Spoilers ahead…
Read the full review on Film Companion, here: http://www.filmcompanion.in/article/njandukalude-nattil-oridavela-movie-review
Consider the eighty-year-old patriarch (KL Anthony) of the Chacko clan in Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela (An Interval in the Land of Crabs). His memory is shot. (He wants to invite Rose for a party, and she’s been dead twenty years.) He needs constant supervision, which is done in turns by the family and, later, by a male nurse named Yesudasan (Sharafudheen). One day, during prayer, he attempts to light a candle in front of a statuette of Jesus in his room. His hand wobbles, unable to land on the wick. Yesudasan rushes in. The setting appears one of great poignancy, but Yesudasan says: “At this rate, you’ll set fire to not just the candle but Jesus, His beard and the lamb by His side.” Instead of a solo violin, we get a whoopee cushion.
That’s the film in a nutshell, and director Althaf Salim’s achievement is in not crossing the boundaries of good taste. He takes a scary disease, the fount of a thousand on-screen tragedies, and makes a film that’s — there’s no other word for it — wholesome. We do get scenes in hospitals and scenes featuring the dismaying after-effects of treatment, but the defining mood is that of the stretch where a doctor (Saiju Kurup) is asked to please leave the office — his own office — so the family gathered there can sort things out. The tone isn’t haha (though there are many laugh-out-loud moments). It’s played in a minor key. A video recording of you during the movie will show you smiling a lot.
Continued at the link above.
Copyright ©2017 Film Companion.
Baradwaj Rangan 
abu6246
September 7, 2017
Sir don’t you think over here that a serious subject has been treated lightly. I know it’s not a problem if a movie is written so well but don’t you think underneath all these glossiness there’s a serious subject to be told. Even the son’s romantic portions seems to be written just so as to cater to his fans.
LikeLiked by 1 person
MANK
September 7, 2017
at last, the movie review i was waiting for and the only good movie released for Onam
Second this sentiment
It’s not about hogging every scene. It’s about using your clout to get a certain kind of movie made.
I wish more stars would take this route. Nivin the actor doesnt have much to do in the film, its just the typical nivin pauly character, but his real contribution is as the producer.. And its great to see almost the entire premam team back together on screen
Btw , the director Althaf was the lanky guy who played Mary’s co student in premam
LikeLiked by 2 people
Anu Warrier
September 7, 2017
Wow. Not just for the movie, which sounds really interesting, but also for your review. You left me puddle-eyed, just reading. Thanks, BR.
LikeLiked by 1 person
tonks
September 7, 2017
The strain of sculpting each scene differently does show sometimes — not all the punches land — but I am not going to hold ambition against a filmmaker who gets so much so right
One of my friends found the jokes and situations contrived and strained at times. But we had seen it on the day of release with no expectations and were bowled over. For us, it was a laugh riot. Even the death scene in the movie had us clutching our sides. I am so glad the jokes were not lost in translation.
But like Fahadh Faasil in Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, he puts himself in service of the story. This definition of star power we find only in the young stars of Malayalam cinema. It’s not about hogging every scene. It’s about using your clout to get a certain kind of movie made.
I feel so much respect and affection towards Nivin Pauly for playing his character in this way. While we’ve ranted about misogyny in so many older Malayalam movies, these newer movies show how refreshing, entertaining movies can be made realistically, without contrived machismo.
LikeLiked by 2 people
tonks
September 7, 2017
Lovely review, btw. Touches on many thoughts that were only half formed in my mind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rohit Sathish Nair
September 7, 2017
tonks:
And on the other hand we have a ‘Velipadinte Pusthakam’ which tries audaciously to resurrect that old kind of movie
LikeLiked by 1 person
tonks
September 7, 2017
The title’s (star sign) significance only struck me half way into the movie.
LikeLike
Rishikesh
September 7, 2017
Excuse me, Nivin has a nose foe whaat..?…the first hour of Sakhavu was so disastrous, that I feel most of the writing was done on sets.
