While getting into a theatre to watch "Banglavil Outha", directed by newcomer Santhivila Dinesh, the mind is prepared for a riveting family drama with actor-producer Lal playing a septuagenarian patriarch, Outha.

One gets out of the hall with mixed feelings. True, Lal looks the role. But one wished there were more substance in his characterisation and a polished approach to presentation.

Outha does not disappoint outright. Make-up artist Pattanom Rashid should be congratulated for his work on Lal.

The lanky actor too does his part with sincerity. The well-modulated baritone and the stoop work well. But there is lack of meat in the role.

Outha is a self-made farmer who is not on good terms with his children. They have all migrated out of the country for greener pastures and have been successful.

The story begins as Outha builds a state-of-the-art mortuary for parents like himself who wish to be buried in the presence of their children. As fate would have it, he becomes the first person to use the mortuary.

The subsequent events are predictable as his children fight for his wealth. The reasons for the distance between Outha and his children are known as the events unfold.

The pace of the narrative is inconsistent. The first half crawls, but things perk up in the second half as the story takes a twist.

Dinesh was a film journalist and also dabbled in TV serials. The influence of TV is very predominant in the treatment of the subject.

Some patches of the story drag on as if they were episodes from a long-winding tearjerker serial.

Of the supporting cast, debutant Sajan Surya as a helper of Outha strikes a good performance. Kalpana as Outha's concubine is very predictable but her performance adds verve to the proceedings. Jagathy Sreekumar as the clergyman cum solicitor is humorous.

"Banglavil Outha" is worth a watch only for Lal's performance