Review of Malayalam movie ‘Home’ directed by Rojin Thomas

With smartphones entering our personal lives and becoming a part of our anatomy, the amount of time we spend with our closed ones, especially with our family, has considerably reduced. The fact that it has taken a heavy toll on our relationships is something all of us shamefacedly but honestly would acknowledge. The movie ‘Home’ directed by Rojin Thomas depicts the lives of members in a family and the widening distance between the parents and the children, culprit being the smartphone. It portrays  the mental agonies that the family members go through in addressing these problems and how eventually the bonding is reinstated.

Oliver Twist, played by veteran actor Indrans is a businessman who failed to keep up with times and had to close his business. His two sons – elder one, a film story writer and the younger one, an instagrammer- are quite engrossed in their own lives. They once were a happy family with elder one bidding them good night with a cheek kiss to the parents. Oliver struggles hard as he yearns the attention of his elder son, Antony, who comes home to overcome his writer’s block as he struggles in completing his story staying alone.

The difficulties of a writer looking for inspiration is also nicely captured, who has to slog for hours writing and thinking, only to eventually trash. Antony also has a love interest and their relationship gets more strained, with Antony’s frustration with his situation. Charles, Oliver’s second son, is a happy lad who posts anything and everything in Instagram. He has acted very well, especially in the places where he brings in the element of humor with subtle expressions.

The situation at home explodes when Oliver does an act by mistake as he begins learning how to use a smartphone, distancing Antony from Oliver further. The need for mental counselor is well emphasized, breaking away the stigma that is tagged to such therapies, as Oliver volunteers to share his mental conflict and issues with a therapist. It is through this therapy, a hidden incident from the past makes Oliver realise how extraordinary his life has been and he decides to share this incident with soon, who doesn’t believe and sarcastically acknowledges that his father is a great person.

How this incident in Oliver’s life brings Antony and his father together and how Antony’s respect for his father moves up because of this incident is what viewers will get to know in the climax. In sum, this is a good family movie which could have been a bit shorter, nonetheless, with great and important message to today’s youngsters – Smartphone is for the convenience and it is the user’s responsibility to provide it a place it deserves. Because, the kids of 90’s generation already are more vulnerable to smartphone addiction and with nuclear families, the divide between parents and kids can only increase further, if the usage is not tamed by their parents. ‘Home’ is a place where the invisible fabric of love, affection and care binds the parents and kids together and it is utmost duty of each one them to preserve this beautiful bond.

This movie is available on Amazon Prime OTT.