Parandhu Po - A Gentle flight into Parenting and Discovery

Paranthu Po

Tamil - Comedy / Drama

130 min

JioHotstar 

In a year where while celebrated directors and actors struggle hard to get the cash registers rolling with mediocre content, occasionally Tamil cinema throws up a gem or two that restores your faith in the movies. Paranthu Po (Fly Away), directed by Ram (Peranbu, Thanga Meengal), is one such refreshing escapist film.

Gokul (Shiva) goes door-to-door delivering organic products, while his wife Glory (Grace Antony) is away in Coimbatore on a business trip, selling sarees at an expo. It is the summer holidays with no one at home to care for, their 8-year-old boy Anbu (Mithul Ryan) is locked up in their flat. Anbu, a wisecracker, is also pushed into online classes to pass the time, lest he spend it only on computer games.

Shiva and Glory have poured all their love and finances into raising Anbu at a certain standard. Shiva is deep in debt and pursued by creditors. He is always on the move, he has bad knees and lacks rest, yet is patient and devoted dad. Glory, meanwhile, stays in a seedy Coimbatore hotel, ditching cab rides for buses and trudging long walks at night, all this with an asthma, just to save a little extra every day. Evidently, they are going beyond their means to give Anbu the best in life.

One day, Anbu cajoles, pleads, and eventually convinces Shiva to take him on a short bike ride—one that ends up becoming a road trip.  Along the way, Anbu and Shiva meet different people. Anbu’s grandparents, his “crush”’s family, and even Shiva’s childhood crush Vanitha (Anjali). Through each detour, they learn more about each other. All through this, Grace is the worried mother (and wife), managing their dynamic over the phone.

Director Ram beautifully fuses emotional nuances into a light-hearted container. The screenplay unfolds at a gentle pace, rooted in realism and leaning on humour rather than melodrama. Each stop on the journey adds its own emotion and learning.

It is not perfect, some scenes take a little time to unwind, the last leg probably tips too heavily into philosophy, belying the gentle and situational humour that defines much of the film.

Shiva, known for his signature deadpan comedy, merges that style beautifully into his portrayal of an exasperated, tired, emotionally drained, weak-kneed, but always patient father. Yet again, it proves how difficult comedy is and how rarely comic actors are placed in the same bracket as “serious” ones. Grace Antony comes across as kind, warm—the phone calls with Gokul feel so natural, never overly scripted.

This truly is the year of outstanding child performances. Mithun Ryan is the heart-stealer here—his turn balances energy, impishness, and honesty. In many scenes, Anbu speaks far beyond his age, yet in the more vulnerable moments, you are reminded he is just a child. His camaraderie with Shiva is the film’s heart and it works wonderfully. The supporting cast—Anjali, Aju Varghese bring in sincere performances.

Cinematographer N. K. Ekambaram does a superb job. The score by Yuvan Shankar Raja is lovely, but the songs by Santosh Dhayanidi, written by Madhan Karky, are especially unique—nursery-rhyme-like summaries of on-screen happenings, something I have rarely seen.

In the end, Paranthu Po is a sincere film about discovery, openness and appreciating the innocence of a child, while exploring the realities of parenting. It reminded me of my own growth as one—while also reminding me of the challenges ahead. The journey is never really over; only the destinations change.