Samshayam story: Vimala, a homemaker, questions if their child is truly theirs after 18 months of being a mother. As a result, her husband Manojan embarks on a mission to learn the truth, which affects not only their lives but also those of a young city couple, Harris and Faiza, who are just starting out as a family.

Review of Samshayam: Rajesh Ravi's debut film opens by claiming that it is based on real events. However, after around 15 minutes, you might get the impression that the events depicted on screen between a newlywed couple living with the husband's father, who in turn wants to become a grandfather, are commonplace occurrences that could happen to anybody. As a result, it could simply be one of those throwaway lines used to control the audience.

In fact, the movie's turning point—the moment when the titular "seeds of doubt" are planted—is something that many parents would have considered at least once in their lives. However, the brilliance of Samshayam lies in how skillfully its writer and director, Rajesh, integrates these little incidents and gradually builds them up to a point where the characters and their emotions speak volumes, despite the lack of theatrics.

With films like Get-Set Baby and Vishesham, Malayalam cinema has tackled challenges facing newlyweds during the previous year. However, it would not be fair to categorize Samshayam in this way, since the movie progresses from a family drama centered on a couple in a small town to an ego battle between two men before finally, and most movingly, allowing the women to seize control.

The subject matter here might have been too theatrical, but Rajesh's writing and craftsmanship are evident in how he strikes the perfect balance with the tale, which is further enhanced by the characters, who are all at their wits' end.

Whether it's Manojan (Vinay Forrt), who is viewed negatively by his father and works as a waiter at the Indian Coffee House, Vimala (Lijomol), a stay-at-home mother who has just recovered from postpartum depression, Harris (Sharafudheen), who is having financial difficulties starting his business, or Faiza (Priyamvada), who is responsible for taking care of her child and working night shifts, each of these characters is well-defined, making you sympathize with them and their circumstances. You might ask why Harris doesn't just block Manojan after being harassed by his calls, but Rajesh's portrayal of Harris is of a man who is mild mannered and maintains his composure. For this reason, it enhances the tale when he presents this as his virtue and his wife Faiza refutes it. It also demonstrates how simple things are for the fathers, particularly in the beginning of parenthood. This is reinforced by the conclusion.

The two couples are also quite different, but they are very encouraging of one another. Once more, this is expressed via little, commonplace acts rather than significant happenings. The only dramatic scene in the movie is probably the battle between the two guys, but even that is treated realistically. Given the central topic that the picture covered and the manner in which it had to be portrayed, this was necessary for the film.

The performances are as compelling as the writing, which discusses the difficulties faced by new mothers as well as individuals' right to make decisions. After Thamaasha, this might be Vinay's best. The pair have some heartwarming moments with Lijomol that illustrate the relationship between the characters and the reason why he embarks on this trip due to a suspicion that others may find ridiculous. Likewise, Priyamvada plays Faiza with elegance, while Sharafudheen is flawless in his portrayal of Harris, exhibiting helplessness but maintaining dignity. Once again, veteran performers can avoid being stereotyped, as PP Kunhikrishnan, who loved Nna Thaan Case Kodu and Oru Jaathi Jathakam, has demonstrated.

Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music is another strong point of the film, especially in its emotional portion at the end. Manesh Madhavan keeps it simple with his frames and Lijo Paul’s editing is precise.

Samshayam verdict: Director Rajesh Ravi, who had earlier penned Biju Menon’s Aarkkariyam, weaves a beautiful tale about the nurturing bond of parents, backed by superb performances by its lead cast and music.

Read Also: Hai Junoon Review: A Tired Take on 'Breaking Stereotypes'

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