Movie Review: Habeebi

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 The story revolves around a weaver Mohamed Yousuf ( Kasthuri Raja) who has worked hard all his life for his family. 

His brother has to go abroad to earn a living,  however, after marriage, his wife Saliha (Anusreya Rajan) lives with all of them in a large family in the village.

As the years proceed, the family expands. But Yousuf's youngest son Abu Thahir ( Esha) doesnt get married right upto his 40's. The reason lies to an event that took place when he was  a teenager, in love with a young girl Niloufer ( Malavika Manoj). 


But now, in his 40's, when he visits from a job abroad,  his family somehow convinces  Abu Thahir to agree to wed and preparations are get underway.  


But things dont go according to plan and the past somehow gets in the way of his present. What happens next?


The story seems set in southern part of TN and director Meera Kathiravan takes the viewer  into the lives of the community he is portraying on screen, right from their traditions, costumes, way of life, dialect and daily habits and culture. 

The portrayal of the characters is in depth and each of them is brought to life on screen with wonderful performances. The characters are well written, in a way that one starts feeling their emotions and highs and lows in their lives. Be it Kasthuri  Raja, who has lived his role in a terrific performance, Esaha, who debuts as Abu Thahir in a noteworthy act, Malavika Manoj as the schoolgirl caught up in a vortex of emotions, Dhanasree as Esha's fiancee or Anusreya as Saleeha, who gives another exemplary performance, every actor elevates the film.

The film starts off in the 80's and shows the changes within society, in the village and in the lives of its characters, right up to the present day, in a unique and interesting manner,never in your face, but with subtlety.

Sam CS music and BGM is a plus and the visuals bring out the simple daily lives of the people as well highlight scenic beauty in many frames. 

On the flip side, the dialect may take time to grasp and the film takes its time building up an intro to the characters. The screenplay feels slow in certain parts but the second half makes up in terms of twists and drama.

Director Meera Kathiravan weaves an emotional saga that touches a chord with the viewer, with superb performances, authentic backdrop and strong sentiments of love, family relationships, social and financial pressures, and how many of these can change and impact lives.

Rating 3/5









Cast & Crew Details of Habeebi


Cast:

KASTHOORI RAJA - MOHAMED YOUSUF

ESHA - SYED ABUTHAHIR

MALAVIKA MONOJ - NILOFAR NISHA

DHANASREE - KATHIJA PARVIN

ANUSREYA RAJAN - SALIHA BEEVI

JAYASREE BINURAJ - MAMMATHU

ARUL KUMAR - SHEIK UTHUMAN

REKHA KUMANAN - RABIYA

ISMATH BANU - BYROJA

MALAR KAIZEN - NILOFAR MOTHER

SUN SHAHUL - PARVIN’S FATHER

MASTER THEEHAN - CHILD ABUTHAHIR

DHEEKSHA SREE - CHILD NILOFAR

Crew:

DIRECTOR - MEERA KATHIRAVAN

WRITER - V.S.MOHAMED AMEEN

MUSIC DIRECTOR - SAM CS

CINEMATOGRAPHER - MAHESH MUTHUSWAMI

EDITOR - MATHI VS

ART DIRECTOR - APPUNNI SAJAN

PRODUCERS :
NESAM ENTERTAINMENT
SHAHUL HAMEED
KOVAI IBRAHIM

GKS BROTHERS PRODUCTION
V.GUNASEKARAN
V.KARUPUCHAAMY
V.SHANKAR

ROMEO PICTURES
RAAHUL

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