Sara's

Last updated

Sara's
Sara's poster.jpg
Official release poster
Directed by Jude Anthany Joseph
Written byAkshay Hareesh
Produced by
  • P. K. Murali Dharan
  • Santha Murali
Starring
CinematographyNimish Ravi
Edited byRiyas K. Badhar
Music by Shaan Rahman
Production
company
Anantha Visions
Distributed by Amazon Prime Video [1]
Release date
  • 5 July 2021 (2021-07-05) [2]
Running time
118 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Sara's (stylized as Sara'S) is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Jude Anthany Joseph and written by Akshay Hareesh, starring Anna Ben and Sunny Wayne in lead roles. [3] [4] The film features music composed by Shaan Rahman, cinematography handled by Nimish Ravi, and editing done by Riyas K. Badhar. The film released directly through Amazon Prime Video on 5 July 2021. [5] [6]

Contents

Plot

Sara Vincent is a girl in mid 20's who has no desire of giving birth to a child. Working as a co-director in the film industry, her biggest dream is to become a freelance director. She marries Jeevan Philip, a guy in his early 30's, who is in line with her vision of not having a child. The film then goes on to tell of the challenges and crises that befell Sara in her life and work.

Cast

Production

Development

After the success of Oru Muthassi Gadha (2016), Jude Anthany Joseph began working on two scripts: the one being titled Detective Prabhakaran based on the works of renowned writer G. R. Indugopan, [7] and other one is 2403 ft, based on the 2018 Kerala floods [8] and had featured an ensemble cast with Tovino Thomas and Tanvi Ram in the lead roles. [9] The project went into floors in October 2019 and two schedules had been completed until early 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India, the progress of both the films had been affected and both required a huge film crew and expenses, which could not be made due to the lockdown. [10] As a result, Joseph temporarily halted the projects and later worked on a new film with the title Sara's. Anna Ben and Sunny Wayne were roped in to play leading roles, the former playing the titular character Sara, an associate director who is struggling to do her first project. The title, as mentioned by Joseph, referred to her decisions and story. He planned to address a "serious and relevant content based on childbirth, unlike his previous films which explained the "core message in an entertaining way". [11] Anna Ben's real-life father and scriptwriter Benny P. Nayarambalam assigned to play the character of her on-screen father. [12]

Filming

Principal shooting of the film began in mid-October 2020 after restrictions from COVID-19 lockdown were lifted. Unlike other Malayalam films which were shot in contained locations, the film was shot in Kochi Metro, a mall in Edappally, Wagamon and other prime sites in Kochi as its main location and was completed in December 2020. Joseph revealed that "When the story was first narrated to me, it only had a girl’s house and school as the key locales. But we wanted to magnify that scope. Cinematographer Nimish Ravi is someone who wants his frames to be visually striking and so when a scene comes up, I would suggest why don’t we shoot this on a boat or a metro, and he would gladly agree. So, that’s how the film took its final form". [11]

He added that the shooting was "fraught with risk" and the team found it as "challenging" filming after the pandemic. Joseph added that "when the shooting took place, the people in the background shouldn’t be wearing masks. So, the junior artistes had their masks off which was risky because even if one person got infected, it would be a danger to all. Also, by stroke of luck, when we were filming in few locations, in our wide-angle shots, there weren’t any people wearing masks in the frames of the film". Joseph being a paranoid about COVID-19, had ensured about following the necessary safety restrictions that to be followed during the time of crisis. He added "when other films went on floors, I thought we could also do a small movie. The pandemic will be over soon, but when people watch my movie in the later years, they shouldn’t feel that it was made under restrictions. That could be one of the reasons why Sara's is shot in such a way". [13] [10]

Music

Sara's
Soundtrack album by
Shaan Rahman
Released30 June 2021
VenueMy Studio, Kochi
Genre Feature film soundtrack
Length9:55
Language Malayalam
Label Satyam Audios
Producer Shaan Rahman
Shaan Rahman chronology
Helen
(2019)		Sara's
(2021)		 Minnal Murali
(2021)

The film's soundtrack and score is composed by Shaan Rahman in his third collaboration with the director Jude Anthany Joseph after Ohm Shanti Oshanaa and Oru Muthassi Gadha . Lyrics for the songs were penned by written by Manu Manjith, Joe Paul and Shaan Rahman. Vineeth Sreenivasan's wife Divya Vineeth has sung a song in the movie marking her debut in Mollywood as a playback singer. [14]

Tracklist
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Mele Vinpadavukal" Manu Manjith Sooraj Santhosh 2:43
2."Varavayi Nee" Joe Paul Vineeth Sreenivasan, Divya Vineeth3:18
3."Kadha Parayanu" Shaan Rahman Shaan Rahman 1:55
4."Nenjame Nenjame"Joe PaulVineeth Sreenivasan, Gowry Lekshmi 4:07
5."Penninte"Manu ManjithShaan Rahman1:59
Total length:14:03

Release

Sara's began streaming on Amazon Prime Video from 5 July 2021. [15] [16]

