Some movies scream for attention, while others whisper — and somehow, punch harder. Tourist Family, directed by newcomer Abishan Jeevinth, is one of the latter. It doesn’t blast with explosions or surprises. Rather, it moves something inside — slow, deep, and indelible.
The Plot: Refuge, Resilience, and Redemption
The film traces the journey of Dharmadas, acted with understated strength by M. Sasikumar —a man who has to escape economic ruin in Sri Lanka with his wife and two sons. They arrive in Chennai, not as guests, but as survivors. The movie doesn’t shove melodrama down your throat. Rather, it watches how a family constructs its existence from scratch. How a community initially resists, then melts. How dignity can endure even in exile.
For the initial hour, it’s deceptively easy. But as layers are stripped, you discover depth — in silences, the sidelong glances, the unspoken apologies. There isn’t a dramatic twist. No hidden villain. Just life. And that’s enough.
Jeevinth’s Debut: Simple, Sincere, and Pungent
It’s a rare first-time director who leaves the audience with so much to think about. Abishan Jeevinth doesn’t spoon-feed. He allows scenes to breathe. He allows agony to simmer. The tempo is languid — nearly too slow at times — but that’s the idea. This is not a film about what comes next. It’s about how people keep themselves together when their world turns upside down.
Jeevinth employs humour as a lifeline, not a distraction. Moments of laughter arise naturally — from cultural misunderstanding, little wins, or simply the naivety of a child getting a Tamil word wrong. It’s a carefully crafted film, not a spectacle.
Sasikumar & Simran: A Masterclass in Restraint
Sasikumar never once raises his voice, and still gets a hold over every frame. There’s gravity to his performance. You sense the tension in his shoulders, the weariness in his eyes, the love underneath all that survival.
Simran, his wife Vasanthi, is just as captivating. She doesn’t merely act like a mother — she acts a woman attempting to protect her children from a reality she herself is hardly able to confront. Their relationship is lived-in. Authentic. They’re not lovers. They’re colleagues in obstinacy. The kid actors deserve special notice, too, bringing honesty, not acting.
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Aesthetic and Atmosphere: Beauty in the Mundane
Cinematographer Aravind Viswanathan treats each frame with gentleness. No gloss. No glamour. Just the beauty of actual spaces — tea stalls, railway platforms, small apartments.
Sean Roldan’s sound score lifts the film at just the right spots. Soft, lingering, and almost imperceptible — the score won’t interrupt. It will heighten. Songs such as “Mugai Mazhai” sound like recollections more than melodies.
The Talk of the Town: Loved in Hush
Unlike boisterous blockbusters, Tourist Family is winning over audiences gradually, one tearful spectator at a time. Critics are labelling it “understated brilliance.” Viewers call it “relatable, real, and raw.” And some have exited with tears in their eyes, not for heartbreak, but hope. Is it flawless? No. Some scenes drag. The second act falters slightly. But what it gives emotionally more than compensates for it.
Final Verdict
Tourist Family doesn’t pursue applause. It earns it — one gentle scene at a time. In a world obsessed with bigger, louder, faster, this film dares to pause.
It’s a reminder that stories don’t need to be grand to be great. That kindness, courage, and community are enough to carry a film — and sometimes, a life. If you’re looking for action, look elsewhere. But if you wish for a tale that will thaw your chest and salt your eyes? View Tourist Family. And share it with someone you love.
Writer- Subham Choudhary