Philips and the Monkey Pen

My review: Philips and the Monkey Pen

If you want to make a movie on the theme of how to deal with a difficult, under-performing child then this is it. "Philips and the Monkey Pen" is the answer and kudos to the writer Rojin Thomas and the director duo Rojin Thomas and Shanil Muhammed. What may look like a fantasy feel good movie for the children, it pans out beautifully into a hard-hitting message oriented movie in the end without even for a second sounding preachy. I am dumbfounded how the makers managed to achieve it but it is magical, not in its literary sense. 

Makers manage to keep your attention on their leash though at most parts you feel things that happen are too fantastical to be true. But you get all the answers in the last frames of the movie, said in a more poetic and restrained manner than your regular on your face didactic indulgences. Right at that moment when you discover the truth you get to feel that WOW feeling and instantly your heart goes for the makers, this one is too brilliant a script to be ignored. Though wishful it may sound still not out of the realms of possibility. 

When the protagonist kid ruminate the past events trying to put all the pieces together to get a sense of what has happened to him, we also along with the kid get the revelation one by one on our own. Most of the things that made no sense or looked disjointed finally tend to make sense or get rounded. This is what the intelligent movie makers must strive for, to treat their audience with respect and value their intelligence. Though initially one may disregard or take this movie lightly as yet another of those fantasy movies made for children you get pleasantly surprised by the narrative eloquence of the movie in the end. Rojin deserves special mention for his brilliant writing and Shanil for pitching in with the flawless and lucid direction . 

Without the actors, the writer's vision would be hard to get translated onto the screen. Hence one should appreciate all the kids who have performed with ease standing up and owning their space in front of the professional and more experienced actors. Sanoop is full of potential and has carried the movie on his tiny shoulders adeptly. The other three kids who make up the gang have lend adequate support. One was wondering throughout the movie what made Jayasurya take up this role for nothing much was there in it for him. But you would get the answer right in the end. Remya Nambeesan does her bit in a tiny role as does Innocent and other co-stars. 

Rahul Subrahmaniam's musical score and background score is brilliant and lends richness and artistry to the narrative. Neil D'Cunha's cinematography is world class, Each and every frame is so pretty and soothing to the eyes. Not only the landscapes, his camera has captured all the actors too with finesse and style. 

On the whole, "Philips and the Monkey Pen" is one of the best movies made about children and their difficulties and how parents should strive to be imaginative in handling them beautifully.  

Bottomline: Food for thought.  

4/5