LikeLike
sravishanker1401gmailcom
September 7, 2017
My Malayalam is kinda rusty but shoudnt it be “Njandugalinde’ or is that for the singular ? ‘m sure I’m getting something wrong. All chaytans and chaychees in the group kshamikyu…
https://thezolazone.wordpress.com/
LikeLike
Honest Raj (formerly Venkatesh)
September 7, 2017
The titles of Malayalam films continue to fascinate me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shankar
September 8, 2017
Yup, I agree Honest Raj…the titles of Malayalam films have always fascinated me. So many examples…Nokketha doorathu kannum nattu, Idanizhiyil oru Kalocha, Poochekku oru mookuthi, Namukkan parkkan munthirithoppukal, Vellanakalude naadu…one can go on and on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ratish Odassery
September 8, 2017
I completely agree with BR that Nivin Pauly has an amazing nose for scripts. I think he even chooses his cameos wisely like in Anandam, Vikramadityan etc.
Interestingly, Althaf Salim (the director of this film) played the role of Nivin’s comrade in Sakhavu referred him as Fat Che Guevara in it. I think the director may have captured some of their off screen banter on screen. It is refreshing to see the younger Malayalam stars being so self aware and avoiding the narcissism trap which has been the bane of many a star in the past.
LikeLiked by 1 person
brangan
September 8, 2017
abu6246: don’t you think over here that a serious subject has been treated lightly.
SPOILERS AHEAD
And I think that is EXACTLY why this film works. Any subject can be treated in any way, and it’s so refreshing to see someone make light of a situation like this.
And if you look at it, underneath the light tone, there ARE serious layers — like how, even if we know someone is unwell, we expect them to do things for us (laundry, making chai) and make a face when it doesn’t happen.
The same scene could have been played as a tragedy with violins in the background and a close-up to the mother’s face brimming with tears, but here it’s understated — and I must say I prefer this approach.
Another gem of a serious layer: When the mother says no one in her family has had cancer, and her husband says yes, but there have been two heart attacks and one rheumatism. Again, we could have had heavy background music and a “messagey” tone — but I prefer the conversational tone here.
This is just beautiful writing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Soham
September 8, 2017
I was a little disappointed in the beginning 20 minutes. I felt it was all over the place..The disease and its effect on the wife and husband was treated well but the shame in discussing it with the children could have been played out better especially when Nivin returns to kerala. We never have a moment with Nivin and his mother especially when he comes running back all the way from London with just a phone call. Once the second half starts it was a fun ride with memorable moments.
LikeLike
abu6246
September 8, 2017
brangan: ‘Any subject can be treated in any way, and it’s so refreshing to see someone make light of a situation like this’.
Sir i think this is because you are not familiar with Malayalam Cinema. Most of the movies, right back from Mohanlal-Sathyan Anthikkad combinations of the 80’s have followed the same approach. Also don’t you think that this movie follows the same pattern as seen in the movie ‘Jacobinte Swargarayam’ even though the melodrama angle is muted over here.
LikeLike
brangan
September 8, 2017
abu6246: Okay, I thought you saying “underneath all these glossiness there’s a serious subject to be told” — meaning that you preferred a more serious approach. But if you’re saying you like this lighter take, them yes, I agree.
Also, I am not saying this is the first ever film to treat a heavy subject lightly. Just that this particular film worked for me.
LikeLike
Jupe
September 8, 2017
So frustrating to read about so many lovely non-Tamil movies most of which don’t seem to release here in Bangalore without subtitles. I remember calling half a dozen multiplexes in Bangalore to check if they were screening a subtitled version of Kirik Party only to hit a brick wall. Can South Bangalore folks who follow/comment on this blog confirm if PVR Forum or any of the screens PVR/Inox/Cinepolis screens in Outer Ring Road / Jayanagar / Bannerghata Rd have regular subtitled shows? Thanks in advance.
LikeLike
Aman
September 8, 2017
Shantikrishna didn’t know who Nivin Pauly was 2 years back when she was part of the state award jury, and Nivin took revenge by casting her as mom. The director was the most annoying thing in the atrocity that sakhavu was, he should concentrate on directing and never act again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rohit Sathish Nair
September 8, 2017
abu6246:
You are right about the yesteryear Sathyan Anthikkad films, but in a way, isn’t death the crisis to beat all crises?
And atleast for me, the few films about impending death that I remember are ‘Sukrutham’, ‘Thanmathra’ and ‘Aakashadoothu’. Why not have films which stand as far on the opposite side of the spectrum from these films?
