Dr. Mathew Joys, Las Vegas

Just looking at the title of the Malayalam film “Bharatanatyam” hints at its association with a classical dance form. Although there is no dance, the story moves forward with precise steps, the film centers around the central character Bharatan Nair, played by Sai Kumar. The story has similarities to Mohanlal's Baletan (2003) but leans towards humor rather than emotional drama. An interesting feature of the film is this humorous depiction of family events. Films these days get quite different responses in theaters and OTT. Films that are big hits in theaters get mixed reviews on OTT, while some films that don't get much attention in theaters get huge audience hits on OTT release.

The most recent example of this is the film Bharatanatyam. Directed by Krishnadas Murali and starring Saiju Kurup, the film hit the theaters on August 30. The theatrical release also received good reviews, but there was no push from the audience to the theatres. Therefore, the film was not a big box-office success. But when it came to OTT, the game changed.

The OTT release of the film was at the end of September ‘2024. The film started showing on platforms Amazon Prime Video and Manorama Max.The film will be available on Amazon Prime Video in India, UK and US. In the GCC and Middle East through Simply South. The film will be available worldwide through Manorama Max. Now the viewership figures that the film has already achieved on Amazon Prime Video are out. The film has already been streamed for over 50 million minutes (5 crores) on Prime Video. This is a big achievement for a Malayalam film. Bharatanatyam is a clean family entertainer with an emphasis on comedy. Sai Kumar has played the titular character Bharatan Nair in the Saiju Kurup as hero with Kalaranjini, Sohan Seenulal, Manikanthan Pattambi, Salim Hasan, Sreeja Ravi, Divya M Nair, and Shruti Suresh have played other notable characters in the film.

Sasi is the son of Bharat Nair. He is the eldest in a family with three other siblings. Shashi has a very active social life and is part of the local temple committee. One day Bharat Nair suffered a stroke and the doctors told Sasi that his father's days were numbered. On his deathbed, Bharat Nair told Sasi about his other wife and child and expressed his desire to see them one last time. In Bharatanatyam, we see how the “Satya bomb” causes chaos in Sasi's family.

Saiju opted for a short film to venture into filmmaking, perhaps expecting humor to carry the film, but there aren't many laugh-out-loud moments. Bharatanatyam is one of those films that doesn't drive you away but doesn't pull you into anything. When Bharata faces a life-threatening health condition, he confides a long-kept secret to his son, leading to a peculiar domestic situation. Bharatanatyam can be seen as a family's desperate struggle to protect their reputation. "What will people think?" rather than the discomfort of the particular situation they find themselves in. It is a common fear. It makes them more difficult.

Despite its simplicity, Bharatanatyam is a film with a heart. It subtly conveys the message that love can overcome even the most challenging situations and that life is at its core about living with openness and grace.

Although the end of the film is very funny and emotional, the humor that never gets too weird makes this movie enjoyable.

Bharatanatyam Malayalam Movie Review: A Heartwarming, Reflective Cinematic Experience with OTT