Review of the film “Sunny”: moving and inspiring, if not revolutionary narrative

The slow pacing of Sunny may irritate some people, but many who have experienced extended periods of isolation and gloom may find the movie somewhat relevant.

Have you ever exchanged texts or voicemails with someone whose face you had never seen before and then felt heartbroken when they abruptly vanished from your life? Sunny (Jayasurya), who is working with filmmaker Ranjith Sankar on a new film, goes through two similar losses. Responses to both losses are distinct. He even sees the person’s face in one occasion, if only in part. Although these scenes only make up a small portion of the movie, they elevate it along with many other lesser scenes.

Though Sunny has been billed as a single-character drama, the supporting characters communicate with us through voice messages and images, so happily, it doesn’t feel like one. More than any other post-pandemic movie set in the current situation, this one also helps us experience the effects of the crippling incident. We get to watch every stage of the quarantine protocols that Sunny, who recently arrived in Kochi, must go through. We are given a clear image of the annoying experience that airline passengers go through.

Things start to become a little serious when you add the protagonist’s personal problems into this. Fans of Malayalam cinema who are well-versed in Jayasurya’s past productions might not find anything new. On the other hand, Sunny serves as a strong introduction to the actor’s talents for non-Malayali viewers who have either not seen any of his films or have only seen a little portion of them.

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For an actor of Jayasurya’s quality, Sunny is perfect. It has every component that we are confident the actor can masterfully execute. That does not imply that I am undervaluing his work. It’s simply not that new. In certain early scenes of the movie, the actor revisits the subject matter of his most recent project, Vellam, which centres on an alcoholic guy. But addiction is not the subject of Sunny. It tells the story of a guy facing his inner demons. He stays in a fancy hotel in Kochi, but the opulence doesn’t bring him any comfort. His tendency towards self-destruction is further exacerbated by the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Prominent figures such as Siddique, Innocent, Vijayaraghavan, Sshivada, Aju Varghese, Vijay Babu, and Shruti Ramachandran represent the characters that have had a favourable or unfavourable influence on Sunny. I am aware that I won’t be the only one to call attention to the Mathilukal touch when Sunny engages in a discussion with Aditi (Shritha Sivadas), a woman confined to the floor above him.

It’s a lovely, touching touch in a movie where Sunny’s inner darkness rules the majority of the story. Moments like these bring out the best in Jayasurya, whether it’s the humiliation he attempts to hide when she discovers that he was about to do something horrible or the scene where Sunny, yearning for communication, strikes up a discussion with the medic who comes to take his Covid-19 test.

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Sunny doesn’t overlook its pauses, being the thoughtful movie that it is. Mood drives the story more so than plot. The rainfall on the window panes, the flowing curtains, the Kochi skyline, the falling dupatta, or the potted plant that Sunny develops a particular bond with are all expertly captured by cinematographer Madhu Neelakandan. His use of perspective lensing does a good job of capturing Sunny’s confusion during one of his “episodes.”

The atmospheric qualities of the picture are additionally enhanced by the deft editing of Shameer Muhammed, the rich sound design of Sinoy Joseph, and the poignant background soundtrack by Sankar Sharma. The cop, played by Vijayaraghavan, is interested in Sunny’s health, and Innocent, who is a kind and understanding counsellor who wishes to keep Sunny from acting recklessly, has a big influence.

Although the 93 minutes of the movie don’t introduce any novel ideas to the single-character/single-location storytelling genre, it does a good job of making the audience feel something throughout. The film may resonate, if only somewhat, with those who have gone through extended periods of time alone with their thoughts and a strong desire for human interaction. Others may find the slow pacing tedious. The film’s optimistic denouement is welcome, despite its somewhat hurried feel. But in this instance, I’d rather see the bright side.

Movie: Sunny

Director: Sankar Ranjith

Jayasurya in the cast

Watching on: Prime Video on Amazon