God will work miracles in the lives of those who work hard, " says a strong-willed Sherly(Lakshmi Ramakrishnan) to her son Jerry(Nivin Pauly), spurring hope as the latter struggles in a pivotal scene.
While Vineeth Sreenivasan’s directorial venture is no miracle, it has got its magical moments sprinkled with soul-stirring lines. Inspired by real-life tale of Vineeth’s friend Gregory Jacob, the story focuses on the perfect lives of NRK couple Jacob(Renji Panicker) and Sherly, and their kids. The recession causes Jacob’s business to plummet, leaving the family high and dry.
Jacobinte Swargarajyam mirrors the predicament of NRKs during the 2008 recession in Dubai - one of the worst hit cities during the global crisis.
The casting is bang on. Lakshmi Ramakrishnan and Renji Panicker are a treat to watch, the former’s resoluteness holding the family together. Ashwin Kumar steals the show with his character Murali Menon that has shades of grey. Nivin is at ease as Jerry and has come a long way, especially while performing emotional scenes. His comic timing is sparkling and he manages to keep it subtle as his character comes of age. Sreenath Bhasi looks assured as he pulls off a subdued Abin. Sai Kumar and T G Ravi bring on their A-game, even if it’s for supporting roles. Two special star cameos are sure to entertain the audience.
Jomon T John’s delightful frames add warmth to the tale. Along with Vineeth, he has woven the city magnificently into the story. The scenes in which Jerry views Dubai from a rooftop and the one in which he watches the skyline during an ascent from a tunnel manage to show the character’s evolution in’the city of endless possibilities’.
Shaan Rahman’s music goes hand-in-glove with the story, particularly the beautifully picturized Thiruvavaniraavu.
Some lines, however, seem forced - like the one in which Nivin points out that the roads in Dubai are well-maintained, just so a comparison to Kerala can be brought in to the conversation. However, that can be overlooked as it is a common line used by NRK parents.
While Vineeth has taken extra effort to tell this real-life story as honestly as possible, the added attention may have dropped the entertainment quotient a tad. The film, however, makes up with several feel-good moments that accentuate the value of relationships.