Aarkkariyam

Sanu John Varghese's 2021 Malayalam film follows Roy and Shirley, who leave Mumbai as the pandemic lockdown begins. They take shelter in the house of Shirley's father Ittyavira in Pala, and money trouble and uncertainty keep them there. The turning point is the house itself. Roy learns something about his father-in-law's past, and from that moment the narrative leaves quiet family drama for another genre; because of the lockdown no one can leave, and the knowledge stays inside the house. Biju Menon and Parvathy Thiruvothu lead. The narrative builds tension not with music and cutting but by letting daily work continue; cooking and tending the garden hold the same weight as everything else. Who it's for: those who like the quiet thrillers of Malayalam cinema. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a fast crime narrative; the film keeps its progress deliberately slow.