LikeLike
brangan
September 8, 2017
Or even something like Nokkathaan Dhoorathu… It was still hitting a few heavy notes. The irreverence in Njandugaludan is something fresh for me.
LikeLike
sanjana
September 8, 2017
Thanks for the translation of the title. Only Nattil I understood! My imagination went vivid trying to unravel the mystery of the title.
LikeLike
Rohit Sathish Nair
September 8, 2017
Rangan Sir;
What still confuses me a bit is whether this is actual boldness, or the irreverence that comes with a family that can afford to laugh at this disease
LikeLike
tonks
September 9, 2017
http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/small-beautiful-malayalam-cinemas-low-budget-films-are-scoring-big-box-office-68054
LikeLike
Purple Sky
September 9, 2017
Sravishanker: njandukalude is correct. Singular will be njandinte.
LikeLiked by 1 person
sravishanker1401gmailcom
September 9, 2017
Purple Sky : Many Thanks !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rohit Sathish Nair
September 10, 2017
Rangan Sir, how come you missed Velipadinte Pusthakam? It did release in Chennai with subtitles, right?
My rather unwieldy, messy review of Velipadinte Pusthakam:
https://rohitsathishnair.wordpress.com/2017/09/10/velipadinte-pusthakam/
Hardly a good movie, but gave me a gold mine of material (or a heap of crap, according to what you may feel) to write a review on
Do tell if I went overboard with reading the subtext. I had to entertain myself somehow.
LikeLike
Gautham
September 10, 2017
Rohit Sathish Nair: Apologies for attempting to answer a question not addressed to me. From what I could glean from the subtitles and from what I felt was hinted at through the climax and the account of fleeing Kuwait, I think it’s a case of both the mother and the rest of the family feeling a need to mutually put up brave fronts for each other. That in itself though, I think, is a display of courage.
PS: Madan, if you are reading this, this could qualify as an example of women-centric films with universal appeal that I was trying to convey in the Vivegam thread.
LikeLike
Kay
September 10, 2017
Even though I had the review before watching the movie, I didn’t realise how hard it would hit me. I could relate to each and every scene because my mum is a cancer survivor too.
Someone in the comments asked what is the shame in telling the kids about cancer. My mum kept the truth from us for almost a week before she opened up. And when we came to know, we were stunned. We had the exact expressions on our faces. I spoke to her and said everything will be alright, went inside my room and broke down. So it’s not shame that makes them hestitate. In our eyes, our parents are invincible. They are always there for us, even when we are grown up and have a family of our own. When something like this happens, it’s a hard slap on the face and brings the realisation that time is catching up with them. How will someone, who has wiped our tears, dresses our wounds, nursed us during our dengue and typhoids and such, break the news that they are sick?
During the interval, something surprising happened. While waiting at the food counter, the lady who was standing next to me struck up a conversation and we were discussing the movie. And I told her that I’m second guessing my decision of bringing my mum to the movie. The lady told me I shouldn’t worry about it because she had cancer too – it’s been 9 years now – and she was enjoying the movie. I was completely overwhelmed. I didn’t dare ask my mum if she wanted to continue watching the movie till that time.
Half way through the movie, I was dreading the time when death would come, but ended up laughing so much when it finally did. In the end, both of us (my mum and I) left with teary eyes and huge smiles.
LikeLiked by 7 people
doctorhari
September 10, 2017
Thanks for bringing this movie to light, BR.
This was definitely a good film. The concept – presenting the trials and tribulations of a cancer patient and her family as a comedy – was brilliant. However, I seriously felt the director could have brought more nuance and sensitivity to the proceedings, especially in the comic scenes.
Yes, there were some brilliant scenes and dialogues (the grandpa lighting the candle which you have written about, is one example). But in many instances, the humour felt too generic and contrived for me, the kind we have seen in many Malayalam masala movies. A subject like this demanded a different kind, a different level of humour. (Please refer the 2011 English movie ‘Fifty-fifty’ to see what I’m talking about.)
And Nivin pauly’s role, which just needed him to sleepwalk through it, and his love track could have been better written. (That dialogue on Premam, which might have worked in a regular movie, was for me cringe-worthy here, considering the subject this movie was dealing with.)
