Skip to main content

Gautamantey Radham Movie review: This Neeraj Madhav starrer is a heartwarming family entertainer

"A car is not just a car, it is like bringing home a new family member," Gautaman's wise grandmother tells an 18 year old grandson with a naughty sparkle in her eyes. In another moving scene, Gautaman talks about how the car is the only place where family members sit in the closest proximity to one another while traveling their everyday moments, a safe haven that is second only to home.
These fleeting glimpses are one of the many heartwarming moments from this quaint family entertainer that revolves around a coming-of-age phase for a young boy. 

Starring Neeraj Madhav, Valsala Menon, Renji Panicker, Devi Ajith, this family entertainer packs in precious moments in a middle class family.

Adding to the old-fashioned charm of this clean family film, this grandmother-grandson bonding is a joy to watch. 

From buying one's first car to dealing with other people's judgment of it,  'Gautamantey Radham' shows the reality of how a highly brand-conscious Malayali identity.  

Before we judge others, let's look at how many times we ourselves mentally judge a person's 'worth' based on the expensive brands others wear or own. It could be a car, a watch, a phone - the reality is that the brand-conscious Malayali is here to stay. 

The film also navigates through moments beginning with Gautaman's first 'mistaken' car purchase to what it eventually becomes for him - a legacy of love and most cherished family moments. 

From start to finish, I found myself enjoying Neeraj Madhav's effortless portrayal of the protagonist in 'Gautamantey Radham'. Essaying the role of Gautaman's grandmother who dreams of her journey from Ceylon to Kochi in a car, veteran actress Valsala Menon deserves a standing ovation. 

From scene to scene, dialogue to dialogue, she is a Queen of Hearts.

In the scenes where she is walking, hand in hand with her grandson, I found myself remembering beautiful moments when my grandmother and I used to hold hands and walk together.

When Gautaman held his grandmother protectively close to him as he took her around to see Ram Setu, I had tears in my eyes. 

Because we don't need movies to tell us how precious this relationship between a grandmother and grandchild is - we know it. This film brings it to life.

There's no doubting it - Gautamantey Radham is a beautiful reminder of how deep and lasting our family relationships can be.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular Posts

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences.  [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste.  You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this  new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being born
180 comments
Read more

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting Deepam at Home Collating most queries related to how to light the deepam at home, I'v
1 comment
Read more

Gayatri Mantra as Panchamukhi: Get it right or let it go

Most people do not understand the importance of chanting the Gayatri mantra because they are not aware of its power. It is only when I began to read Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings that I learned how sacred and powerful the chanting of the Gayatri mantra is.    The Vedas represent the breath of God. The Gayatri mantra is the very basis of the Vedas. Try not to undertake chanting the Gayatri mantra as a light endeavor or as a hobby. It has to be chanted with faith, discipline and purity of mind and body. Be steady with your sadhana if you want to reap the spiritual dividend associated with the Gayatri mantra  and never once hesitate once you decide to do it.  Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba said that the Gayatri Mantra is referred to as Pancha Mukhi, the Goddess with five faces that represent the five pranas or life forces. Here's more on it. .  Also read: The Power of OM   Chant the Gayatri Mantra correctly: Pause Five Times Here are some important thi
39 comments
Read more

What is the story of Shivaji? The great son of a great mother called Jijabai

Chhatrapati Shivaji, the great Maratha warrior whose guerrilla warfare tactics are fleetingly mentioned in Indian history textbooks, is increasingly relevant today. A Hindi movie 'Tanhaji' starring Ajay Devgn and Kajol got many of us curious to know more about this warrior. Sadly, we don't seem to have much information in our history textbooks!   [ READ: Significance of Surya Argya  and How do you Light Deepam? ] Source: Anjali Natarajan on Twitter  Shivaji Maharaj: The Great Son of a Great Mother Jijabai The more I read about Shivaji Maharaj,   the more fascinated I am.   I wondered why we have learned so little about this great warrior and his great mother Jijabai, and why public memory has been totally erased from most history books! As a mother, I have always been fascinated by how some of India's greatest and most revered men and women are individuals who were deeply influenced at an early age by their mothers. Bharat is a country that belongs to great mothers who
1 comment
Read more

Vidyarambham 2019: What is the literal translation of Ezhuthiniruthu?

Vidyarambham 2019 will forever remain one of my happiest moments of the year.   Growing up, the festival of Vijayadashami is linked to my happiest memories with my cousins and parents, a remembrance of piping hot prasadam and books that are carefully wrapped and labelled and then, placed in the puja room. [READ: How and Why Malayalis celebrate Vidyarambham]                                                [Image: Pixabay] Believe it or not, three times a day, a puja would be conducted at home. Those were the days when we didn't have domestic help as an integral part of inside kitchen chores. This meant that everyone pitched in. Yes, it seems almost unthinkable nowadays.   Back then, all family members would gather and pitch in for cooking and cleaning and so on.   A sense of togetherness is what made the festival so special.   For children, this became THE season to not have to study anything, watch TV and play outdoors with other cousins and be up to all kinds of mis
Post a Comment
Read more