"Horror comedy" would not be the right description for Akhil Sathyan's latest feature, Sarvam Maya, his second after the excellent Pachuvum Adbutha Vilakkum. "Fantasy" would be more apt. Not to give anything away, but Akhil's idea of a ghost perfectly aligns with the brand of popular feel-good cinema his father, Sathyan Anthikad, has always been associated with (many of which were penned by the late Sreenivasan). Sarvam Maya is a fresh take on the ghost-as-angel story. This is not the first example of its kind — the list runs the gamut from Casper the Friendly Ghost to Always to Chamatkar to Paheli.
Sarvam Maya attempts, for a change, a Christmas movie where the protagonist isn't a Christian. The ghost, however, is. Now imagine some of the elements in It's a Wonderful Life, The Bishop's Wife, and Malayalam's own Aayushkalam and Pappan Priyapetta Pappan, and what we get is a wholesome entertainer that couldn't have found a more auspicious time of the year to release.
Sarvam Maya is loaded with feel-good vibes. It's not for someone seeking a dark and gritty movie where the protagonist grapples with the effects of a major traumatic event or conflict. No. There are other directors who are experts at that sort of cinema. Akhil Sathyan is not making that kind of movie. Yes, the protagonist has experienced a painful past event, but it’s not the extremely heavy sort. If you go in expecting the kind of cinema made by the same man who made Paachuvum Athbudha Vilakkum (starring Fahadh Faasil), you are most likely to come away feeling pleased.
The writing is not exactly "masterpiece" material, but it's undoubtedly one designed to make the viewer feel completely at ease — despite the ghostly presence (aptly cast) — and, maybe, make them love themselves in case they don't, or make them love themselves even more if they already do. There is a line in Sarvam Maya about just this from Janardhanan — about finding life with a difficult relative easier if you love yourself more than they do you.
In another scene, Nivin Pauly is about to appear for an audition with a famed music composer from Mumbai — a meeting arranged by a friend and music producer (played by Anand Ekarshi, the award-winning maker of the brilliant Aattam). The walls of the latter's dining hall are adorned with the posters of the recent movies made by not just Akhil but also of his twin brother Anoop ('Varane Avashyamundu") and his father's ("Njan Prakashan"). It feels like an affirmation and assertion of the kind of feel-good filmmaking both father and sons are known for — they are basically the Malayalam cinema equivalents of George Cukor, Ernst Lubitsch and Frank Capra. While not all their films were feel-good dramas, whenever they made one (and they made several), it always came with a magical touch unmatched by any other filmmaker. Sathyan Anthikad has it, and Sarvam Maya happens to be a film that Akhil can be proud of. It's the perfect holiday movie.
As for Nivin Pauly, 2025 seems to be a great year for the actor. I find it interesting that he released two projects towards the end of the year, the other being his first web series, Pharma. Both turned out to be stories that plays to his strengths as an actor. Unlike Pharma, however, Sarvam Maya presents Nivin in a most idealistic manner — the quintessential nice guy, who is even told the same by one character. And with a feminine-sounding character name like, Prabhendhu A.K.A. 'Indhu', it occasionally becomes fodder for a small degree of comic confusion.
If you're wondering if this is the side of Nivin Pauly — the endearing, extremely likeable, and funny common man, without overdoing it — that most of his fans have been waiting to see him return to, then, a resounding YES! Expect a few Premam references, aside from a lovely cameo from its director, Alphonse Puthren. That pav bhaji scene was gold, leaving everyone in the theatre in splits.
Prabhendhu is not a complicated character. His dilemma is simple: he is an atheist who hails from a devout, upper-caste Hindu family who isn't keen about becoming a priest performing rituals at other people's homes — and getting handsomely paid for it, too. (Aju Varghese plays his best friend and 'employer' who evokes the early comedy roles of Innocent and Jagathy). Prabhendhu wants to be a musician. But then, again, the primary focus point of Sarvam Maya isn't whether he'll make it as a musician or not. The narrative's primary driving force and emotional core is the bond between two individuals who belong to the opposite sides of existence.
The pursuit of closure, processing loss and grief, and coming to terms with unfulfilled dreams are among the ideas explored. There is also love, but, like in his dad's recent Hridayapoorvam (Mohanlal and Malavika Mohanan), based on Akhil's concept, it doesn't take a predictable route and instead opts for a stronger, more poignant resolution.
Film: Sarvam Maya
Director: Akhil Sathyan
Cast: Nivin Pauly, Riya Shibu, Aju Varghese, Ragunath Paleri, Janardhanan, Preity Mukundhan
Rating: 4/5