Android Kunjappan Version 5.25

Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval's 2019 Malayalam film brings technology into village life. Bhaskara is an old man attached to his habits who dislikes change, and objects fiercely when his son wants to take a job in Russia. As a solution the son leaves a care robot in the house. Bhaskara refuses the machine at first, then gets used to it, and in time develops an attachment of the kind reserved for people, going so far as to fit the robot into his own understanding of caste and custom. The film builds this not as science fiction but as a comedy about old age, loneliness and the duty of care. Suraj Venjaramoodu's performance never lets the character become ridiculous. The robot's design is deliberately plain. Who it's for: viewers who like Malayalam cinema and films about technology meeting daily life. Who it's not for: anyone wanting the scale and technical detail of science fiction; the film rests entirely on character.