Director Don Palathara’s Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam is a film set entirely in a car. No, the vehicle does not become an imposing prop that offers extra dramatic possibilities (not even as an allegory) at any point. Palathara’s film is no commercial potboiler belonging to the ilk of Titanic, Air Force One, or Murder on the Orient Express. The novelty lies in the fact that there aren’t any cuts – or the frames have been so skillfully constructed that the technique is imperceptible.
Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam is all about a live-in couple, Maria (Rima Kallingal) and Jithin (Jitin Puthenchery), who are on their way to get a pregnancy test done. Their differences – about gender, occupation, financial standing, responsibilities, and friendships – come to light through a long, bitter conversation they engage in throughout the ride. There are intermittent halts, perhaps staged to allow the actors a breather, though they never show any visible signs of fatigue.
Given its prime limitation of space, Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam has no choice but to be a talk-heavy film. It brings to mind the shabdarekha (audio movie) concept that once existed in Malayalam cinema, wherein an audio version of a film would hit the market shortly after its theatrical release. In Palathara’s film, nearly nothing happens aside from the couple and their relentless bickering. For a brief while, Maria and Jithin are joined by a co-passenger – a woman (Neeraja Rajendran) whom Maria meets at the clinic and offers a lift. Palathara may have introduced the character to reflect a generational contrast, but the decision doesn’t entirely convince. The film’s basic construct doesn’t require an external entity to highlight the shock value of an unmarried woman’s potential pregnancy. Maria, in the opening moments, sets the tone regarding how her family and society would react.
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However, Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam offers a few interesting phone cameos to break the monotony. One involves an experimental filmmaker (played by Palathara himself) whom Maria interviews during the ride. Part hilarious, part referential to a clan of emerging filmmakers, the scene is guaranteed to make you grin. Jithin’s solo moments in the car are equally compelling as they help us better understand his psyche.
Don Palathara also utilizes silences in a manner that couples going through a rough patch will connect to. There are two such sets – one after a major showdown, and another following the final revelation. Both reflect different emotional states of Maria and Jithin, and their inner turmoil is beautifully conveyed through the actors’ expressions alone.
Given the template and the absence of elaborate set pieces, the film is completely shouldered by its two leads. Rima Kallingal and Jitin Puthenchery are superb team players. Jitin delivers an uninhibited performance that never feels directed or rehearsed. Rima nails the tone of her character, whether as the confident professional or the tense, complaining girlfriend. I didn’t sense chemistry between the leads, which seamlessly adds to the friction in their equation. I did not find myself rooting for Maria, Jithin, or them as a couple. This way, Palathara successfully crafts a setup that generates ample suspense, minimal sentimentality, and still qualifies as a relationship drama. Smart.
Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam expectedly succeeds in nailing its experiment. The film offers a subtle message about communication in modern relationships, and it all culminates beautifully. While it doesn’t enjoy the visual liberties that similar experiments, such as those in the Dogme 95 movement, have explored, this solitary car journey sans cuts is sure to keep you engaged until the final minute. There’s also a song by Sithara Krishnakumar that becomes the unexpected cherry on top.
Rating: ★★★ 1/2
Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam is streaming on Nee Stream and Mubi India.
