Vineeth Sreenivasan’s Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016) Movie Review

Vineeth Sreenivasan’s Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016) Movie Review 
Star Cast: Renji Panicker, Nivin Pauly, Lakshmi Rama Krishnan, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Aima Sabastian, Sreenath Bhasi, Ashwin Kumar, T G Ravi and Sai Kumar.
Music Composed by Shaan Rahman
Directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan
Produced by Big Bang Entertainments
Censor Certificate: U & Runtime: 142 Minutes

Finally watched Vineeth Sreenivasan’s Jacobinte Swargarajyam in Hyderabad, and here I am ready to review the film, well if you are looking forward that you “Should go or Not”, if you are in this dilemma, then let me tell you. You don’t need to read my complete review, just simply go and get your tickets booked for the show.

So after Thattathin Marayathu again Vineeth Sreenivasan have given out a nicely blended entertainer to Malayalam Industry, well the direction, performances and music of this film is worth it. Not wasting your time let’s move towards review.

Marketed as just another mundane family drama with a pinch of romance, Jacobinte Swargarajyam is anything but. In fact, beneath its fluffy exterior lies a complex layered drama about overstrung Malayali family, each of whom are so refreshingly messed up due to the sudden crisis, and it re-instated my faith in our family dramas.

Jacobinte Swargarajyam is a simple slice of real life dramedy based on Malayali businessman Jacob Zachariah and family. The tale goes around good hearted businessman Jacob Zachariah (Renji Paniker), who went to Dubai and is in love with the place for the opportunity it holds. With his wife Sherly (Lakshmi Ramakrishnan) & four children, Jerry (Nivin Pauly), Abin (Sreeath Bhasi), Ammu (Aima Rose Sabastian), Chris (Stacen), who enjoy happiest times of their life and nescient of stumbling stones waiting for them. One fine day their beautiful world comes crashing down as Jacob encounters major financial crisis and later gets cheated by one his closest friend Ajmal. Jacob’s business collapse and he flees to Liberia to escape from Interpol. At this time his elder son Jerry takes the charge of the family and business. The rest of the story is all about how he tries to overcome the crisis and take care of his family.

Jacobinte Swargarajyam takes its time to untangle, but once it does it characters, however flawed, will disarm you, thanks to sensitivity with which they have been written. The performance of the principal characters are unanimously on point, but it is Renji Panikar who shines in acting his layered, complex and troubled role with dignity and aplomb. It tough character to pull off but he does it with simplicity and charm. Close on his heels is Lakshmi Ramakrishnan, as the disgruntled mother yearning to get over this storm and support her family in a cool, composed way. Hers is a conflicted character, because she’s so desperately trying to maintain calm and sanity in an already chaotic household, and yet she’s the very person that stirs a vespid wasp nest time and time. Bringing me nicely on to Nivin Pauly, who perhaps for the first time in recent years, doesn’t get as much substance in a film and has to watch from the sidelines. His is a character that is catalyst in the proceedings and despite giving it the requisite sunshine, spunk, warmth and charm in a way that only he can. Ashwin Kumar is a promising replacement for Gautham Vasudev Menon, who initially was supposed to do the role of businessman Murli Menon. The rest of characters Sai Kumar, Dinesh Prabhakar, T G Ravi, Aima Rosmy Sebastian, Sreenath Bhasi, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Reba Monica John and Aju Varghese perhaps have the smaller part of the three, but they are charismatic and polished in even doses. Like for example, TG Ravi’s emotional connection with the car, Dinesh Prabhakaran’s flash back connection, Sai Kumar’s scene to inspire terrified Nivin..etc.

“Jacobinte Swargarajyam” is not the usual Malayalam kind of movie with regular ingredients of love, comedy and action. It may not be appreciated by the masses, but for a change its simple and refreshing emotional flick with everything just in right proportions as required. The film neither has any sick side stories, yelling loudly to clear issues, any silly romance nor unwanted song jumping into the screenplay from nowhere. In other words. Jacobinte Swargarajyam is a decent piece of art made by thinking team strictly on the lines of Innovative Hollywood projects which are based on struggle in businessman’s life.

The movie talks about a man, Jacob, who went to Dubai and is in love with the place for the opportunities it holds. He makes it big over time and gets settled in Dubai with family. Soon a financial crisis shatters family and how family over comes the financial issues and steps up to save the man they always look up to. This decent plot not only enlightens us about the love, unity, family beliefs, hardwork and trust in daily life. It also a remainder to those people, who trust people very easily. The film commences slowly and starts growing on the viewer with it’s to the point narration and highly realistic scenes. In fact most of the viewers will find it very easy to relate with various characters in the script portrayed just like the real life people we meet every day.

Vineeth Sreenivasan’s subtle treatment of the family subject never slides down and he maintains a firm grip on the movie right till its impressive climax. Interestingly, director claimed, all the incidents in the movie has been inspired by the real life story of a dear friend, and he dedicated the film to his family. Jomon T John cinematography supports the film superbly and so does the background score and minimal use of few good tracks composed by Shaan Rahman coming just at the right moments without affecting the narration. Sadly, the same cannot be said about the editing that does play the avoidable spoilsport in its final hour. Other technical aspects of the film smacks of finesse with utmost detail given to almost every element on screen.

Scenes I Liked:

• Ee Shishirakaalam & Thiruvaavaniraavu Picturization
• Handing away the old camera
• Father-Son conversation at airport
• Driver relation with Audi
• Lakshmi Ramakrishnan’s tough tactics
• Sai Kumar’s inspiring scene
• Murli Menen – Jerry final conversation
• The climax confusion between father & son

I’m going with three stars for Jacobinte Swargarajyam. It’s been a while since we had so much emotional fun in a family film.

Movie currently playing with subtitles at Prasadz (Weekends) and PVR Cinemas, Sujana Mall (Weekdays) in Hyderabad.

Book your Tickets – Here