Moonnam Pakkam

There is a sense of apprehension in P Padmarajan's Moonam Pakkam that something bad is going to happen soon. Thilakan stars as a lovable grandfather to Jayaram's character who is the only one whom he can call family. Returning home after six years, the grandfather has a lot of things planned for his little boy, but fate has some other plans for him, as he finds out the hard way. The bond between a grandfather and his grandson, after the former losing his wife and his son at a young age is what Moonam Pakkam aspires to show, but more than that it becomes a dramatic picturisation of people who yearn for the presence and love of their immediate relatives. In one scene, Thilakan's character tells another that without his grandson, he would feel lonely in this world, and that feeling would be the worst. How little mistakes can turn your life upside down is also what writer-director P Padmarajan aims to show. However, the final one hour is an overlong montage created just to make you feel bad about what I mentioned in the first sentence. And it ends by giving the powerful message that one lives in this world not for himself but to love others. Thilakan is phenomenal as the grandfather and crowns as the best actor of the lot. Jayaram is a youngling here, who comes third only to the supremely talented Jagathy Sreekumar. The song "Unnarum Ee Gaanam" is a classic that I have been listening to since I was a child, and it brings back a lot of memories, including goosebumps when I try to relate the characters with my own life. Padmarajan does that to you often, as Moonam Pakkam manages to keep your eyes moist. A good watch. TN.