A Sahitya Akademi award winner, Paul Zacharia is known for his unconventional short stories and novels in Malayalam.
His novella, Praise the Lord, comes alive onscreen in Shibu Gangadharan’s debut film of the same name.
Mammootty plays the lead role of Joy, a wealthy farmer leading a happy married life with wife Ancy and their two children.
With the arrival of a young pair in love who have eloped from Delhi and taken refuge in his home, Joy’s perspective of love takes on a new meaning. Dubai-based Reenu Mathews, who made her Malayalam debut opposite Mammootty in Immanuel, plays his onscreen wife once again. The young lovers Samkutty and Anne are played by Ahmad Siddique and newcomer, Akansha Puri.
“It is a satirical novel,” says Gangadharan, who assisted several directors including Shyamaprasad and K. Madhu.
“For Joy, the entry of this young pair is a revelation to the happenings in the outside world of which he has been completely ignorant. As guardians of the young lovers, Joy is excited at watching a real-life romantic story unfold before his eyes,” continues Gangadharan.
“In the process he and his wife discover love once again. This is a film for the family audience,” says Gangadharan.
For Mathews, whose day job is with Emirates Airline, this is her third Malayalam film.
“Ancy is a bold character unlike my earlier role in Immanuel,” adds Mathews, “and I am blessed to work with Mammuka again.”
Praise the Lord is produced by Milan Jaleel and scripted by T.P. Devarajan. Shaan Rahman and Bijibal have scored music. Pradeep Nair is the cinematographer. Other members of the cast are Mukesh, Joy Mathew and Shajon.
