Tourist Family: Infiltrated Rectitude

Star Cast: Simran, M. Sasikumar, Yogi Babu, M.S. Bhaskar, Mithun Jai Shankar, Ramesh Thilak, Kumaravel, Bagavathi Perumal, Sreeja Ravi, Kamalesh
Cinematography by Aravind Viswanathan
Music Composed by Sean Roldan
Written & Directed by Abishan Jeevinth 

When you choose filmmaking as a career and film watching as a means to earn a living, you end up consuming everything sold to you as a “Film” – a collection of moving frames stitched together to form a “Movie”. Sometimes, amidst the chaos, you encounter rare jellyfish that glow in the darkness, standing out in a sea of creative piranhas waiting to feast on your brain cells. It may sound harsh to the uninitiated, but when your passion for finding good films outweighs your skepticism of an uninspiring trailer, this is how it feels. You hope for an old tale to be told in a gripping manner, for a writer to suddenly take you by surprise with their vision of a seemingly overused concept. You’re looking for ways to appreciate something, all while battling the fear of cynicism creeping in. This isn’t just my experience, it’s the reality for every filmmaker, critic, reviewer, and enthusiast who genuinely cares about cinema. And when people dismiss you as being too harsh, you want to point them toward films like Tourist Family and ask, “Is it really unfair to expect this level of quality from films that burn through hundreds of crores, when something far more honest can be crafted with much less” ? Or at the very least, you want to ask, “Is it wrong to demand films with some semblance of heart and imagination“?

Think about it, if you can, when you read this. And since there will be spoilers ahead… if you haven’t watched it yet, do so before reading further.

Being late to the party sometimes has its advantages, you might get a freshly cooked meal while those who arrived early were served cold dishes. In a big gathering, long lines can mean waiting, but reinforcements eventually arrive, ensuring hot food for those who hold out. In a smaller event, the host might be either cautious or overly generous. The careful host counts guests before ordering food, while the kind one ensures no one eats cold dishes sometimes even taking them himself. So everyone enjoys a freshly prepared meal. But, of course, if you arrive too late, there’s no meal at all. Tourist Family is that rare, small party with an overly kind host, one who takes an old, cold tale and serves it fresh, seasoned with an innovative angle. And to stretch the food metaphor further, the taste of a meal cooked on a gas stove differs from one grilled over coal or wood, just as it does from an electronic burner. Even if the ingredients are the same, the method alters the outcome. If someone tries to replicate one recipe using another technique, the result is bound to feel off.

Tourist Family feels like a dish cooked with enthusiasm, where a gourmet home-cooked barbeque, prepared on an induction stove, still holds the rich flavors of an original barbeque. Why? Because the essential ingredient in any touching tale is emotion, much like salt. You might try to avoid salt for various reasons, but it’s the element that truly transforms a meal. Imagine eating sushi every day for a year.. at some point, wouldn’t you crave the depth that salt adds? Just like that, every story needs emotion to drive it forward. Even in a pure action film like The Way of the Dragon [1972], the emotional core behind the lead character makes the stunts impactful. Many promising films fail simply due to a lack of emotional connection, not talking about box office success, but in their ability to leave a lasting impression. Conversely, some films, despite their flaws, earn repeat viewings solely because of their emotional depth. Tourist Family carries the essence of classics like Sambarala Rambabu [1970], EdhirNeechal [1968], Dharma Daata [1970], or Enga Oor Raja [1968], where the goodness of the protagonist gradually breaks barriers with those around him. His unwavering rectitude becomes infectious, transforming mockery into admiration simply through gratitude. In a way, this is what AR Murugadoss aimed for in Stalin [2006], planting the idea of kindness as a chain reaction. The difference? Tourist Family achieves it with the emotional sincerity that Stalin couldn’t quite deliver at the same impact as Abishan Jeevinth.

Not comparing, but understanding which line deserves what kind of treatment is a skill every director must master. Stalin, unfortunately, tried to do everything, overreaching like its namesake in history. That’s a discussion for another time. In Tourist Family, the leading man Dharmadas, whose very name signals his nature, simply cannot stop himself from being good and trusting. This quality is familiar, reflecting the heroes of Enga Ooru Raja or Dharma Daata. In fact, the entire story feels like a subplot lifted from Rajinikanth’s Muthu [1995], where we even glimpse that his inherent goodness cost him everything. Even so, he remains unchanged. Now, take Sambarala Rambabu or its Tamil counterpart Edhir Neechal. Watch the moment where the protagonist performs last rites for an old, reclusive man, an act driven purely by humanity. He constantly has to prove his honesty to those around him, particularly the higher authorities, yet he finds happiness within, even as life throws relentless curveballs. When a film’s subject feels familiar or leans on old-school values, it must be made real and relevant to today’s world. Without that balance, even the most earnest story risks feeling distant.

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The director manages to serve this dish of moral science with a generous helping of red sauce [humor], a touch of green sauce [emotion], and blue-eyed optimism, all complemented by a homemade chutney. Normally, mixing Italian with Indian flavors wouldn’t work, but here, the contrast comes together seamlessly. At its core, the film is about showing how humans can live with humanity. It explores the idea of existing in a society without barking at each other, but instead finding ways to hold space for one another. You cannot truly save anyone from misery, yet you can offer them hope, a reason to see the brighter side, and a spark of inspiration. Technically, the film doesn’t break new ground, but it presents its world with sincerity. Sean Ronald’s music blends well with the narrative, while the editing remains subtle without drawing attention to itself. More than anything, we connect with these characters, spend time with them, and ultimately find ourselves wondering why we don’t reciprocate that gratitude. For the entertainment they provide and the emotional fulfillment they offer, perhaps their impact deserves to linger beyond the runtime.

Yet, the attempt to add a twist to a character that doesn’t truly need one, the slightly underdeveloped arc of the brother-in-law, and the underutilized potential of the younger son and mother stand out as flaws in the writing. More dynamic interactions between the colony residents and stronger, well-defined moments showcasing the growing fascination between them and these outsiders could have enhanced the film. Still, the imperfections somehow make it all feel more authentic, leaving little room for complaints. India has long embraced the philosophy of Vasudaika Kutumbam, and the colony serves as a reflection of that ideal. The differences we often scrutinize under a magnifying glass ultimately require resolution by a refugee who is simply looking to make his living. In doing so, he forces us to confront what our principles truly stand for and reminds us that mistakes should not push us away from them. Sasikumar, Simran, Mithun Jai Sankar, Kamalesh, Ramesh Thilak, M. S. Bhaskar, and Elango Kumaravel deliver compelling performances that make this a heartfelt story worth watching. In the end, Tourist Family does wake you up from the slumber of rotten eggs and elevates your enthusiasm again to find goodness in everything. For me, that means Cinema. Its infiltration is acceptable for it being a tale of rectitude and not about fake attitude.

Theatrical Trailer: