Malayalam Family Drama ‘Sarkeet’ Highlights Challenges of Raising a Child with ADHD: Sarkeet is a 2025 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film written and directed by Thamar KV. The film stars Asif Ali, Divya Parabha, Deepak Parambol, and child actor Orhan Hyder in the lead roles. It was released on 8 May 2025.
Malayalam Family Drama ‘Sarkeet’ Highlights Challenges of Raising a Child ADHD
The story revolves around a Malayali couple living in the UAE, who struggle to raise their son diagnosed with ADHD. Their lives intersect with an unemployed man facing his own challenges. The theme of this film is parental fatigue, empathy, and human relationships. And this film is directed by Thamar KV, making his second directorial venture after 1001 Nunakal.
At the core of Thamar KV’s sophomore film Sarkeet is a sticky affair that pushes the limits of believability. But it is to the credit of the makers and the actors involved that one goes along willingly with this rather unbelievable situation that propels the story forward. Thamar, going by the two movies he has made so far, appears to be adept at pulling off such uncommon occurrences in a light, engaging manner.
For about half of its runtime, Sarkeet moves along two parallel tracks, one dealing with a couple who are struggling to manage their child with a severe case of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and another on the travails of a young Malayali who has landed up in a West Asian country in search of a job.
Their child Jeppu (Orhan)’s unpredictable, hyperactive behaviour takes its toll on Stephy and Balu, whose relationship is tested at times, with past rancour resurfacing. When their world meets unexpectedly with that of jobless Ameer, it will expectably change all their lives. although one is not sure whether ADHD will manifest in the ways portrayed in the film. Sarkeet is very important in that it sheds some light on conditions often dismissed as just unruly behaviour. The underlying strain on the troubled childhood of another character gives the drama an added raise.
Sarkeet works mainly because of the performances, most notably that of young Orhan as the hard-to-handle Jeppu. It is a role that could have been easily portrayed in an over-the-top manner, but Orhan delivers just the required nuances for the character’s condition. Asif Ali aces it in his familiar matter where he is required to portray the emotional upheavals of a struggling man caught in a strange situation.
The same risk-averse approach and the reluctance to dig deeper are evident in Sarkeet, where the principal players all get out a little too easily from a not-so-easy situation.
A pertinent ADHD Drama With Scope for Refinement in Emotional Beats
While the movie’s premise is relatable, the drama that happens in the crucial second half would have worked to give us the emotionally overwhelming feel if the writing were a bit too intense. With the sparkly eyes of Asif Ali mostly doing the emotional heavy lifting, Sarkeet is an engaging one-night story that needed a bit more refinement.
Aka Jeppu, who has ADHD Stephy is a nurse, and Balu works in finance. Their professional struggles, combined with the condition of their kid, are making family life good and difficult.
A deeply Emotional and heartwarming story
The trailer promises a glimpse into a deeply emotional and heartwarming story about connection, care, and consequences. It is directed by Thamar; the film is set for a worldwide release on May 8. The child`s overwhelmed parents, portrayed by Diya Prabha and Deepak Prabha and Deepak Parambol, are desperate for someone to understand and manage their son`s unpredictable behaviour.
A tragic twist that changes the game
Later we see Asif Ali’s character struggling to navigate the emotional terrain of dealing with Orhan. However, as time progresses, an unlikely bond begins to bloom between the two, with heartwarming moments that hint at mutual healing. Just as this delicate relationship starts to flourish, a sudden tragic twist strikes, throwing the characters.
Conclusion
In this article we discussed the Malayalam family drama ‘Sarkeet’ highlights challenges of raising a child with ADHD. The film does have a few emotionally high moments that hit the right notes, although in the end it fails to leave a lasting impact due to the rather light treatment.