The Malayalam film industry seems to specialize in heartwarming slice of life movies, films that help us understand the culture, the surroundings, and most of all people groups with whom we are not familiar. ‘Halal Love Story’ is one such film. It is the second movie directed by Zakariya Mohammed. His directorial debut was ‘Sudani From Nigeria’, another charming film dealing with relationships between cultures.
‘Halal Love Story’ takes place in a Muslim region of Kerala around the historical town of Kozhikode. The film is set in the early 2000s after the Muslim terrorists’ attack on the World Trade Center in New York City leaving people all over the world in fear of Islamism. We are introduced to a group of ordinary civic minded Muslims proud of their religion and upset with how they are being portrayed after the attack in the media. They protest this unfairness by boycotting Coca Cola and burning George Bush in effigy.
Wanting to give his community an alternative to movies which depict forbitten love, item songs, etc., Raheem, played by Nazer Karutheni, sets out to make a ‘halal’ movie, meaning a film that is acceptable to Muslim sensibilities. He is joined on this journey by Indrajith Sukumaran as Shereef, who loves acting and is active in street theater. They convince Sharaf U Dheen in the role of Thoufeeq (a 28-year-old schoolteacher and film enthusiast) to write an appropriate screenplay, find a director, and oversee the production. The whole community is excited to support the project which will now be in a more manageable format of a one-hour tv movie.
The chosen director, Siraj (Joju George) and his crew, are either not Muslims or not a religious. This difference allows for a delightful interaction and negotiation between two distinct cultures. The screenplay features a couple enjoying everyday life with a special focus on the wife. Religious convictions lead Raheem and Thoufeeq to use a real-life couple instead of actors for this part. This scenario allows us to explore the relationship between the chosen pair Shereef and his wife Suhra. Grace Antony stands out as Suhra. Submissive at first, Suhra finds her emotions and her voice through acting.
The lush waterways and well-worn paths of this region of Kerala are beautifully captured by cinematographer Ajay Menon. The melodious and gentle music blends seamlessly with the surroundings. The ensemble cast is outstanding, making each character seem real and sympathetic. Director Zakariya’s observant and non-judgmental eye enables us to get to know and appreciate these people who live their lives in goodwill and decency seeking to honor God through their beliefs.
