Sunday Holiday: Riding high on feel-good factor

An intriguing aspect of Jis Joy’s Sunday Holiday is how its people deal with the rawest of emotions. While the protagonist can barely get over a heartbreak, another character is all bitter because he has lost his ancestral home to a conniving businessman. Then, there is a small-time filmmaker who is mired in his past. Life wasn’t exactly fair to them, yet they move on with spirit. All they strive to achieve in life is some meaning and happiness.

Sadly, the precision Jis gives in characterisation is lost when it comes to the plot, for Sunday Holiday is sadly let down by its paper-thin storyline.  

Cast: Asif Ali, Aparna Balamurali, Sreenivasan
Director: Jis Joy

The movie begins as a tribute to aspiring filmmakers. Unni Mukundan (Sreenivasan), is a college lecturer, but an unsatisfied soul, for he dreams of the day when he can make it to the world of celluloid. That’s when he meets David Paul (Lal Jose), a producer and director. 

At that point, we are taken to the life of Amal (Asif Ali), who leaves his hometown Payyannur to go to Ernakulam after a doomed love affair. Amal takes up the job of a salesman where he meets Anu (Aparna Balamurali). It is exactly at this point  that the plot loses steam. 

Quite contrary to Jis’s debut movie Bicycle Thieves, which had high-voltage twists and pace in its second half, Sunday Holiday falters. But before you can get annoyed, it is quickly salvaged by the climax, which leaves us with a smile. Indeed, the feel-good factor really lifts the film.  

Despite this, Sunday Holiday is preachy. It gives regular lessons on success, failure and marriage. Sreenivasan lectures on the need to try and maintain a positive attitude, while Alancier, as Amal’s father, talks about marriage and love. Even Nakutty (Siddique) has a few words on trust, love and friendship. But, their simplicity makes up for the didactic tone. After all, who hasn’t had a teacher, father or an uncle doling out life lessons? 

Sunday Holiday has a generous dose of such humour and it leaves us in splits. As for the cast, Asif and Aparna make a good pair. Sreenivasan and surprisingly Lal Jose are convincing in their avatars.

But, overall, the highest point of Sunday Holiday has to be its feel-good factor.