Iyobinte Pusthakam

Plot

The film starts with a message "The aged aren't always wise, nor do the elderly always understand justice" Job 32:9. The story is narrated by the communist leader (TG Ravi) who witnessed it. The story is set in 1900 in Munnar in British occupied India. Harrison is a British businessman who comes to Munnar to cultivate tea. Harrison finds an able boy amidst his workers and names him 'Iyob'(Lal). Harrison holds Iyob close and helps him get married to Annamma (Reenu Mathews). Harrison's wife leaves him and returns to England; later he sees Kazhali (Lena) and becomes interested in her. When Harrison finds out Kazhali's relation with Thacho, one of his servants, he orders Iyob to kill Thacho and Iyob kills him. Afterwards, Harrison takes Kazhali as his mistress and she becomes pregnant. During the First World War, Harrison's business gets affected and he leaves for Britain but dies on the way. Knowing this Iyob throws Kazhali out of the house, simultaneously beating her, and takes over all assets of Harrison.

Annama, without her husband's knowledge, meets Kazhali, who now has a daughter, regularly, taking with her, her youngest son, Aloshy. Aloshy and Martha become goid friends. However, Annama falls ill and dies. She is greatly mourned by all, including Kazhali and her daughter, Martha; both look on the funeral from afar.

Iyob has three sons Dmitri(Chemban Vinod Jose),Ivan(Jinu Joseph) and Aloshy(Fahadh Faasil). Dmitri and Ivan is ruthless like Iyob whereas Aloshy is kind and compassionate like his mother. His two closest friends are Chemban and Martha. Chemban's parents are killed in their house by a fire set by Aloshy's family because of their illness. Aloshy leaves the house as a child after seeing his brothers rape and kill a girl who was a servant there. He runs away to Cochin and stays there. After some years Aloshy joins the Royal Navy.After the Royal Indian Navy mutiny of 1946 he returns to his father and brothers in Munnar, but is upset by the wrongdoings of his father and brothers. He reunites with both Martha and Chemban, rescuing the latter and his wife from a beating by his brothers' henchmen. Chemban and his family leave to be safe. Martha and Aloshy become close again after they escape from a rampaging elephant. They fall in love.

Iyob finds out Aloshy was dismissed from the navy because he defected and became a part of the movement against the British, in a fit of anger, he orders Aloshy to leave. Aloshy meets Martha (Isha Sharvani) and says he will come back for her. He leaves for Cochin, but on his way he is attacked by Dmitri and Ivan who tries to kill him, but Aloshy survives and is found by his childhood friend Chemban (Vinayakan). At this time Iyob's health deteriorates and his sons overpower him making pacts with Angoor Rawther (Jayasurya) despite opposition by Iyob. Dmitri and Ivan finds out Aloshy is alive with martha.

When Dimitri finds that had Ivan spend nights together with his wife Rahel (Padmapriya) when he goes on expeditions .Ivan kills Dimitri with his gun. this is witnessed by Iyob, who realises everyone was cheating him. It is revealed that Rahel is daughter of Thacho whom Iyob killed and she is taking revenge using Ivan. Iyob escapes from home and ends up under Aloshy's shelter. Iyob reveals that all the assets of Harrison belongs to Kazhali and he was cheating them the whole time. Aloshy is arrested by the police but is liberated by the narrator (played by Sreejith Ravi) who was against Ivan and Angoor Rawther. Ivan knowing that all the assets will be lost, decides to kill Aloshy, but he despises Rahel when he come to know about her real intention. Rahel makes a deal with Angoor Rawther to kill everyone in his way including Ivan and all the assets and Rahel will be his. Iyob and Martha try to escape through the forest, but Iyob is shot down by Angoor Rawther. Aloshy finds Martha sinking into a swamp and tries to help her. Ivan and Angoor Rawther comes towards them, when Angoor tries to shoot Ivan he runs out of bullets and Aloshy stabs Angoor with a ramrod and Ivan shoots Angoor's associate, when Ivan tries to kill Aloshy he is killed by Chemban and Aloshy kills Angoor. Desperate of the situation Rahel shoots herself. Afterwards, Aloshy and Martha is seen leaving Munnar.

At the end of the film the narrator is arrested by police and he remarks that people like Aloshy would make the life of people much prosperous than it is now.

Critical reception

Upon release, Iyobinte Pusthakam opened to highly positive reviews from critics. The film was praised for its cinematography, performances and background score. Veeyen of Nowrunning.com rated it 3.5/5, the best rating for any film this year and stated, "In 'Iyobinte Pusthakam', Amal Neerad inventively puts together all the elements of a much known tale and recreates it magnificently into a poignant and resounding work. It's a film that takes its time to set itself up and get going, and shot on an epic scale is compellingly appealing and wonderful to behold. At once a contemplative and strapping work of art, 'Iyobinte Pusthakam' is the best Malayalam film as yet, to have hit the screens this year!" He added, "The elaborate canvas on which Amal Neerad sets up his period drama 'Iyobinte Pusthakam' is blatantly gory and ravaged by the frenzied cries of the browbeaten. In this beguiling terrain of degradation and violence, none is what it seems and truth lies veiled behind a haze."

Menaka of Bioscope rated it "Must-Watch" stating that it is "a well-conceived and executed story of rivalry, hatred, vengeance, love, comradeship, cunning and killing". She has appreciated the performances of the actors Fahadh Faasil, Jayasurya and Chemban Vinod Jose and commended the direction and cinematography of Amal Neerad.

Accolades