A gripping story of ’90s activism
Overview: Each on occasion you will note a film that may make you suppose that it was two hours effectively spent. Pada is one such. After the 125 minute movie, not solely do you are feeling the appreciation of getting skilled an excellent cinematic expertise, however you are feeling you’ve learnt one thing and need to do one thing. Curiously, the movie relies on an incident that occurred in 1996 on the Palakkad Collectorate, however sadly, over 25 years later, the story feels very present, besides as we speak, it is likely to be tough to tug collectively a handful of people that will selflessly function for the wants of others.
Kunchacko Boban, Vinayakan, Joju George and Dileesh Pothen – not in that order of significance – kind the Ayyankali Pada which holds the collector hostage over about 10 hours. They need the Left authorities to withdraw a brand new invoice that alienates adivasi rights over their land. In order that they lock themselves in, with the collector, at his workplace with some ammunition and begin negotiations.
The movie takes us by means of the drama of the mediation between the 4 and the federal government, represented by the chief secretary, performed by Prakash Raj. The administration’s curiosity is extra in saving face with elections arising and getting the officer out with out hurt. Because the ‘pada’ comply with the information to see how their protest is being perceived, they’re irked to search out that an official assertion means that the police don’t know who they’re or what their calls for are; the administration performs it cleverly to appear just like the victims of terrorists. However these are a passionate and clever 4. They know issues on the grassroots stage and in any other case. When the collector quotes the Geneva Conference on hostage rights, they know how one can counter it and when he says he’s service minded and has helped out in a tribal land problem, they once more level out that he was not capable of end the programme efficiently.
Do issues get resolved amicably? The federal government supplies a short lived salve and the movie ends with visuals of the actual occasion and tells us how issues turned out for the 4 and never solely how the unhappy state of how tribal land rights proceed, but additionally how these throughout the administration aren’t spared in the event that they don’t toe the road
The 4 most important actors are glorious, complementing one another completely, and making us really feel sympathetic and roused, with out ever being over dramatic. A particular point out to Arjun Radhakrishnan, who performs collector Ajay Sripad Dange, who holds his personal when actually locked in a room with our strongest actors. He brings dignity and energy to his function, and makes a tough character very likable. Aspect actors, like Indrans and others, additionally carry out very effectively.
The movie begins out a bit unclear and the fixed dramatic BGM by composer Vishnu Vijay over the dialogues don’t assist; however the adivasi songs have a lovely, rustic beat. The cinematography by Sameer Thahir and the enhancing by Shan Mohammed hold the dramatic tempo of the film and although a big a part of it’s shot in a room, it’s well-captured and feels claustrophobic solely at moments when the movie requires it.
Mainly, writer-director Kamal KM used a hanging incident within the State’s political historical past and transformed it into an excellent cinema with a compelling, thought-provoking screenplay, completely captured scenes that convey not solely the very completely different instances but additionally the working of our authorities workplaces, and nice appearing. It is a extremely really useful movie for all.
