MOVIE REVIEW: KUMBALANGI NIGHTS

 A tale of a dysfunctional family, Kumbalangi nights takes us into a deep dive into a coastal Village beauty and contemporary issues.

Kumbalangi nights is about the lives of four brothers Saji(Soubin Shahir),Bobby(Shane Nigam),Bonny(Sreenath Bhasi) and Frankey(Mathew Thomas) and the people around them and people who enter into their life eventually. Set in a fishing hamlet of Kumbalangi, it brings about the subtle beauty of the coastal village. The scences at night showcasing the beauty of 'Kavaru' or bioluminescence of algae in the water was so well shot that it looked magical.

There is representation in every nook and cranny of the cinema.The brotherhood and conflicts between Saji and Bobby, and Bonny trying to get them out of their fight by mere staring.Potrayals of masculinity (Shammi,Bobby), modern love of Baby and Bobby, Issues of unemployment and societal judgement faced by fishermen and other jobs was portrayed through Bobby.

A scene i found striking was when Shammi asks Nylah and Bonny to leave the homestay, he asked Bobby where did you found such a girl Bonny's reply was personality in sign language.Baby also loves Bobby for his personality.The society still values looks and money when searching for an ideal partner. Saji and his mental health, suicidal tendencies, visiting a psychologist and bawling his eyes out,Shammy and his nosy,rude and psychotic behaviours and the position we as a society give to patriarchy is expressed.

Through Franky we see how academic excellence can stem from a  coastal background where education is valued less.He digs a well on his own using his scholarship money that shows his contribution to his brothers and family.Bonny(Sreenath Bhasi)  stole the show without a single dialogue.Bonney's girlfriend Nylah was a good representation of a black woman in Malayalam cinema. Usually black people are shown as the people who are starving and seeking for help, her character was a breath of fresh air.

Baby portrayed a understanding girlfriend,Bobby has ego issues regarding his masculinity . The soceity is taken into representation as well, it calls the brothers fatherless or from different fathers.