2 Countries

Shafi's 2015 Malayalam film follows Ullaas, who will go to any length for money. He tricks a priest and diverts an overseas marriage proposal meant for someone else in his village onto himself, marrying Laya; then things do not go as planned. What comes to light after the move to Canada takes the comedy somewhere else. Dileep's familiar register works as expected here, with the comedy resting largely on misunderstandings. The film's problem is making a serious subject like alcohol dependency into comic material and then switching abruptly to an emotional resolution; the transition does not settle. It was plainly prepared for the Malayalam diaspora audience in the Gulf and North America. Who it's for: viewers who like commercial Malayalam comedy and Dileep's work. Who it's not for: anyone troubled by addiction being used as comic material, or wanting a consistent tone.