Deepavali Bonus

Writer-director Jeyabal J has a winner in Deepavali Bonus, an understated slice-of-life drama that follows a family of three in Madurai. The beauty of the film lies in its subtle exploration of the family’s struggle to survive in a small town in the city. The characters are grounded, and their problems and emotions feel real and relatable. This is as much a feel-good film as one with a real, refreshing feel to it. While some feel-good films tend to be laidback and aim for low-hanging fruit, that is not the case with Deepavali Bonus.