Parava (2017) :
Brief Review -
A film which proved that Soubin Shahir isn't just a great actor, but a great director too. His debut is nothing short of a lesson for established directors. I hereby humbly request Soubin Shahir to direct more films and more often. Man, you are truly a cinematic gem. Such great directing skills you have. You should start direction workshops and teach other directors in India how to direct a film. Parava doesn't have any extraordinary material in the writing; it doesn't have a solo hero, heroine, or even a standalone story; nor does it have any sensational fictional concept; and then it's a long film, spreading its wings for about 156 minutes, but believe me, it doesn't bore you for a moment. How did that happen? The answer is Shahir's marvellous direction. That's all. The story of Parava revolves around the pigeon race, a game which is prominent in Mattancherry, Kerala. It has multiple stories grabbed together, each linked to the other one from the start. It is not a story of one hero or two, and hence it has no main hero. It is a story of every single character involved in the narrative, and that's why everyone is a hero/heroine and has his/her own story to tell. Shahir makes sure that it doesn't drag anywhere, especially in the pigeon scenes. I can't disclose the details of how beautifully it has been shot because it would only spoil your viewing experience. But still, what fantastic cinematography, background score, and editing. Shahir's direction is simply amazing, and you can see it in every big scene in the film. And believe me, there are plenty of scenes like that. The actors simply follow the natural flow to make you fall in love with their characters so that you connect with them. Despite its not-so-great story, Parava is mesmerising, and that's why it is strongly recommended. Not every film is about writing, scripting, and sensational stuff; some are simple yet wonderful.
RATING - 7.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
