In 2012 he again worked with Abu in 22 Female Kottayam. His second film, Salt N' Pepper (2011) was directed by Aashiq Abu. His work received recognition through the film. All our stories are the same (as Joseph Campbell says in The Hero with a Thousand Faces) because we’re all human, and good stories will always resonate with us.In 2011, director Aashiq Abu suggested him as a cinematographer to Rajesh Pillai directed Traffic. These similarities serve to point out how archetypes are persistent regardless of time and place. He lashes out at them and Shammi’s demonic tyranny is foiled when the four brothers, fully realised in their archetypal energies, join together. Meanwhile, Shammi comes completely undone when his subjects question his authority. By the end of the movie, the Napoleon household is a safe space, marked by equality, freedom, and love. The ‘true king’ is to rule over a ‘divine right order’. According to Gillette and Moore, Shammi is the ‘Shadow King’, a weak man hiding behind oppressive power, but his authority is not righteous. Saji is clearly mirrored with Shammi, the ruthless patriarch, revelling in power for the sake of it. Saji is an unlikely king but he cares for the people of his ‘kingdom’ and accepts his responsibility as the benevolent brother.
It’s striking how Saji is Joseph in this instance, a biblical character descended from Kings. Divinity is quite literally brought home, with the frames evoking Mother Mary and the infant Jesus. After much struggle, Saji realises his fulfilment when he brings Sati and her newborn into his family. This changes when Saji confronts death and even Death rejects him. He is in a dark, desolate palace and his ‘subjects’ do not recognise his authority. When we meet him, Saji is the furthest person from God. The King archetype is closely tied to that of God. When he calls Sati his sister, Bobby lets go of his prejudices and embraces empathy. After accepting who he truly is, Bobby has a newfound capacity for love.
Beneath his carefree attitude was an inability to process his broken family. In the scene where he explains his family tree to Baby, we see Bobby becoming truly vulnerable. He wants to care for his loved ones but he actively repels them out of shame and fear. Yet Bobby has an honest yearning for love and affection. This ‘shadow self’ is expressed in the disrespect he expresses towards his friends, brothers and partner. His dysfunctional understanding of what it means to be masculine gets in the way of his ability to love. When we meet Bobby, he’s a boy pretending to be a man. Bonny is a selfless giver and the architect of the new home order. Secure in his skin, Bonny exudes a Zen-like aura befitting wise masters. After Saji attempts suicide, Bonny comes back home and becomes the healing rock of the family. Bonny’s actions make Saji introspect about his life. When Saji violently beats Frankie, Bonny rightfully steps in to remind Saji of the limits he’s crossed. Bonny is a kind soul guided by compassion and bravery. Bonny longs to be with his family, but they aren’t ready for his warmth. When the story starts, Bonny is seen approaching his house then turning back after hearing Bobby and Saji fight. Bonny has friends who understand and appreciate him, but his brothers fail him. He lives for music, dance, harmony, and love. Frankie is the caretaker of the household and remains headstrong and committed in his mission.īonny exemplifies ‘the Magician’. Frankie is caught in the crossfire of his warring brothers and he has no choice but to stay. His greatest mission remains to build a family, a battle he can’t win alone. Much like a knight, Frankie is chivalrous, brave, and optimistic. He has taken the responsibility for his life at a young age. When we meet first meet him, Frankie has football, friends and a future. The young boy has been betrayed by life too often but it hasn’t worn him down. Frankie, ‘the Warrior’, is the fiercest of the bunch.