In the glittering world of Indian cinema, often dominated by nepotism and superstar culture, director G. Prajith’s Ashakal Aayiram poses a compelling question: what happens when your most intense rivalry comes from within your own home? This film, featuring the real-life father-son duo of Jayaram and Kalidas Jayaram, attempts to explore the complex dynamics of dreams, disappointment, and male ego. While it launches with a fascinating premise, the movie ultimately finds itself veering off course, succumbing to the very melodramatic tropes it initially seems to sidestep.
Story
Ashakal Aayiram centers on the Hariharan family. Hariharan (Jayaram) is a world-weary medical representative, burdened by the monotony of his job and the financial pressures of a middle-class life. His son, Ajeesh (Kalidas Jayaram), is his polar opposite—a vibrant, hopeful youth with a single-minded ambition to become a movie star, despite having negligible acting talent. The film cleverly hints that in today’s industry, raw passion might just outweigh raw talent.
Their constant clashing creates a tense household, with the mother, Asha (Asha Sharath), perpetually playing the thankless role of peacemaker. The story’s first half efficiently establishes this familiar dynamic of generational conflict. However, the narrative takes an inventive turn when a chance encounter with a narcissistic superstar, Sumith Raghavan (a well-cast Sharaf U Dheen), inadvertently pushes Hariharan to adopt his son’s dream. This sparks an unexpected and often humorous game of one-upmanship, as father and son both pursue acting careers, leading to a journey of mutual self-discovery and, eventually, understanding.
Performances
The film’s strongest asset is undoubtedly Jayaram. The veteran actor is perfectly suited to the role of Hariharan, imbuing him with a palpable sense of fatigue and frustration, yet never letting us forget the dormant dreams beneath the surface. His character arc is the film’s emotional core, and Jayaram navigates it with effortless grace, handling even the most sentimental moments with a deft touch.
Kalidas Jayaram, unfortunately, is handed a character that lacks the same depth. While he convincingly portrays the brash enthusiasm of Ajeesh, the script doesn’t afford him the same nuanced growth. His pivotal moments and a closing monologue feel more like narrative requirements than earned emotional beats. Asha Sharath delivers a solid performance as the matriarch, though her character is often relegated to the sidelines, reflecting a missed opportunity to explore her perspective more deeply.
Behind the Scenes
The initial setup by writers Jude Anthany Joseph and Aravind Rajendran shows promise, cleverly subverting the typical father-son drama tropes. The film’s aesthetic successfully captures a relatable, middle-class Kerala milieu, with Hariharan’s weathered motorcycle and plain clothes speaking volumes about his character.
However, the second half reveals the film’s critical weakness: its writing. The sharp, relatable conflict devolves into a convoluted saga of sudden sacrifices, long-buried secrets, and overly convenient plot twists. The outsider-insider commentary, reintroduced during the climax, feels unearned and tonally disjointed from the family drama at the story’s heart. The intriguing premise is overridden by a need for heightened emotional drama that feels forced and unimaginative.
Final Verdict
Ashakal Aayiram is a film of squandered potential. It begins as a sharp, relatable exploration of generational dreams and familial competition, powered by a superb performance from Jayaram. However, its inability to resist the pull of melodramatic conventions results in a messy and predictable second act. While it still offers several enjoyable moments and benefits from a crisp runtime, the narrative’s unevenness is hard to ignore. This is a watchable drama that had all the ingredients to be a memorable and crafty entertainer but settled for being merely sentimental.
