What truly makes this film stand out is its core message. Simple in its narrative yet profoundly impactful in its message.
by Rashmi Rekha Das
Recently, I watched a Malayalam movie on JioCinema (Hotstar), and it truly left a lasting impression on me. As a die-hard fan of Malayalam cinema, I rarely miss films that resonate with my taste—and last Friday’s watch, Ponman, was a gem. Simple in its narrative yet profoundly impactful in its message.
Directed by debutant Jotish Shankar and starring the ever-talented Basil Joseph, Ponman is set in a quiet coastal town in Kollam. The story begins with Bruno (Anand Manmadhan) and his mother, who are eager to arrange a marriage for his sister, Steffi (Lijomol Jose). But in Kerala’s dowry-driven society, their hopes clash with harsh realities. Steffi’s marriage is fixed with Mariyano, a prawn farmer from the remote island of Thalavettichira, whose family demands 25 sovereigns of gold as dowry.
The story takes an emotional turn when Ajesh, prepared to leave empty-handed, finds Steffi waiting alone at the church.
Due to Bruno’s troubled past, the family has no savings and no social support. The church denies them financial help, and Bruno is expelled from his political party. Enter PP Ajesh (Basil Joseph), a man with a unique business: he lends gold to brides' families in exchange for repayment after the wedding, using the cash gifts they receive. But when Steffi’s family fails to return either the gold or its value, Ajesh is left in a bind. Determined to recover what he’s owed, Ajesh travels to Thalavettichira, posing as Steffi’s cousin. He soon realizes the real challenge: Mariyano’s family tightly guards the gold, intending to use it to settle their own dowry debts and save for their younger daughter’s future wedding. As tensions escalate, Mariyano uncovers Ajesh’s true identity, leading to a fierce confrontation. Steffi is forced to reveal everything. The story takes an emotional turn when Ajesh, prepared to leave empty-handed, finds Steffi waiting alone at the church. She reveals she can’t return to Mariyano’s abusive household. In a quiet yet powerful moment, Ajesh offers her an escape. As they sail away together, he tells her, “You don’t need gold. You are valuable even without it.”
