Jacobinte Swargarajyam kick starts with the hard-core reality that many Malayalees had to leave their beloved families in India for employment opportunities to other countries, what trials and tribulations they face in alien lands and how they face the nasty adversities with courage and determination for supporting and sustaining their families in their motherland. You know it is going to be a no-nonsense film when 'based on true events' appear on the screen. The only question that can bother a logical mind at that point of time is that what might have transpired in Jacob's family that had inspired the director to dedicate the film to his dear friend - a NRI family hailing from Dubai.
As the events start to slowly churn out, we get to know that Jacob is a highly successful businessman living with his wife and children in the dazzling Dubai. The cinematographer earns brownie points here for showcasing Dubai in all its full glory and splendor to the extent that you have the urgent impulse to pack your bags, check out your nearest tourist operator and visit this lovely place right away with your own family. It was indeed a visual treat to transform the beauty of the dynamic Dubai life onto the big screen so spectacularly and strikingly by highlighting all the prominent tourism interests like the towering night skies, Tanura Dance, Belly Dance, Dune Bashing etc. Such is the poetic handling of the lens by the cinematographer who had captured not just the heart and essence of Dubai but also your adventurous explorer hearts as well!
The story actually begins when Jacob is cheated by his trusted colleague and how his reputation takes a big time hit when he tries to settle his debts. Unsuccessful in Dubai to pay his dues, he flies to Liberia to sort out and close a deal to put an end to all his misfortunes. What happens to him in Liberia, how he managed to survive there - we never know. But, what we know is that his wife, Sherly and son, Jerry stitch together the money they can partially pay to the investors by selling their cherished house, treasured Merc etc. in order to avoid being held under custody.
Sometimes, the moment you see a person, you just know somehow that they are bad - not to get mixed up with them in any way. You may be even seeing the person for the first time in your life but your instinctual bell alarms you to get away from them as far as possible! That is precisely the reaction I experienced when the camera focussed for the first time on Murali Menon. You know he is trouble from the outset. But how much trouble? That's the question. He was really a pain in the ass for the Jacob's family until Murali was also mired with his own reversal of fortunes. Yeah - Karma's a bitch! Hence Proved in Murali's case. Jokes apart.
Murali's performance as a menacing and threatening investor with a concrete deadline over Jerry's and Sherly's head to settle his invested amount was simply outstanding in this rather predictable story line. You actually start to hate him when he tortures Jacob's family minus Jacob who was in Liberia. He literally gave the creeps. Hats off to him for such an amazing character deliverance with enough natural bad ass substance. Murali simply breathed life and fire into the movie whenever he had the opportunity.
Likewise, you get to know the real Shirly when she flares up like a tiger when a business man smokes in front of her. I was actually clapping my hands out when she said that she would rather walk out of the place than doing business with such a person. Even though they were on the steep edge of a financial precipice, she demonstrated that self-respect, honor and esteem were more important to her than money. In fact, she advised Jerry that it's better to tell the truth than fabricate his way to shame. Her strong willed attitude. Her tenacity in the fire of danger. Her resolute to morals even when the sword was dangling above her head. I was actually in great awe and admiration for Sherly then.
Commendable performance was also made by Nivin Pauly who played Jerry and had to take up the entire burden on his shoulder which his father had left him before going to Liberia. Though the second half was too long and tried to show the heroism in Nivin Pauly, it was understandable that ultimately at the end of the day, it's a movie where some one had to be the hero who saves the day!
The heroine comes in and goes out of the screen like a wisp of smoke and Jacob's daughter was no where to be seen once she had left from Dubai to pursue her studies until the last scene in Kerala. The songs were a treat to the ears especially "Thiruvaavaniraavu" which was in loop for the rest of the day. Though not a Malayalee myself, I could still imagine the nostalgic Onam moments that would have been played in every Malayalee's mind when they heard this wonderful rendition.
Jacobinte Swargarajyam is a poignant family movie which is sure to move a person who loves their family. The only problem is with the length of the film specifically the second half. Nevertheless, the movie is a fitting tribute to Jacob's family who had defied all odds amidst their tremendous travails which life had thrown at them, succeeded in seeing through them one by one and had reunited in God's Own Country.
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