Enthada Saji review: An entertaining fantasy film

Entertainment By Arjun Ramachandran 08/04/2023 Read the article

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

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Enthada Saji is set in the backdrop of Illickal village in the Idukki district of Kerala. Saji Mol is a jovial woman whose wedding gets postponed for certain reasons.

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

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

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

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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.

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

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

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