Family is a social construct that conditions its folk to live and behave in certain ways. For, that’s the fodder for its crucial existence. Individual moves harm its harmony. In Don Palathara’s Family, a tucked-in hamlet sets its life symmetrically. It’s a Christian belt. Church, ceremonies, festivities, deaths, and all other social activities bring its people together. But the one who controls the narrative is Sony. A young, smart graduate who ran a tuition center before is at the forefront of everything. Parents ensure their children get Sony’s guidance in studies and personality development. He has the freedom to enter the close life premises of married women, helps the elderly, and is a regular at holy mass. For the boys in the parish, Sony Bro is the role model. Don develops his central character slowly and stages how he penetrates the insides of families in the village with a wicked smile in his eyes which they probably overlooked.
As the film progresses, the audience will be terrified to see a leopard on the prowl. Don’s intent is very clear with this metaphor. The predator in Sony may surface anywhere. Vinay Forrt is so open to the manipulative, pleasant villainy side of Sony that none of us or his deemed prey can deny this good Samaritan on the rounds. The simmering progression of Sony’s audacity over the parish distresses the viewers. Don lets a smiling devil graze free and mercilessly cuffs the audience to watch the innocuous victims.
Many chilling moments in Family hold a mirror to us as part of a system unwilling to change. How sweetly Sony, a paedophile manipulates and leads his sheep atop the hill. In another scene, Sony glides to his prey in the presence of her dad. So quickly the denial came from a neighbour when Sony’s relative alerted her about his misconduct. How vigilantly families preserve their prestige by silencing things against it comes very naturally in the script. Remorse after sins purify the ambiance at its discretion. Family’s end bothers my social consciousness. How safely Sony harbours himself! Vinay Forrt was absolutely raw as Sony. One of his recent bests.