Sasikumar teaches us that Kindness costs nothing, in this Slice of Life film | Tourist Family Review

The film starts with a Sri Lankan family intruding into India via Rameshwaram. They win the heart of the cop who captures them and he gives them a new lease on life. They begin their life in the garb as a "Kerala Family" in a quiet neighbourhood in Chennai. The story speaks about the life of refugees on a lighter vein, the power of community-living and how empathy is universal beyond borders and race.

Yogi Babu, Simran , Sasikumar, Jai Mithun Shankar, Kamalesh

The 24-year old director Abishan Jeevinth, steers this ship of a powerful cast, hiding life lessons in plain sight. The senior couple, the troubled bachelor, the punjabi family, the teacher and a police inspector are given generous number of scenes to establish their role in this fam-com. Though certain scenes seem a bit exaggerated to drive the audience to tears, they were compensated with writing that feel as light as a dew drop on a leaf.

The young director emphasised the power of humanity and honesty within the spectrum of a colony life. Out of all the dwellers of Keshav Colony, Dharmadas's boss played by M.S.Bhaskar, girl-next-door Kural played by Yogalakshmi and the Teacher played by Sudharshan Gandhy shine the brightest.

The cast is chosen thoughtfully as the supporting artists play a crucial role in keeping the story real. Their acting metre is strictly controlled with minimal expressions and a natural dialogue delivery which instantly makes them likeable.

Mithun Jai Sankar and Yogalakshmi as Nithushan and Kural

As a family starting their life in a new country, they looked believably clueless. The chemistry between them was electric - a troubled teenager Nithushan played by Avesham fame Mithun Jai Sankar, a headstrong wife played by Simran, a textbook simpleton played by Sasikumar and the smartest cookie of the lot, Mulli, played by Zee5 Super Singer fame Kamalesh.

Simran choosing to play this role was the precursor of a box office success hiding in the folds of this unassuming story. Though Simran plays a doting mama bear, the performer in her is left starved intentionally. Director Abishan nails a powerful message in casting one of the most popular artists of the 90s' to play a homemaker, as her indomitable presence adds a layer of magic throughout the film. Much like the the pillars of strength in every household.

The same director who wrote the character sketch of Mulli, the most unique screen child of this decade, falls short in creativity for the female lead.

Sasikumar and Simran

Nithushan and Dharmadas's heated-up argument leads to the most powerful scene of the film where a father-son's complex web of love untangles like poetry. A father's innate need to protect his family versus a son's dream to become the man of the house. This 20-minute long sequence that saw loud arguments and tears, ends with the theatre having a blast with Mulli owning the scene with a playful gesture that turns grief into a core memory.

All the emotionally heavy scenes are punctuated with casual everyday humour which left a seasoned comic like Yogi Babu jolly riding from the back seat.

The end of the movie is a heart warming sugar syrup, one that does not end in lengthy monologues or fight sequence but a statement that strikes like a lightening tearing the sky and lighting up the town quietly.

Kamalesh as Mulli in Tourist Family

The life of refugees is always portrayed on big screen as a loathsome journey with unbearable suffering and identity crisis. We have seen movies like Kannathil Muthamitaal and Jagame Thanthiram where war and bloodshed have left an indelible mark on the psyche of the people of the land. Though the Tourist Family might not look believable, all it takes is one pebble to create a ripple effect. Director Abishan, thank you for throwing this diamond studded pebble.

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