A puzzling film in search of purpose

DEBUTANT Eugien Jos Chirammel's Soothravakyam begins with an idea that might have worked in better hands. It tells the story of Christo Xavier (Shine Tom Chacko), a police officer in a sleepy small town who spends his free time teaching maths to 11th graders.

- VIVEK SANTHOSH

DEBUTANT Eugien Jos Chirammel's Soothravakyam begins with an idea that might have worked in better hands. It tells the story of Christo Xavier (Shine Tom Chacko), a police officer in a sleepy small town who spends his free time teaching maths to 11th graders. The film opens in a classroom, where Nimisha (Vincy Aloshious), a frustrated mathematics teacher, finds most of her seats empty. Her students are off attending Christo's free lessons held in the top hall of the local police station. She complains to the principal, and together they plead with Christo to stop undermining her. He responds with a polite warning to the children, which has no real impact. It is the first hint of the film's biggest problem. From the outset, nothing quite fits together. We never learn why the children are so desperate to flock to Christo's classes, nor how he has the time to be both a responsible inspector and an enthusiastic tutor during school hours. The film never bothers to explain. Instead, it hurls a jumble of loosely connected scenes at the viewer, hoping something sticks.