Porinju Mariyam Jose movie review: Not-so-regular masala movie

Director: Joshiy
Cast: Chemban Vinod, Joju George, Nyla Usha, Sudhi Koppa

Director Joshiy’s comeback movie Porinju Mariam Jose (PMJ) tells the tale of friendship between Porinju and Jose, and how certain events involving Mariam, an important person in both  their lives, lead to the antagonists taking revenge on the duo. The movie begins in the year 1965 and Porinju (Joju George) is seen being asked to leave the class for picking a fight with his classmate who was trying to flirt with his crush Mariam. Jose (Chemban Vinod Jose), too, follows his best friend. Mariam (Nyla Usha), who belongs to a wealthy family, likes Porinju against her father’s will. Cut to twenty years later, Porinju a.k.a. Kattalan Porinju turns the right hand of Iype (Vijayaraghavan), and is ready to die and kill for his mentor. Iype, too, has given Porinju a special place in his heart. When his grandson Prince (Rahul Madhav) clashes with Jose and his sons and plans to kill Jose and Porinju, he tries to convey it to Porinju and asks him to go away from the village.

However, there is something else in store for everyone when Prince returns during the annual festival at church with some goons to take revenge on Porinju, Mariam and Jose.

Porinju is a good-hearted goon, who along with indulging in fights for Iype, fearlessly takes a stance against injustice. Joju has done an appealing job as Kattalan Porinju. His love for Mariam and Jose is both his weakness and strength. The actor has very delicately and convincingly portrayed that on screen. Chemban, who loves disco, has nailed it as Porinju’s best friend and confidant. His character has a crucial role in shaping up the story.

Nyla has done a decent job as a stubborn woman who walks with her head held high and successfully runs her father’s business after his untimely death, contrary to what is depicted in most films about women who land in such circumstances.

Mariam, pushing her love for Porinju to the back seat after he unknowingly becomes a reason for her father’s death, cements the fact that she is a woman of substance. Porinju’s relationship with Mariam and Iype make PMJ a not-so-regular masala movie. However, the portrayal of the antagonists as those who can only fight back with the help of goons has lessened the impact of the story.

In spite of a slightly stretched storytelling and a predictive second half, PMJ is a good watch.