Sufiyum Sujathayum Malayalam Movie Review

Feature Film | Drama, Romance | 2h 2min
Sufiyum Sujatayum holds the distinction of being the first Malayalam film to release directly on a streaming platform. Sadly, the movie would be best remembered for that.In its concluding act, Sufiyum Sujatayum offers glimpses of a film that finally starts to find its footing.
Jul 4, 2020 By Sreejith Mullappilly

The makers of 'Sufiyum Sujatayum' seem more content at shooting a visual-rich film than creating one with musings that move us. They treat its main characters, Sufi and Sujata, as celestial beings, distancing the viewer from their world the longer it runs. Consequently, Jayasurya's Rajeev becomes a more interesting part than the titular characters of the film.

Any opportunity to bring depth to this material is grossly underexplored. Love Jihad, the concept of a Muslim youngster wooing a Hindu girl to make the latter convert her cast. A family who chooses not to have a child again because they thought that it would overwhelm their first child, who is a mute. A mute Hindu girl falling for a Muslim man who recites Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, from a nearby Mosque. All of these are interesting ideas, but the makers of the film do not put as much juice into these.

That is to say, the problem lies with the execution. Sufiyum Sujatayum is shot with an eye for detail. We get everything from an elaborate shot of Sujata dancing as Sufi recites the call to prayer to that of a bee dancing to the tunes of an ustad playing a mouth organ. These are all efforts to build a world around the principal characters that appears a fairy-tale fable, but they make the film a yawn-inducing watch.

The tale that director Naranipuzha Shanavas tells does very little to lift our spirit. Neither does it make us weep for the love story of Sufi and Sujata.

In a film like this, you are looking for redeeming qualities, and thankfully, there are some of those on offer here. She may be saddled with a one-note role, but Aditi Rao Hydari's soulful, expressive eyes convey the inner conflict of a mute girl torn between romance and parental love. There is also the usually reliable Siddique doing the best he can to elevate the film. Siddique does not have many opportunities to show his acting chops here, but he is effective in a scene where he tries to stop her daughter from eloping with Sufi.

As Sufi, debutante Dev Mohan is earnest in his portrayal of a Muslim man that falls for a graceful Hindu girl. His love for Sujata is beyond the shackles of religion and caste, but the makers do not portray it in a way that makes us care for the characters. The only character in Sufiyum Sujatayum who offers some sort of introspection is Rajeev played by Jayasurya. The actor brings out the inner conflict of a man who finds that his wife is not in an emotional space he wants her to be.

In its concluding act, Sufiyum Sujatayum offers glimpses of a film that finally starts to find its footing. It is a minor reward in an otherwise long and laborious film.

Sreejith Mullappilly


Suneesh K s

It's a good movie. But there is a feeling lot of silence

Good movie.