{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox film | name = | image = Enthada Saji poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Godfy Xavier Babu | writer = Godfy Xavier Babu | screenplay = | story = | producer = [[Listin Stephen]] | starring = {{Ubl | [[Kunchacko Boban]] | [[Nivetha Thomas]] | [[Jayasurya]] }} | narrator = | cinematography = | editing = Ratheesh Raj | music = William Francis | studio = Magic Frames | released = {{Film date|df=y|2023|04|08}} | runtime = 123 minutes | country = India | language = Malayalam | budget = 3 crore | gross = }} '''''Enthada Saji''''' ({{translation|What is it, Saji}}) is a 2023 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[fantasy comedy]] film written and directed by Godfy Xavier Babu. The film features [[Kunchacko Boban]], [[Nivetha Thomas]] in the title role, and [[Jayasurya]] in leading roles. It is produced by [[Listin Stephen]] under the banner of [[Magic Frames]]. This film marks [[Nivetha Thomas]]' return to Malayalam cinema after a 9-year hiatus.
== Plot == Sajimol is a lazy and spoiled young woman often teased about her single status. One day, after praying in the chapel, she hears the voice of [[Saint Roch]] and talks to him through his statue. She requests a personal meeting, and he agrees on the condition that she attends daily mass. Sajimol complies, meeting and conversing with him daily, and he helps transform her life. She adopts a stray dog, rekindles her romance with her old crush Roy, who has returned to Kerala, and Saint Roch promises to ensure her marriage goes smoothly.
Sajimol proposes to Roy in a cemetery, and he accepts. Their happiness is short-lived when the statue of Saint Roch is stolen. Sajimol reports it, but the locals dismiss it as the statue holds no significant value, deciding to replace it with a new one. The church allocates funds for the new statue, but the money is misappropriated and divided among members. Cleetus's son donates money to buy the statue to have his name inscribed on it, but Sajimol discovers that this new statue does not speak to her.
Determined to recover the original, Sajimol and her friend Minimol search for it. In a dream, Saint Roch reveals that her adopted dog is his. When the dog goes missing but is later found, Sajimol reads the [[Bible]] for clues and locates the statue in an abandoned house, only for it to be stolen again. Sajimol pursues the thieves on her bicycle and retrieves the statue. The chapel rewards her with the statue, and a few months later, Sajimol marries Roy.
== Cast == {{Cast listing| * [[Kunchacko Boban]] as [[Saint Roch|Saint Rocky]] (St.Roch) * [[Nivetha Thomas]] as Sajimol Thomas * [[Jayasurya]] as Roy Augustine *[[Prayaga Martin]] as Annie *[[Senthil Krishna]] as Vishnu "Minnal" *[[Rajesh Sharma (Malayalam actor)|Rajesh Sharma]] as Maliyekkal Thomas, Sajimol's father *[[Sidhartha Siva]] as Priest *[[Arya (actress)|Arya Rohit]] as Minimol *[[Prem Prakash]] as Puthenpurayil Augustine, Roy's father *[[Sreejith Ravi]] as Cleetus *[[Baiju Ezhupunna]] as Puthenpurayil Kunjukunju, Augustine's younger brother *[[Benny P Nayarambalam]] as the Parish Clerk }}
== Production == Principal photography began on 1 April 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shoot begins for Kunchacko Boban-Jayasurya film Enthada Saji |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2022/apr/01/shoot-begins-for-kunchacko-boban-jayasurya-film-enthada-saji-30617.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |date=April 2022 |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412151812/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2022/apr/01/shoot-begins-for-kunchacko-boban-jayasurya-film-enthada-saji-30617.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This film marks the director's debut.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kunchacko Boban - Jayasurya starrer 'Enthada Saji' starts rolling |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kunchacko-boban-jayasurya-starrer-enthada-saji-starts-rolling/articleshow/90586774.cms |access-date=2023-04-12 |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331161927/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kunchacko-boban-jayasurya-starrer-enthada-saji-starts-rolling/articleshow/90586774.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> The trailer was released on 6 April 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kunchacko Boban as St. Rocky; watch the trailer for 'Enthada Saji' |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kunchacko-boban-as-st-rocky-watch-the-trailer-for-enthada-saji/articleshow/99294442.cms |access-date=2023-04-12 |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2023-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411021729/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kunchacko-boban-as-st-rocky-watch-the-trailer-for-enthada-saji/articleshow/99294442.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> The film, which received mixed reviews, was released in theatres on 8 April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jayasurya-Kunchacko Boban film Enthada Saji censored |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2023/apr/03/jayasurya-kunchacko-boban-film-enthada-saji-censored-41872.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |date=3 April 2023 |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406122117/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2023/apr/03/jayasurya-kunchacko-boban-film-enthada-saji-censored-41872.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Music== The soundtrack album for ''Enthada Saji'' was composed by William Francis, while the original background score was created by Jakes Bejoy. The songs "Neehaaram" and "Athmavil, Doorangal" were composed by William Francis.
== Reception == Vignesh Madhu, critic of ''[[Cinema Express]]'', wrote that "Watching ''Enthada Saji'' feels like attending a prayer session as the makers indulge in plenty of preachiness, told mostly through Bible verses," and gave it 2.25 stars out of 5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enthada Saji Movie Review: Only real divine intervention could've saved this film |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/review/2023/apr/08/enthada-saji-movie-review-only-real-divine-intervention-couldve-saved-this-film-42100.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=[[Cinema Express]] |date=8 April 2023 |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412151521/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/review/2023/apr/08/enthada-saji-movie-review-only-real-divine-intervention-couldve-saved-this-film-42100.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Sanjith Sidhardhan, critic of ''[[OTTPlay]]'', gave it 3 out of 5 and stated that "''Enthada Saji'' is simple and pleasing, elevated by some warm moments and delightful performances of its cast".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enthada Saji review: Nivetha Thomas' feel-good film is a passable Easter treat |url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/enthada-saji-review-nivetha-thomas-kunchackos-feel-good-film-is-a-passable-easter-treat-for-family-audience/242283d336384 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=OTTPlay |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415064618/https://www.ottplay.com/review/enthada-saji-review-nivetha-thomas-kunchackos-feel-good-film-is-a-passable-easter-treat-for-family-audience/242283d336384 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Mathrubhumi]]'' gave it a mixed review.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-10 |title=അലസയായ സജിക്ക് ഉത്തരവാദിത്തബോധം വന്നതെങ്ങനെ? ഈ പുണ്യാളൻ തരും അതിനുള്ള ഉത്തരം{{!}} Enthada Saji Review |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/reviews/enthada-saji-movie-review-nivetha-thomas-and-kunchacko-boban-movie-jayasurya-1.8467474 |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412082337/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/reviews/enthada-saji-movie-review-nivetha-thomas-and-kunchacko-boban-movie-jayasurya-1.8467474 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Release== === Theatrical === The film was released in theatres on 7 April 2023.
=== Home media === The digital streaming rights of ''Enthada Saji'' were acquired by [[Amazon Prime Video]].{{fact|date=February 2024}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|15826290}}
[[Category:2023 Malayalam-language films]] [[Category:2023 Indian films]] [[Category:Malayalam-language comedy films]] [[Category:Indian fantasy comedy films]] * [[Saint Roch]]