Ponman

“Ponman is cinematic gold with its brilliant script, acting, direction. While Jothish Shankar had great material to work with, he has taken the movie to another level.”

“The film unravels a tense pursuit of gold, laced with humour and deep-rooted emotions, exposing the dark side of the dowry system from a different vantage point with brilliant performances”

“Ponman, written by GR Indugopan and Justin Mathew, is yet another story about everyday people in the port city of Kollam. The story, the conflict, and the stake of Ponman are small. But the film leaves one pondering about big things of human resilience, grit, and ethics–typical of good Malayalam cinema.”

“Director Jothish Shankar's Ponman, starring Basil Joseph, Sajin Gopu and Lijomol Jose, is a simple yet effective story of underdogs. The proceedings keep you on the edge of the seats.”

“With strong performances by Basil Joseph, Lijomol, and Sajin Gopu, the film focuses on resilience in adversity.”

“What stands out immediately in Ponman is its organic storytelling, seamlessly addressing a crucial social issue without resorting to preachiness. Directed by art director and production designer Jothish Shankar in his debut venture, the film is grounded and emotionally resonant, with stellar performances that make it gripping till the very end.”

“Ponman is, in all honesty, one of those films that deserve appreciation for its technical brilliance and stellar performances, yet its glaring misrepresentations and the glorification of wrongdoings highlight how a well-executed film can subtly reinforce harmful ideas. While the movie shines in many ways, it is also deeply flawed and these flaws cannot be overlooked.”

“Director Jotish Shankar's film Ponman is extremely different, and Basil has broken out of his stereotyped image—and how. Ponman is an enthralling, technically superb film that showcases the Malayalam actor in a completely new avatar.”

“A Stunning Basil Joseph Shines In This Stressful, High-Stakes Drama”

“Ponman could have easily turned into another film with a progressive message against dowry and the unhealthy obsession with gold. But what we get instead is an engrossing, non-judgemental study of characters, most of whom are victims of social malaise. Ponman is worth its weight in gold.”

“By keeping you intrigued about how the central character would go about a situation that looks impossible to crack and making him do stuff that you wouldn’t anticipate him to do, this dowry critique takes the shape of a situational thriller. By giving us a picture of PP Ajesh through the events of the story, which indirectly tells us what made him this person who never gives up, Ponman becomes a character study and a compelling drama at the same time.”