Reception

The film opened to mixed to positive reviews from critics. Deepa Soman from The Times of India , gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and saying that the film is "a much-needed mouthpiece for women who don’t feel maternal and have no regrets about the same and also for those who don’t want to stop chasing their dreams, big or small, regardless of how others judge them about their stand on motherhood." [17] Sowmya Rajendran of The News Minute gave 3.5 out of 5-star rating and reviewed that the film "presents an offbeat, difficult theme in a mainstream fashion that can be watched comfortably by everyone in the drawing room, which can be read as either the film's victory or its undoing". [18] S. R. Praveen of The Hindu wrote the film as a "commendable attempt at course correction on some deeply set societal norms, despite its cliches". Praveen also praised Anna Ben's performance which "goes a long way in propping up the film even in places where it sags due to below-par writing". [19] Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion South wrote "Sara’s looks at a woman’s plight from a woman’s perspective. It’s about Sara’s confusions and doubts, the conflict between what she wants to do and what society wants from her." [20]

Manoj Kumar R. of The Indian Express gave 2 out of 5 stars and said that the film "works as an educational film, which could start a conversation in conservative households on subjects that are touted as beyond discussions. But the conservative setting fails to create any dramatic tension in the narration." [21] Haricharan Pudipeddi of Hindustan Times wrote that the film "doesn’t try to show motherhood as a burden but it allows one to introspect on the sacrifices women have to make to raise kids". [22] India Today critic Ramya Palisetty called "the film sticks to the concept till the very end - until and unless a woman is ready, she shouldn’t be forced into parenthood. Though, it might not convince everyone, the film surely start a conversation" and gave 3.5 out of 5 stars for the film. [23]

Sajin Srijith of The New Indian Express called that the film "appears small on the surface but packs a lot of big topics and thoughts, some of which are relatable and conveyed in a matter of seconds or minutes". [24] Shubham Kulkarni of Koimoi.com gave 2.5 out of 5 stars saying "The flaws are not criminal that you don’t even give it a chance. If not thoroughly entertaining, it is educational and a conversation starter that we definitely need right now." [25] Bhavana Sharma of Pinkvilla gave 3 out of 5 and said "Jude Anthony deserves an applause for taking up such a sensitive and important topic and showing it in a beautiful way." [26] A critic from Sify called the film as "a feel-good movie that has its moments and does put forward some questions which could remain in the viewers’ minds" giving 3 out of 5-star rating. [27]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Sunny Wayne and Anna Ben's next film Sara's to stream on OTT". The News Minute. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "Anna Ben's Sara's to premiere on Amazon Prime Video, Asif Ali's Kunjeldho gets a release date". The Indian Express. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "Anna Ben stars in Jude Anthony Joseph's next 'Sara's'". The New Indian Express. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  4. ↑ Shilpa Nair Anand (30 June 2021). "Anna Ben on how she became Sara in Jude Anthany Joseph's 'Sara's'". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Sara's movie review: Anna Ben's film is a relevant tale about woman's right over her body and to give birth". Hindustan Times. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Soman, Deepa, "Sara's Review: An ode to women, child-free by choice!", The Times of India, retrieved 5 July 2021
  7. ↑ Soman, Deepa. "Jude Anthany Joseph's next is 'Detective Prabhakaran' - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  8. ↑ Jayaram, Deepika. "Jude Anthany's next is on the rise of heroes during the floods in Kerala - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  9. ↑ "Tovino Thomas and Ambili fame Tanvi Ram in Jude Anthony's next - Times of India". The Times of India. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Can't resume 2403ft till everyone gets vaccine: Jude Anthany Joseph - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  11. 1 2 Sidhardhan, Sanjith (13 December 2020). "It was challenging shooting Sara's in public places: Jude Anthany Joseph". Times of India. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  12. ↑ Sidhardhan, Sanjith (13 December 2020). "Anna Ben to play an associate director in Jude Anthany Joseph's Sara's". Times of India. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  13. ↑ "Anna Ben to star in Jude Anthany Joseph's next, Sara's". Cinema Express . 13 December 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "Vineeth Sreenivasan's wife Divya render voice for a song in Sara's". Mathrubhumi. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  15. ↑ Janani K. (1 July 2021). "Anna Ben and Sunny Wayne's Sara's to release on Amazon Prime Video on July 5". India Today. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  16. ↑ Jha, Lata (2 July 2021). "Amazon Prime Video to premiere Malayalam film 'Sara's on 5 July". mint. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  17. ↑ Soman, Deepa, "Sara's Review: An ode to women, child-free by choice!", The Times of India, retrieved 6 July 2021
  18. ↑ "'Sara's' review: Anna Ben is charming in a light film on reproductive rights". The News Minute. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  19. ↑ Praveen, S. r (5 July 2021). "'Sara's' movie review: A commendable attempt at shaking a societal norm". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  20. ↑ "Sara's, On Amazon Prime Video With Anna Ben, Is A Satisfying Feel-Good Entertainer About Difficult Choices". FilmCompanion. 6 July 2021.
  21. ↑ "Sara'S movie review: Anna Ben, Sunny Wayne film educates, but feels inadequate". The Indian Express. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  22. ↑ "Sara's movie review: Anna Ben's film is a relevant tale about woman's right over her body and to give birth". Hindustan Times. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  23. ↑ Ramya Palisetty (5 July 2021). "Sara's Review: Anna Ben's stellar act lifts this simple Amazon Prime film". India Today. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  24. ↑ "Sara's Movie Review: A breezy, essential film". The New Indian Express. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  25. ↑ "Sara's Movie Review: Anna Ben Starrer Is A Conversation Starter But Not Enough To Keep It Going". Koimoi. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  26. ↑ "Sara's Movie Review: Another gem from Malayalam cinema; Anna Ben steals the show". PINKVILLA. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  27. ↑ "Sara's review- A fine feel good drama". Sify . Archived from the original on 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
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