Malayalam cinema continues to make a strong impact in 2025. Films like Rekhachithram, Identity, Dominic and the Ladies Purse, and Pravinkoodu Shappu have already impressed audiences. Now, another film, Ponman, has captivated viewers once again.
Starring Basil Joseph, Lijomol Jose, and Sajin Gopu in lead roles, this film is directed by Jyothish Shankar. Released on January 30th, I got a chance to watch it a little late. But what is it about this film that has left such a magical impression on the audience? Let’s have a look…
Ponman Movie Story: Stefi (Lijomol Jose) borrows 25 sovereigns of gold from Aziz (Basil Joseph) for her wedding, along with Bruno (Anand Manmadhan) and his mother. They plan to repay the money for the gold with the funds from the wedding gifts. However, due to an argument between Bruno and a church member, no one from the church or the party shows up. As a result, they can’t gather the money to buy the 25 sovereigns of gold.
So, Aziz demands his 12 sovereigns of gold back. But getting the gold back from Stefi’s husband, Mariano (Sajin Gopu), is no easy task. How did Aziz handle the situation? How did he confront Mariano and get back his gold? This is the main plot of Ponman.
Performances: Basil Joseph continues to elevate his acting with each film. In this movie, playing the title role, he truly embodied his character in a way that words cannot fully capture. His portrayal of an average middle-class man who will go to any lengths for the principles he believes in is something that many can connect with.
Lijomol Jose, though having few dialogues, brought many scenes to life with her subtle expressions. Deepak Parambol, playing the role of a young man who puts his family in trouble due to personal idol worship, gave a standout performance. Sajin Gopu, known for his role in Avesham, portrayed an ordinary middle-class husband with deep emotions, delivering it beautifully.
Anand Manmadhan and others, playing friends, did justice to their roles. However, the character of Markandeya, who is shown dressed as Jesus and carrying a cross, did cause a bit of a stir.
Technical Aspects: Sanu John Varghese’s cinematography work beautifully elevated the drama. The way lighting and color tones change based on the family dynamics and the nature of the characters is a clear reflection of how well the cinematographer understood the story and the characters.
Justin Varghese’s background score enhanced the emotions effectively. Shooting entirely in original locations added a natural feel to the movie.
Director Jotish Shankar chose a very simple point for the story. In fact, there’s no doubt that only Malayalam filmmakers could have made a film with this story. Through each character, Jotish Shankar conveyed a moral lesson. The mother’s character reflects the mindset of middle-class women, Bruno’s character shows how one mistake can bring a curse to the family, and Stefie’s character portrays the struggles of girls who, despite their disinterest, marry for the family’s sake. Through the character of Ajeesh, the film explains that escaping problems is not the right way to live.
In the small fight scene between Basil and Sajin, the difference between physical strength and willpower was shown brilliantly. As a writer and director, Jothish Shankar has achieved complete success with Ponman. The film deserves praise for being able to do all this without any commercial compromises and for keeping the audience engaged for 127 minutes in the theater.
Analysis: Movies that engage audiences with drama are quite rare, and Ponman is one of them. With Basil Joseph’s excellent performance, Jotish Shankar’s direction of the characters and storyline, and Sanu Varghese’s cinematography, this film is definitely worth watching in theaters.
Verdict: Ponman is a compelling drama that keeps the audience engaged with strong performances, a well-crafted storyline, and impressive cinematography. With standout work from Basil Joseph, Jotish Shankar, and Sanu Varghese, the film is a must-watch in theaters.
Bottom Line: Gripping drama with powerful performances.
Rating: 3.5/5
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