Vishesham review: Chinnu Chandni-Anand Madhusoodhanan elevate a predictable family drama

When Vishesham opens, we see a distraught Sujith Bhakthan (Anand Madhusoodhanan) struggling to get over his short marriage that lasted only a day, followed by a tedious divorce. The screenplay takes time to establish how his confidence has taken a bad hit and how his insecurities are further triggered by a matrimonial website search for another companion. Nonetheless, he meets Sajitha (Chinnu Chandni), a police constable, who is looking for love after escaping an abusive marriage. When Sujith and Sajitha decide to marry, there is a palpable sense of joy, one that comes from witnessing two genuine individuals come together. But their joy and the audience’s joy are both short-lived, as their families soon start pressurising them to have children..What follows is how Sujith and Sajitha deal with the exhausting challenges of infertility while pushing through societal stigma, body shaming, and financial drain. Director Sooraj Tom’s Vishesham, written by Anand Madhusoodhanan himself, is quite a predictable film in terms of the plot. But what makes it endearing is its portrayal of the tender companionship between the couple. Both Sujith and Sajitha do not fit into what is prescribed as ideal – both are divorcees, and neither of them is conventional in their appearances. In many scenes, subtle references are made to their sex life, reflecting the general perception that plus-size women and men who do not otherwise assert their masculinity have poor sexual intimacy. But the couple reassures each other amid the judgement and pressure surrounding them, and these are the moments that make Vishesham worth a watch. The film also portrays how couples battling infertility are given little privacy to figure things out. Everyone, including family, friends, and relatives, offer unsolicited advice, without recognising the personal nature of the problem. In a scene at the infertility clinic, Sajitha holds a nervous Sujith’s hand, and the two walk into the corridor. It is hard not to tear up watching them soothe each other in hopeful silence.Anand Madhusoodhanan is superb as Sujith, and his performance brings out the feelings of emasculation a man might feel when his fertility and ability to make his partner happy are made a spectacle of. Chinnu, who gave stunning performances in Bheemante Vazhi and Tamasha, is all heart. Her self-assured performance really shoulders the film, bringing together the couple’s chemistry. Althaf Salim plays Sujith’s friend who runs a matrimony website and delivers some funny one-liners. Ann Saleem, Johnny Antony, Gilu Joseph, Vineeth David, Baiju Johnson, and all other supporting actors also play their parts well.The music, also composed by Anand, blends well with the narrative, and the love song titled ‘Neeyum njanum’, written by Anand himself, is heartwarming. What dampens the film though is how it stretches the story into unnecessary details, slowing down the pace. The conversation about IVF conception and adoption is also vaguely brushed off as unacceptable. Considering that the film is about infertility, those scenes could have been placed better. Some seemingly well-meaning jokes on marriage also come off as sexist, contradicting the plot that is otherwise sensitive and advocates for respect in matrimony.While the narrative might resonate more with those who have experienced similar struggles, Vishesham’s core themes of love and acceptance make it appealing to all. Watch Vishesham not for the plot, but for the moments of tender acceptance that Anand and Chinnu create on-screen. They are as feel-good as it gets..Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither TNM nor its reviewers have any business relationship with the film’s producers or any other members of its cast and crew.

Vishesham review: Chinnu Chandni-Anand Madhusoodhanan elevate a predictable family drama

Vishesham (Malayalam)(3 / 5)