Sarvam Maya

In 'Sarvam Maya,' director Akhil Sathyan crafts a genre-bending marvel that defies easy categorization, blending existential dread with laugh-out-loud comedy in a way that feels both fresh and deeply human. The film follows Arjun (Nivin Pauly), a once-devout man whose faith shatters after personal tragedy, only to find his skepticism challenged when he encounters Maya (Riya Shibu), the confused spirit of a young woman with no memory of her death. What could have been a standard ghost story becomes a profound meditation on belief, memory, and redemption, all while delivering genuine scares and unexpected humor. The 147-minute runtime feels justified as the narrative unfolds with deliberate pacing, allowing characters to breathe and philosophical questions to simmer. Sathyan's direction is confident, seamlessly transitioning between horror sequences that will make you jump and comedic moments that feel organic rather than forced. The Kerala backdrop becomes a character itself, with cinematographer Madhu Neelakandan capturing both the lush beauty and eerie isolation of the locations. Aju Varghese provides crucial comic relief as Arjun's pragmatic friend, while Janardhanan delivers a poignant supporting performance that adds emotional weight. The film's greatest achievement is making you care deeply about both the living and the dead, creating stakes that feel personal rather than purely supernatural.