'JANA GANA MANA' - MALAYALAM FILM REVIEW

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WHAT IS IN STORE FOR YOU IN  JANA GANA MANA?  


The very essence of Tagore's 'Jana Gana Mana' is the eulogized idea of unity in diversity. Director Dijo Jose Antony and his team question the status quo of this very theme through the 2022 Malayalam film Jana Gana Mana- Part 1.  People have been giving rave reviews right from the trailer launch for it is a story that time again mustered courage to lash out at the injustice practices we see on a daily basis. The director and script writer couldn't have done more justice to the truth that art is the mirror of the society. In the powerful court scene where Prithviraj as a lawyer condemns and questions how dirty politics and hunger for power work, one cannot help but salute the power of art. 


ACTORS

It will be unfair to pick only one or two actors to commend on their performance. Each actor gave their best to make it noteworthy. 

Vincy Aloshious lived the role with fire in her eyes and words. Her growth deserves recognition.
Mamta Mohandas with her grace imbibes in us all inspiration to be change makers( I am selfishly glad that she's a teacher). 
Suraj Venjaramoodu has our heart throughout the first half of the film. His fine acting skills reveal his versatility. Thanks to Malayalam film industry for not typecasting Suraj though we are all fans of Dashamoolam Damu. 
Dhanya Ananya stirs in us all sympathy for the character she portrayed as she does perfect justice to her role. 
Shammi Thilakan plays another noteworthy character Adv. Raghuram Iyer .His make up and dialogue delivery has striking similarities to actor Thilakan himself. 
Prithviraj Sukumaran is THE MAN who allured you to watch the film right from the trailer. If the movie has given you goosebumps, if the questions raised pricked your own conscience, if you for once thought of adorning the lawyer's gown, the reason is DCP/Adv. Aravind Swaminathan. He breathed fire with each dialogue and expressions. 

THEMES THAT INSTIGATE YOU

The film calls out myriad cancerous issues that eat away the society and government. As audience we might find ourselves guilty for falling into one or the other category who maintain certain prejudices that this film brings to light. One among them is how we have allowed our judgements to be swayed by what media tells us. The film is a warning for anyone blindly trusting what the news agencies offer. Script writer Sharis Mohammed successfully employs irony - the other characters and even us audience believe the false narrative fed by the media that the college professor Saba Mariyam( Mamta Mohandas) was raped and burnt to death. Watch the film to come at the truth.

The university Vice Chancellor's response to Saba's intriguing death reveals the sickness of many Indian religious fanatics. The way Gauri Lakshmi (Vinci Aloshious), the ferocious student's leader counters this is commendable. Judging others based on their appearance and religion is condemned in the film through subtle incidents. Gauri's reaction and the portrayal of  Sagar Surya's attire hints at the recent violence in Karnataka colleges over dress code row. On the same note, the film comes down heavily on the infiltrators of casteism and racial discrimination. The PhD student Vidya (Dhanya Ananya) was cornered and shamed based on her caste. Her thesis never saw the light of the day. This inhumane attitude of  her guide validates Swami Vivekananda's statement, "Kerala is a lunatic asylum". It made Vidya ashamed of her birth. What she does later is the key to all the secrets. The film also brings to forefront what many students go through in their colleges and universities. Why does it have to be "survival of the fittest"?

The major theme of the film is the counter attack done by police against the four accused in Saba's murder. Her mother, protesting students and police fraternity expressed their allegiance to ACP Sajjan Kumar (Suraj Venjaramoodu) believing justice was delivered. When human rights activists file a complaint, Adv. Aravind Swaminathan defends the case and proves how the attack was staged. To benefit whom? Watch the movie to know how this secret unfolds with ripple effect. It is no coincidence if the 2019 Hyderabad fake encounter by the trigger-happy police flashes in your mind. Justice delayed is justice denied. But rush to quell cries for justice through cold blooded murder cannot be justified. The film makes us check our conscience for celebrating ACP Sajjan Kumar's heroic encounter when truth is revealed.
 Another theme is how university and college students fall prey to the wrath of the police. The students who strike peacefully are also taken down by police through violent assaults. We see Gouri and her supporters untouched by the atrocities and getting elevated to the point of standing for elections against the Home Minister. They rose like Phoenix birds.

YAY OR NAY?

It is a definite yay. 'Jana Gana Mana' is a powerful movie which instigates in us an urge to be part of revolutions to question the inequalities we see and ignore. It is a reminder that we are all Indians. Notable is the factor that certain scenes in the trailer are from the second part of the film, a new technique in Malayalam film so far. The second half of the film is slightly marred by lag towards the end. But this doesn't affect the overall quality of the film. The film deserves praises galore. There are more truths and past to be revealed. Awaiting its sequel.

Rating: 8.5/10 

Have you watched the film yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.

 




Comments

  1. Minu AbrahamJune 4, 2022 at 10:39 PM

    I love the reviews which walk you through the glimpse of film without actually telling what's the real movie is about. Makes me wanna watch it soon. No 1 in my watchlist. Good language and lovely review 👍

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meenu MJJune 5, 2022 at 12:13 AM

      Thank you so much...you will love the film!

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJune 5, 2022 at 6:33 AM

    Excellent review... Makes one eager to watch the film😃

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meenu MJJune 5, 2022 at 6:36 AM

      Thank you Joanna.. do watch and let me know

      Delete

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