Once in a while, you come across films that you know are going to be unrealistic in their own ways, but you don’t mind them. Manu C Kumar’s Malayalam comedy, “Sesham Mike-il Fathima,” is that film for you. Right from the beginning, you realize that the film is going to take you through a somewhat utopian journey, but for once, you don’t mind the infectious positivity of the lead character bubbling through the screen. You start watching the film with a smile, and you end it the same way; and given the current situation, maybe that’s not a bad thing, really.
Director Manu C. Kumar, with his maiden project, “Sesham Mike-il Fathima,” gives us a glimpse into not how things are but rather how things should be. In a way, the film reminded me a lot of the show “Brooklyn 99” as despite being a copaganda, B99 always showed how an ideal world should function, and though we all know we are living in a world that’s far from ideal, it’s good to see hope on the screen. “Sesham Mike-il Fathima” works for this exact reason: it gives you hope in a really hopeless time.
The film begins with our protagonist, Fathima Noorjahan, an extremely talkative child who is loved by all. Her family scolds her but only with love. They are concerned about this vulnerable girl who talks too much but then console themselves by saying that she will be fine when she grows up. The transition to her adulthood is then shown in a smooth take, where nothing has changed apart from the fact that previously she used to do commentary on Tom and Jerry, and now that has been replaced by football matches.
Thus begins the journey of this woman, lovingly called ‘chatterbox’ by everyone. She can’t seem to shut up ever, and words come to her as naturally as breathing. By a simple change of luck, she gets the opportunity to don the hat of a commentator in a local football match and is praised by all. Gradually this becomes an everyday occurrence in her life, and she realizes she wants to become a football commentator.
Now, things cannot obviously go completely smoothly, not even in the utopian world of “Sesham Mike-il Fathima.” Therefore, there are some hurdles thrown her way, including her own family and the ever-persistent misogyny in our society. However, as I already mentioned, since the film’s universe shows how things should be and not really how things are, these challenges are resolved too easily. One cannot really imagine a family this supportive, keeping their conservative background in mind and the fact that Fathima impresses Shiva – the main concerned person – that easily for her role as a commentator.
Of course, it all seems quite unbelievable. However, as I mentioned earlier, the audience will know right from the beginning that the story is going to be unrealistic, but the genuineness with which it’s shown makes it work.
The actors here have done a fantastic job. Kalyani Priyadarshan as Fathima looks a perfect fit. Her energy is almost contagious and is very likely to make you an optimistic person, even if for a brief period of time. All the other actors involved, including Shaheen Siddique, Femina George, Parvathi Malaa, and Sudheesh, are brilliant in their roles. The cast plays a big role in making the events of the film seem believable, and their on-screen persona and chemistry with each other make you want to root for them and hope that they win.
“Sesham Mike-il Fathima,” despite its idealized portrayal of family and society, has some genuine hard-hitting moments. The scene where Fathima’s mother teaches her to whistle, or the one where Fathima declines the offer to announce the name of the players because women get such consolation roles every once in a while, land quite beautifully and remind you that even though it’s almost a utopia, it’s not completely away from reality.
Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music works well for the film, and the spin on that Anirudh BGM is quite spot on. With some great acting and a fairly predictable yet feel-good storyline, “Sesham Mike-il Fathima” is a compelling one-time watch, if for nothing, then for the sake of a simple smile that won’t leave your face even after the screen has gone blank.
