Enthada Saji review: Nivetha Thomas shines in this partly entertaining fantasy film

Debutant director Godfy Xavier Babu’s Enthada Saji (What is this Saji?) is the latest entry to the category of fantasy movies in Malayalam.

Kallanum Bhagavathiyum, a fantasy flick released last week, didn’t meet the expectations of audiences.

The film reminds us of the blockbuster movie Pranchiyettan & The Saint (2010). Just like the Mammootty-starrer, the story here revolves around the hilarious conversations and moments that take place between Saint Rocky (Kunchako Boban) and Saji Mol (Nivetha Thomas).

Let’s check how this movie fares at the box office:

Synopsis

Enthada Saji is set in the backdrop of Illickal village in the Thodupuzha district of Kerala.

Saji Mol is a jovial woman whose wedding gets postponed for certain reasons. She gets enraged whenever the villagers inquire about her marriage.

One day, she runs into Saint Rocky (Kunchako Boban) while offering prayer at a church. The subsequent events lead to the cancellation of her marriage.

Saji Mol falling in love with Roy (Jayasurya), her hilarious conversation with Saint Rocky, his sudden disappearance from her life and her search for him form the crux of the film.

What works?

The conversations between Saji Mol and Saint Rocky are the major highlight of Enthada Saji.

Nivetha Thomas proves that she has good comic timing. But her character as a normal woman who keeps venting anger on failing to get hooked could have been developed more.

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Fantasy elements like Saint appearing in the background are portrayed well.

The first half of the movie is engaging with decent humour involving the chief priest (Siddhartha Shiva, Mini (Arya Babu), Minnal Vishnu (Senthil Krishna), and Baby (Benny P Naiyarambalam).

What doesn’t work?

However, the director seems to have purposefully added comic elements from the beginning of the movie.

After the interval, the movie loses its momentum. Some scenes, especially those involving Saji Mol and Mini, aren’t written well.

Though the climax has an interesting twist, it’s not effective and could have been executed in a better way.

An imaginary character, Saint Rocky’s efforts to complete a mission fall short after which he purposely does an act. This can’t be revealed here because it would be a spoiler.

Jayasurya and Kunchako Boban get less screen space when compared to Nivetha Thomas.

The actress carries the movie on her shoulders. Though this is certainly not a disadvantage, the film demands more involvement of male characters for balancing the plot.

Enthada Saji can’t be considered to be a women-centric film even as Nivetha Thomas has a key and lengthy role to play because the plot celebrates patriarchy. The director should have worked on this aspect.

It also gives importance to age-old customs which are irrelevant now.

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William Francis composed the soundtrack. The film mostly has Christian choir songs.

The film also talks about Church and related characters. The background music by Jakes Bejoy is okay, especially with the scenes related to saints.

The performances of all the actors are commendable. However, they aren’t challenging.

Verdict

Enthada Saji is a feel-good fantasy movie that works in parts. Nivetha Thomas shines in this movie meant to entertain the audience.

(Views expressed are personal.)