Sufiyum Sujatayum Review: A Soul-Soothing Drama with Narrative Issues!

Sufiyum Sujatayum blends in an illicit romance story with the elements of casteism, and this 122-minute drama opens up on the community views on a Hindu girl falling in love with a Muslim boy. Showcasing the emotions of a girl in a romantic musical, this first Malayalam OTT release, directed by Naranipuzha Shanavas stars Dev Mohan and Aditi Rao Hydari in the lead roles, along with Jayasurya, in a decent role.

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The storyline spans of Sufiyum Sujatayum between two periods, and the earlier era details Sufi, played by Dev Mohan, returning to his home town where he shared quite a few cherished and unforgettable memories. Subsequently, the narrative takes us back to reminisce about the story of Sufi and Sujata (Aditi Rao Hydari), and how they run into each other and eventually fall in love and begin a profound relationship.

On the other side, in the second period, during the opening scenes of the movie, it portrays a troubled marital life between Rajevan (Jayasurya) and Sujata. And the remainder of the film showcases the distress and the tension behind the relationships and the emotions of these characters in a 122-minute low-paced drama.

Beginning with the positives, Sufiyum Sujatayum succeeds in presenting the storyline on a pleasing note with vibrant shots and music that blends well with the narrative. The ‘love for Jihadism’ felt relatively ridiculous, but it substantiated well with the societal perspectives. Additionally, director Naranipuzha Shanavas did not spoil the overall quality of the movie and managed to portray a simplistic plot successfully on a larger scale.

The script by director Shanavas himself was structured beautifully as a poetic, romantic story, but it fails in the aspects of detailing. With a 120-minute run time, the narrative could have progressed much better with the help of some additional ingredients to the script and making it more engaging in the process.

Visually, Sufiyum Sujatayum was a treat to the eyes, and Anu Moothedath captured the imagery of the small village and its scenic beauty very well. M. Jayachandran’s music had a significant part to play, and the vocals alongside the background score coalesce complemented the movie even better. The production design by M. Bava was top-notch as the mosque and its surroundings recalled me back to some good old times.

Above all, the exceptional performances from the cast are the backbone of Sufiyum Sujatayum, and the lead star Dev Mohan deserves special applause. He carried the role of Sufi adequately with his charming screen presence, showcasing a soul-satisfying act. Aditi Rao Hydari succeeds in enacting the emotions, and Jayasurya supported the movie very well with his characterization. On an intriguing character note, Swami Shoonya, who played Aboob, the mentor of Sufi, presented religious glory, and contrary to that, Siddique, who played Sujata’s father, depicted societal darkness.

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Overall, with its stunning picturization, Sufiyum Sujatayum presents itself as a magical and a soul-soothing romantic musical. However, there are imperfections due to the script that lacks detailing and will pull you back from the great visual experience. If you love watching a movie that blends in visuals, music, and romance flawlessly, this film is a perfect watch despite its many problems. Watch ‘Sufiyum Sujatayum’ on Prime here.

Rating – 2.75/5 | Grade – C+

Images via Amazon Prime Video