Plot
Michael, better known as Guppy, is a schoolboy and talented artist who supports his disabled mother by breeding and selling ornamental fish. He dreams of buying her a motorized wheelchair someday. His life is filled with the mischief of his friends and the charm of Amina, a village girl living with her grandparents. Meanwhile, the government sanctions the construction of a railway over-bridge, creating excitement in the village.
The project engineer, Thejus Varkey, arrives by motorcycle from the Himalayas. At their first meeting, Guppy offends him while serving tea, leading to mutual resentment. A near accident gives Guppy and his gang an excuse to demand money from Thejus, worsening their relationship. When Thejus pressures the village officer to cut the payment for Guppy’s fish, the boy retaliates by vandalizing his jeep. The confrontation escalates when Thejus slaps Guppy, who in turn injures the engineer’s hand with a stone. Later, the team’s tent is mysteriously burned, leaving Thejus to continue the work alone.
Studying the canals, Thejus arranges for the demolition of Guppy’s fish tanks and roadside stall, citing illegal construction. This destroys the boy’s livelihood. In desperation, Guppy hires a thug to harm the engineer, but Thejus is stabbed, horrifying the boy. Although fearful of retaliation, Guppy learns that the real attacker was Amina’s grandfather, Uppooppa, the railway gate operator who faced losing his job once the bridge was built. Stricken with guilt, Uppooppa is hospitalized.
Recovering, Thejus realizes his presence has devastated both Guppy and Uppooppa’s families. He concludes that the bridge is politically motivated and technically unfeasible, and cancels the project. Seeking reconciliation, he forgives Uppooppa, promises to help with Amina’s education, and rebuilds Guppy’s fish tanks. Guppy, overjoyed, rushes to tell his mother, only to find she has died, with the long-awaited wheelchair still on its way.
Later, an elderly villager named Tinku reveals Thejus’s past: years earlier, while inaugurating the Omallur Bridge, Thejus lost his parents, wife, and young daughter Malu in an accident. Riding became his way of coping with grief, and he saw every child he met as Malu. The railway over-bridge project was his only major work since.
In the final sequence, Thejus is seen riding through the Himalayas with Malu in his memories, now at peace, while Guppy finds solace in having been cared for, fulfilling his mother’s wish that he not be left alone.
Critical reception
The film received positive reviews from critics.
Times of India gave a rating of 3/5 and mentioned that director and scriptwriter Johnpaul George deserves credit for weaving the beautiful tale [4]
The Hindu mentioned that in Guppy director Johnpaul George is visibly eager to bring on screen everything he ever wanted to shoot and ends up packing in just a little too much.' [5]
Malayala Manorama gave a rating of 3/5 and said that 'While it's a thumbs up for the maiden directorial venture, one is too tempted to sing 'beauty, beauty everywhere, but a good number of edits short of being a fine film' [6]
The Entertainment website Sify with its inherent honesty, debutant director Johnpaul George's Guppy is a good film that has its fine moments [7]
The power of the screenplay in getting the audience involved, choosing between sides, and later making them regret their choice is one which is worthy of mention.
