If one has to sum up Sunny Movie Review – Jayasuriya stamps his brilliance despite being a solo character-driven film. Sunny, Jayasurya as a protagonist treats you with a thoughtful and entertaining film. The story is about Sunny who returns to India from Dubai after his wife deserts him and his business is in the doldrums.
The film is set right from start to end in a five-star hotel ambiance where Sunny Varkey checks in since he is required to stay in complete isolation on reaching Kerala as per the state government’s COVID protocols for newly arrived travelers.
What transpired is his battles with his new state of mind and his addictive inclination for alcohol, an unpredictable future, and his regrets about his past.
Sunny Movie Review: It is a movie that quarantines you from start to finish
Sunny in short is a solo-actor/solo-character film. While there are other characters in the film, we only get to hear them talking on the phone, or get a sneak peek at the hotel staff, drivers, and another guest at the hotel, but the story and the camera stay totally focussed on Jayasurya.
Jayasurya is a charismatic star and a lovely actor who has the ability to perform brilliantly even if the film has weak plots. In Sunny, the role is quite demanding for an actor, with the camera constantly focussed on him, and he does not let his performance rise even a milli-unit above the overall low decibel levels of the film.
The voice cast too is good and features some big names from the Malayalam film industry. I admit to a soft corner for Innocent playing a counselor on the phone with an infectious blend of lightheartedness and gravitas.
The characterisation of this man also defies the macho conventions of formulaic commercial Malayalam cinema. Sunny does not exactly apologise to a woman for a grievous offence he committed, but he does express regret, which is a sharp contrast to most testosterone-ridden, hyper-masculine, old-style Malayalam films in which riding roughshod over wives, girlfriends and potential wives/girlfriends has been the norm for male characters played by male superstars. Sunny even has a male friend (Aju Varghese) who chides him when he borders on speaking ill of his wife (Sshivada), instead of joining in to badmouth her.
Sunny is sensitive in showing how Covid-induced quarantine can mess up our heads. Jayasurya’s performance is simply brilliant. Especially in a particular scene where he breaks down, you would want to cry with him. His minute expressions and the smallest grunts create a lasting impact. It makes you feel what Sunny, as a character, is feeling.
Malayalam cinema has been quick to incorporate the exigencies of the pandemic into its storylines and/or the construction of its narratives. The likes of Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam, C U Soon, Aarkkariyaam and Joji have pushed the envelope in different ways. Sunny is a worthy addition to that bank and overall, a rewarding experience.
Jayasurya is as mainstream as they get, and the fact that he opted not just to star in this film but also co-produce it with his long-time collaborator Ranjith (Punyalan Private Limited, Njan Marykkutty) tells you all you need to know about contemporary Malayalam cinema’s penchant for experimentation and determination to redefine what constitutes commercial.
Director Ranjith Sankar’s clever decision to keep the runtime short worked in his favour. It makes Sunny intriguing with just one character. More importantly, the film makes you want to know more about Sunny’s life. That, probably, is the success of Sunny.
Sunny is worth watching – The movie is streaming on Prime Video