This is a very funny film, and the “humour” rests on a couple of existential questions. One is that life is absurd. We have to laugh if we want to get through it.
Spoilers ahead…
The amusingly named Japan (Harisree Ashokan) has a very matter-of-fact approach to death. In an early scene, he says he would like to be cremated even though he is a Christian. He wants his ashes scattered in the river that runs through his town. This matter-of-fact-ness isn’t a philosophical position. If Japan is so casual about death, it’s because he makes his living from the dead. He supplies cadavers to medical colleges, for students to study. Japan’s matter-of-fact-ness has seeped through his family, too. His wife Kathrina (Sabitha Jayaraj) works at a medical college. She handles a skeleton like a child would play with a puppet. As for their children, they make jokes about whether this person will die or that one, so their father can get them new clothes or fast food from KFC.
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Baradwaj Rangan 
neabs
March 22, 2021
Thanks BR for introducing this movie. I personally know a person who after his death donated his body for research purpose.
This idea of what goes into life after death is an interesting concept.
“What is existence, after all, but a journey between two stations!”
These lines are so inspiring.
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Apu
March 30, 2021
I do not know about other places, but both my parents (and my maternal uncle who passed away in 2019) who live in Bengal have pledged to donate their bodies after death, and we, their children, are named as the people who would facilitate this.
Here in US we have done the same.
What is the use of a body to anyone else after death?
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Anu Warrier
March 30, 2021
Jayaraj is best when he focuses on films like these (Millennium Stars, I’m looking at you!), especially his ‘navarasa’ series, though I missed Veeram.
Back in the 80s, my paternal grandfather died in a road accident. As per his wishes, his body was donated to the Calicut Medical College. Like Apu, both my husband and I have living wills, allowing whatever organs can be used to be harvested, and the body donated. Our kids have been made aware of our wishes – absolutely no ceremonies. (My husband first suggested his body be added to our garden compost. Son shot it down saying the stink is not worth it – on such macabre humour runs our household. 🙂 )
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