Soothravakyam Review: A modest tale of duty, guilt and human fragility
Soothravakyam, the debut film of Eugien Jos Chirammel, takes a quieter path than the usual police thrillers. Instead of relying on loud drama, it tells the story of an officer caught between his duty and his human side. Set in a calm Palakkad village, the film explores themes of education, morality, and violence, where the peaceful backdrop hides intense emotional conflicts. Refreshing first half ends with a rather less impactful second half.
A different shade of the police drama
Malayalam cinema has long been fascinated with police stories, usually loud, heroic, and dramatic. Soothravakyam, directed by Eugien Jos Chirammel in his debut outing, takes a gentler approach. Instead of celebrating authority or indulging in action-heavy tropes, the film looks at the vulnerabilities of a man torn between his professional duties and his human instincts.
Life in a quiet village
The story unfolds in Palakkad, where Christo Xavier (Shine Tom Chacko) serves as a sub-inspector by day and a mathematics teacher by evening. His dual identity not only sets him apart but also brings him into friction and eventual kinship with Nimisha (Vincy Aloshious), a schoolteacher struggling to connect with her students. The narrative turns sombre when Arya (Anagha Annet), one of Christo’s pupils, suffers abuse at home at the hands of her brother Vivek (Deepak Parambol). This incident pushes the film into darker moral territories, reminiscent in spirit of Shakespearean tragedies.
Performances that anchor the film
Shine Tom Chacko shoulders the film with quiet conviction, portraying Christo with restraint and emotional depth. He avoids melodrama, instead showing us the conflicts of an ordinary man in extraordinary situations. Vincy Aloshious has moments of charm but is underutilised, while the younger cast, particularly the students, lend authenticity to the school setting.
Where it falters
Despite its sincerity, the film struggles with narrative consistency. The screenplay drifts across subplots without building strong momentum. Pacing remains uneven, and the tonal shifts between social drama and psychological conflict feel jarring. Characters like Nimisha are left half-explored, reducing their impact on the overall story.
Soothravakyam review: Soothravakyam may not fully deliver on its ambitious premise, but it carries moments of honesty and subtle reflection. It is neither a perfect thriller nor a flawless character study, yet it quietly lingers, not with grandeur, but with the aftertaste of human fragility and moral dilemmas.
Soothravakyam is streaming now on Etv Win in Telugu.
