123. Peranbu; movie review

PERANBU
Cert 12A
146 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate sex references, threat, upsetting scenes

When I was a child those with cerebral palsy would have been described as 'spastic' and likely to have been locked away in a home.
Thankfully, the UK has progressed the rights of disabled people significantly over recent decades and both language and attitudes have changed.
Indeed, many of those with cerebral palsy can go on to lead fulfilling, independent lives.
Unfortunately, this would not appear to be the case in many countries.
Ram's Peranbu shines a light upon the indignities the disabled suffer in India.
It stars the excellent Mammootty as Amudhavan - a single father who is left to look after his disabled daughter (Sadhana) after her mother says she is at the end of her tether and elopes.
His problems in looking after her are exacerbated because he has been in Dubai for a decade and she pines for her mother
Sadhana handles the role of a girl with cerebral palsy with great empathy as well as realism. Her character, Paapa, struggles to walk and speak.
Amudhavan tries his best but, sadly, compassion is lacking from those around him, ranging from family who don't want them to share accommodation to unscrupulous people who seek to rip off the vulnerable.
There is no doubt that Peranbu is a tear-jerker and exposes myriad flaws in the Indian support system but it should not have been a near two-and-a-half-hour movie.
In my opinion, it would have had much more dramatic effect if it had followed the recent Indian movie trend of being less than two hours.
Indeed, it only took an hour to know that Amudhavan was battling hopelessly against a tide of injustice and that his and his daughter's lives would be shrouded in misery.
That said, I reiterate that I heartily commend the performances of Mammootty and Amundhavan.

Reasons to watch: Outstanding performances
Reasons to avoid: Drags on too long

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Pioneering stem cell treatment for cerebral palsy in India shows after four years, of 108 patients, there were significant improvements in 15.74%, fair improvement in 48.14% and mild improvement in 28.7%.

The final word. Sadhana: "I had to prepare both physically and mentally to play Paapa. I had to understand the biological intricacies of such children -- my mouth had to be one side, my tongue had to be out. There were scenes I had to drool visibly, as they can't swallow easily. I could only do this by observing and learning from doctors and therapists. I visited several schools and I always had supportive people by my side. It wouldn't have been possible without them. Cinema Express

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