Identifying a high point in Palthu Janwar can be a challenging task. The film coasts along on a level tone with even the biggest obstacles in front of the protagonist appearing to be manageable. Everything about the film is mellow, including the setting, which is a quiet, remote high-range village. Yet, Sangeeth P. Rajan’s debut movie is marked by a certain authenticity in the way it portrays its central character and his world, one he inhabits against his wishes. This somewhat makes up for the movie’s other failings.
Prasoon (Basil Joseph), who is passionate about animation, gets a compassionate appointment after his father’s death, as a livestock inspector in a panchayat, where almost every other household seems to rear cattle. The man feels that he is not fit for the job, after some early reverses in his stint. His feelings get strengthened when he is saddled with the blame on various issues for which he is not responsible.
