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 LOVED 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 bor...
181 comments
Read more

Best time to light diya

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are also considered auspicious for lighting at home. When lighting diyas on Fridays, it is better to use ghee than oil, if possible. [ Connect with Svara on Facebook ] [Read: Vidyarambham - The Labyrinth Within] When Should I Start Lighting Diyas? The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home. At what time should we light diya today? Every morning at sunrise and every evening before or at sunset. An ideal time would be to light the diya at least half an hour before sunset. Can we light diya after 12 PM? In Hindu homes, the diya is lit early morning at around sunrise and towards evening sunset. Can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Does something bad happen if the diya goes off?

Is it bad if a diya goes off? This is a frequently asked question among people who light the evening lamp or diya regularly in their puja room.  [READ: How To Light Deepam at Home and  Why Malayalis Light Nilavilaku ]                                                     [Image by Sachin Yadav @ Pixabay] Why Did My Lamp Suddenly Turn Off? Where there is faith, there should be no scope for fear - this is Bhagawan Krishna's message to Arjun on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.  That represents strength of Bhakti. [READ: Bhakti: Meera's Greatest Wealth] Consider another example in the tradition of Bhakti.  When Prahlada, a young lad, is targeted by his own father, he remains calm under every situation. When he is thrown into the sea, the wise lad is reminded that the sea is the abode of Shriman Narayana. [ READ: Amazing Stories of Lord Shiva ] H...
Post a Comment
Read more

Saree Woes 2

Our earlier discussion on Saree Woes really perked up my spirits. A big thanks to all of you for pepping me up. Okay, here's the good news. There was an unexpected late night party that I had to attend in Gurgaon. To be honest, I haven't had the time or energy to attend any such parties after Adi was born. I was sure I wouldn't have the confidence to make conversation with the glitterati, let alone feel confident to carry off wearing a saree. This is one of those parties where you have to be dressed very formally. Well, at the end of a working woman's day, you hardly feel ready to attend one of these parties looking like a moron, right? So, with very little preparation and very few hours left, I called on all the gods in Heaven to help me look a little younger and prettier since I don't have the magic to look young all on my own. Although I was tempted to wear one of my awesome Kancheevaram treasures, I knew it would be very difficult to drape it without any h...
33 comments
Read more

A Book Review: The Test of my Life by Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh’s book ‘The Test of My Life’ has been summed up accurately by ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar in two words – ‘Pure Inspiration.’ I can’t think of a better word for this book. Yuvraj Singh’s ‘The Test of My Life’ takes us through a tumultuous, personal account of Yuvraj’s life as a cricketer and cancer survivor. The best and most interesting part is where Yuvraj talks about his ‘deal with God.’ He told God something on the lines of ‘Take my life but give us the World Cup’ and it almost became true in his life, according to Yuvraj. ABSOLUTE HONESTY Throughout the book, you will marvel at Yuvraj’s honesty. It isn’t easy to write so openly about a difficult childhood because of parents who couldn’t get along with each other. It isn’t easy to confess how one’s parent would throw ice cold bucket of water on an early winter morning to wake up the child for ‘cricket practice’ or that a parent could become violent and dangerous if a cricket score wasn’t met...
11 comments
Read more