'Marconi Mathai' review | A romantic ride starring Vijay Sethupathi and Jayaram

Mathai has his roots in a bygone era when lovers trusted humble written words to carry their messages to their sweethearts. If you are one of those lovelorn senders who sneaked in letters inside library books and notebooks, ‘Marconi Mathai’ is your movie too.

Mathai could scale any heights to find love. As a youngster, he went up the ladder to his lady love’s bedroom window. As the lovebirds shared their love and a glass of milk, her folks spotted them. They pulled down the ladder and beat up the heroine. The old flame did not die though.

The bitter experience only sweetened Mathai’s life. He never married but he was in love with the world, especially everything musical. As a security guard at a cooperative bank in Anjangadi, a village so remote that even FM radio signals did not reach it, Mathai goes on to entertain those around him with a tinge of loneliness and sadness.

Mathai, played by Jayaram, eventually manages to track the signals to satiate his love of music. In the process, he makes FM radio popular in the village. The achievement has unexpected consequences when Tamil actor Vijay Sethupathi is invited to be a one-day agony aunt on radio.

The celebrity ends up publicising Mathai’s back story in the village.

Sethupathi’s portrayal of himself is integral to the plot of the movie. The leading lady is played by Athmeeya Rajan, better known for her role in ‘Joseph’. The movie also features Joy Mathew, Narain, Aju Varghese, Mallika Sukumaran, Lakshmi Priya and Devi Ajith.

‘Marconi Mathai’ is directed by Sanil Kalathil and cinematographed by his brother Sajan Kalathil. Rajish Mithila collaborated with the director to prepare the script and dialogues.

Jayaram’s Mathai is all about romance, friendship and music. The movie has a treasure trove of six memorable songs. Jayaram is back in his elements, leading a feel-good family entertainer from start to finish.