All those things aside, the beautiful final fifteen minutes or so compensated well for the blotches in the previous one hour, and made the audience leave the hall with a warm afterglow.
I walked out of this movie happy and satisfied. But I couldn’t help wondering how a few things could have elevated this to the level of greatness.
LikeLiked by 2 people
sravishanker1401gmailcom
September 10, 2017
Kay : That was an awesome comment ! Thanks so much for sharing
LikeLike
Manikandan
September 10, 2017
Watched it after your positive tweets, thank you. ridiculously funny movie.
LikeLike
sanjana
September 11, 2017
Anand comes to mind. The happy go lucky cancer patient played by Rajesh Khanna who sings soulful songs, smiles and makes others laugh and cry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rohit Sathish Nair
September 11, 2017
sanjana:
I felt otherwise. This film doesn’t explicitly show every-day-is-sunny optimism the way ‘Anand’ did. (Not that doing that is bad). For all the confusion we have about the film’s treatment, the film is less simplistic than we think it is. I guess that is what keeps the film from being dismissible, even when debatable
LikeLike
Kay
September 11, 2017
Thanks, Ravi sir. I wrote a lot more, but it was getting too personal and lengthy. So deleted some of it. I was really surprised by the details which have been focused upon. Like the after effects of chemo. Most movies would just show someone with their tonsured head.
I didn’t understand the significance of the title, though. Is it because as per the zodiac crab is the symbol of the sign Cancer?
LikeLike
sravishanker1401gmailcom
September 11, 2017
Ah yes Kay. Surprising how no one made the connection re: crab and Cancer. Now that you ve pointed it out “How absurdly simple Holmes !”
LikeLike
doctorhari
September 11, 2017
@kay: Cancer, the word itself originates from the Greek term for crab. It was called so because the finger-like projections from a cancerous ulcer, the common presenting form of cancer at those times perhaps, resembled the shape of a crab.
LikeLiked by 2 people
SingaLinga
September 12, 2017
Watched it last night with my parents after reading all the positive reviews (without reading major spoilers thankfully). My extended family has witnessed several cases of the crab disease over a few generations & my mom is a survivor herself. I was quite apprehensive about taking her to this movie but I should say that she was the one who enjoyed it the most! She was fascinated by the light-hearted narrative that stayed consistently so till the end.
Several moments did leave a lump in my throat & choked me too, however the overwhelming feel-good factor.
Really liked one aspect that was explored in the movie. Life just goes on sometimes in spite of all the negativity associated a disease. The character of Friends & family will not change overnight just driven by the fact that a person is affected by cancer.
Characters, Characters, Characters – malayalam cinema has mastered it like no other language in India.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aman
September 12, 2017
tonks : http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/small-beautiful-malayalam-cinemas-low-budget-films-are-scoring-big-box-office-68054 //
Do these people even do simple research?
“A film on small-time gangsters helmed by acclaimed cinematographer Rajeev Ravi, a self-confessed admirer of Tarantino, Kammatipaadam was multi-layered with references to exploitation of the Dalits. It also had a theme focused on abiding friendships and lasting loyalty.” //
Rajeev Ravi was in the news for one infamous interview where he criticized lots of film makers like Sathyan Anthikad, Sreenivasan, Maniratnam etc, in the same interview he expressed his contempt for Tarantino and his ways. So from where did these people find out he is an admirer of Tarantino.
LikeLiked by 1 person
MANK
September 12, 2017
Yeah , Rajeev Ravi had called Tarantino a big fraud.
And Kammatipadam doesn’t look like it was in any way inspired by Tarantino’s work
I think there is a section among critics and media who believes that modern crime cinema began with Tarantino, so anything related to gangsters is immediately considered a homage to Tarantino
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aman
September 17, 2017
Watched the finally, a bit late I know. I agree with most points. Regarding the title, it’s the title of the book by cancer survivor author ‘Chandramathi’. They have credited her in the beginning of the film.
LikeLike
Sanjay
September 22, 2017
Watch Parava dear BR ….waiting for ur review
LikeLike
tonks
September 30, 2017
http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/24-films-help-non-malayalee-get-started-malayalam-cinema-69246
LikeLike