Tourist Family: A riveting fare, riding on emotions and suspense | Review

Debutant Abishan Jeevinth's family drama-thriller starts off on a shaky but promising track. The early episodes of an Elam Tamil family escaping the Sri Lankan shores and their tomfoolery after landing on the Indian coast looked a bit shabbily done. The easy job of transiting them by snipping a much-needed scene of their sail across the waters leaves a dent in the narrative early on. The cringeworthy comedy elements, too, spoil the fare initially. But the story soon gains momentum.

The fate of a self-exiled Sri Lankan family of four -- the father, mother and their two sons -- under the constant fear of being caught in itself has enough power to drive the suspense. Abishan adds verve to the fare by weaving in a series of intense, dramatic elements within the family and its external environment. The conflicts are clear and loud. While the head of the family, Dharamadas, aka Das, has to find a job in the Tamil Nadu town where he has just set foot, to support his family, there are some loose ends too.

Meanwhile, a blast in Rameswaram keeps the police department on its toes. The report of the involvement of Sri Lankan nationals unnerves the cop who had caught Das and family on their arrival and then let them go after being convinced of their innocence. Das' struggles, his teenage son Nithushan's turmoil, the troubles and tribulations of people in the neighbourhood, coupled with the police forces' task of nailing the migrant family, which is suspected to have links with the blast, keep the 126-minute run time engaging.

Devising specific plot points for convenience may rob the storyline of its value, as seen in instances like Das landing a job as a driver in the neighbourhood. Although there are some excessively emotional and lengthy scenes, what's striking is the smooth blend of humour, emotions, suspense, and thrill woven together in a well-calibrated cinematic narrative.

The incredibly immaculate performances by all actors make it all the more exhilarating; even actors who appear for only a minute on screen showcase mind-numbing roles.

M Sasikumar as Das and Simran as Vasanthi have given steady performances. But Mithun Jai Sankar as Das' son and Ramesh Tilak as Inspector A Bhairavan stand out among the movie's many ingenious artists.

The mesmerising background score and a series of melodious numbers composed by Sean Roldan add charm to the visual experience. Aravind Viswanathan's camera focuses entirely on capturing the heat and hue of the drama.

Following the travails of an illegally migrated Sri Lankan Tamil family, the movie explores some of the most beautiful moments of family bonds, suspense, youthful romance, bonhomie, humour, thrills, and, most interestingly, the intrigue created by the differences between Sri Lankan Tamil and 'Indian' Tamil.