I watched the Malayalam film ‘Ullozhukku’ (meaning Undercurrent) with a sort of skepticism. A completely women-centric story the movie is strongly set on the emotional turmoil of two women protagonists one old and the other young. 

This film is a far cry from the present genre of movies with heroism and violence just with a touch of romance as a side dish and all sequences are absurdly blended with intimidating to irritating technicalities.

With the ruthless torrential Kerala rains as the backdrop and metaphor for the mental turmoil of the main and supporting characters ‘Ullozhukku’ shows that a movie can be made highlighting the strong undercurrents of the human psyche. All emotional sufferings and expressions carry subtle to sharp outbursts. The basic qualities of love, lust, deception, expectations, disappointments, selfishness, cheating, and greed clash with each other through the characters. After all, good and bad are two sides of all human lives. 

Men are almost jobless in this movie, which is a surprise in the present movie scenario. The main characters played by Parvathy Thiruvothu and Urvashi carry the narrative on their shoulders effectively. 

Though I could guess the end, I watched this two-hour movie more like reading a book where emotions are expressed through powerful and crisp dialogues. Yes. It is no entertainment but engrossing in a way for me. The credit goes to the young (surprising!) award-winning director Christo Tomy. 

Want to see a really serious film amidst the din of loud potboilers?

‘Ullozhukku’ can be your choice. 

Post Script: In 2018, a screenplay penned by a talented Malayali writer clinched the top prize in the National Screenplay Competition 'Cinestaan India', adjudicated by Aamir Khan and director Rajkumar Hirani. Six years later, that screenplay by Christo Tomy is set to make its cinematic debut under the title ‘Ullozhukku’.(Mathrubhumi, English)