Ennu Swantham Punyalan review: A fun ride with unexpected twists and turns

Ennu Swantham Punyalan is the first comedy movie of 2025. The trailer of the film directed by debutant Mahesh Madhu, hinted at quirky moments and fantasy elements.

The title also suggests a saintly figure, similar to films like Amen and Pranjiyettan and the Saint (2010).

However, the film offers a different experience. The fantasy aspect isn’t fully explored. Instead, it delivers a fun ride full of twists and turns.

Synopsis

Ennu Swantham Punyalan begins with a tense situation. Priest Thomas (Balu Varghese) is hiding Meera (Anaswara Rajan) in his room at an ancient church. Meera has eloped with her boyfriend, as her father opposes their relationship. The boyfriend goes out to check for an escape route but never returns. Was he killed by Meera’s father? What happens to Meera, who is hiding in the priest’s room? This sets up a solid romantic thriller. But there’s more to the story.

In the first half, we follow Thomas as he tries to protect Meera while searching for her boyfriend. Towards the end of the first half, Arjun Ashokan’s unnamed character enters the scene.

The second half is even more interesting, filled with unexpected twists. Meera has a mysterious mission and has entered the church to make her wishes come true. The plot shifts to focus on her perspective, but revealing more would spoil the story.

The first half also delves into Thomas’ past—his childhood, crushes, and how he became a priest. It also explores Meera’s story and introduces other characters.

Arjun Ashokan’s character has his own mission—stealing a gold-plated holy cross from the church. His quirky role adds entertainment, especially in scenes involving Meera.

Ennu Swantham Punyalan is a fun ride, where logic takes a backseat. Meera and the thief have similar goals, and the conflict between them, along with Thomas’ involvement, is a major highlight. While the theme isn’t new—seen in old Malayalam comedy films—the execution is a strong point.

Quirky screenplay with twists

The movie features a quirky screenplay by Samji Antony, which becomes more entertaining in the second half.

Arjun Ashokan’s character in the second half plays a crucial role, offering important revelations in a quirky, entertaining way. Many scenes are designed to evoke laughter. Anaswara Rajan and Arjun Ashokan’s characters are the best-written, with Anaswara’s transformation at a key point and her action scenes standing out.

The comedy dialogues, mostly situational, work well. The script becomes preachy at times, especially towards the climax, but it is cleverly lightened with a line—“I’m only a thief”—delivered by one of the leads.

Ennu Swantham Punyalan also features good songs by Sam CS, with a background score that enhances several scenes, particularly the fight sequences in the church. Renadive’s cinematography is another highlight, capturing the film’s high-range visuals effectively.

Performances

The movie features strong performances from Anaswara Rajan, Arjun Ashokan, and Balu Varghese.

Arjun Ashokan brings a unique energy to the role of a quirky thief, with his body language perfectly suited for the part. It’s great to see him take on versatile roles, different from his character in Romancham (2023), but distinct from his work in Bramayugam (2024) and Anand Sreebala (2024).

Anaswara Rajan shines in this movie. In the first half, she plays a girl anxiously waiting for her boyfriend, crying over his disappearance. But her character undergoes a major transformation in the second half, even showcasing impressive fight scenes. This is her second film this year, following her strong performance in Rekhachithram alongside Asif Ali, released just a day before.

Balu Varghese plays the priest with ease, a role he’s well-suited for after years in the industry. It’s refreshing to see him take on more substantial roles beyond his usual comedy parts.

Final take

Ennu Swantham Punyalan is a comedy entertainer with unexpected twists and turns in the second half. Performances of Arjun Ashokan, Anaswara Rajan and Balu Varghese keep the movie going forward.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)