‘Halal Love Story’ movie review

Halal Love Story is a 2020 Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Zakariya Mohammed, now streaming on Amazon Prime. The plot of the film revolves around a filmmaking crew working within the boundaries set by a not-so-progressive Islamic organisation, which has hired them to make a telefilm.

They hire filmmaker Siraj (Joju George) to shoot the film but he works according to the restrictions by Taufeeq (Sharaf U Dheen)’s ‘Halal’ script. The script has been specially written considering the delicate sensibilities of the audience, it is especially for keeping in mind all the rules and regulation of their religion.

The male lead of this story is Shareef (Indrajith), a deeply religious man who has dreams of being an actor. For the female lead, her wife Suhara (Grace Antony) is forced so as to not to break the halal laws. The two co-writers of this film, Director Zakariya and Muhsin Parari have used this tight plot to pull out some humour simultaneously.

In the beginning, the slight overdose of religiosity can be seen but everything is put together by Grace Antony and Joju George’s remarkable performance. In a scene, Taufeeq, the writer of the film within the film can be seen passionately arguing with the director that they also want to make films which can provide to the narrow sensibilities of the associates of their organisation.

The script doesn’t have the emotional touch to it like the director’s debut. The writer has made their effort satirizing some of the regressive aspects of this religious organisation. 

At a time when newer restrictions, previously non-existent, appear out of nowhere to them in artists and even advertisement filmmakers, this rather optimistic, lighter take on ‘conservative’ cinematography.