. The music by Rahul Subrahmanian fits the mood nicely.

The Indrans-Manju Pillai casting as a couple is surprising at first, but credit to both actors for bringing a sweet, natural chemistry to the pairing. They are first-class in their roles, as is Sreenath Bhasi, whose flawless characterisation evokes empathy and annoyance. The supporting cast of Srikant Murali, Vijay Babu and KPAC Lalitha, among others, lend heft to the film.

#Home is a must-watch entertainer that the whole family can laugh and cry happy-tears through together.