‘Jai Bhim’ movie review: Suriya is earnest and the film is honest. Yet, there are trade-offs

At one level on this practically three-hour-long movie, there’s a goosebumps-raising second that has a tribal girl — additionally the protagonist — turning her again on energy, refusing to bow all the way down to the system of dominance that has exploited the fruits of their labour, fairly actually. Taking a look at it purely from the viewpoint of Tamil cinema’s masala conventions, it’s primarily a “mass” scene written for a Dalit character to provide her an opportunity to take a look at her oppressors within the eye and maybe inform them: “You can’t break me.”

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Senggeni (Lijomol Jose), the spouse of Rajakannu (Manikandan, in one more sensible efficiency) who’s combating a lonely battle within the highway to justice for husband’s custodial torture and demise, will get this rousing second as a result of of her lawyer Chandru (Suriya). Or moderately, as a result of of the backing of an enormous Tamil cinema star. Does it mirror actuality? No. However does it work as a self-congratulatory, mass scene? Sure. It’s also, because of Sean Roldan’s pummelling music, a extremely good stretch that communicates the intention that went into conceiving such a placement within the first place. But, one thing appears damaged. Both the specified impact it has on us or the scene development feels superficial at some stage.

Thoughts you, this superficiality doesn’t stem from Jai Bhim itself, however from the consciousness of getting a Tamil cinema star taking part in a Saviour and main from the entrance. Props to Suriya and to an extent Tha Se Gnanavel, the movie, fortunately, doesn’t endure from the onslaught of the Saviour Complicated. For, Suriya comes throughout extra of an ally right here. However this doesn’t take away the purpose that the scene mentioned above is a testomony to the tiny trade-offs you’ll have to pay, with a purpose to mainstream-ise tales of injustice and exploitation — all of which has now come out of the Dalit motion. Are we able to forgive and neglect this stream of consciousness for these trade-offs, is an efficient place to go away for introspection. Whereas within the case of Jai Bhim, it’s each a sure and no. However these are issues exterior of the movie.

Additionally Learn | Why Suriya’s ‘Jai Bhim’ may very well be a very powerful movie in his profession

As for Jai Bhim, it’s maybe one of many boldest movies to return out of Tamil cinema. Most of you would possibly confuse its boldness with the movie’s ghastly violence, exhibiting the intense of police brutality and custodial torture (let me spare the main points, however a few of these scenes are actually disturbing). However that just isn’t it. Take into account the way in which it opens and you’ll perceive the place I’m going with this.

The opening sequence has a police officer segregating suspects based mostly on their caste. He asks, “nee endha aalu (which persons are you?).” If they’re Dalits or from the tribal group, they’re made to face in a separate group whereas suspects from dominant and intermediate caste teams are given a free hand. False fees are slapped towards Dalits; they’re poached and preyed on by officers in-charge, to shut the pending circumstances.

Maybe what’s extra necessary is, there has by no means been a current Tamil movie the place the names of dominant caste teams are explicitly talked about, within the concern of the ripple impact it’d create. There may be, in actual fact, a scene the place a dominant caste group member might be heard saying, “Unga kudusai-ya kollutha evalavu neram aagum (how lengthy do you suppose it’ll take for us to set your own home on hearth).” However Jai Bhim doesn’t flip its again on all that. The politics right here just isn’t watered down; it’s direct and takes an incisive look. It doesn’t punch down, however up. It is a movie that strips down the person elements of caste, regulation enforcement and justice system and questions every of them on the witness stand.

What Tha Se Gnanavel additionally will get it proper is the style by which Dalits and other people from tribal communities are exploited for his or her labour. Rajakannu earns a dwelling by making bricks for his oppressors, however he can’t construct a home for himself. He’s referred to as on each time there are rodents (or snakes) within the fields however isn’t allowed to the touch or strike a dialog with a dominant caste member — he will get shooed away by a girl, when he says they arrive from the identical village. For nearly near 40 minutes, we get to see the myriad methods caste takes form in Rajakannu’s life and the irony performs out fantastically, even when this may occasionally sound barely insensitive.

Jai Bhim turns right into a courtroom drama when Rajakannu, together with three others, is forcefully taken into custody. Regardless of its run-time, there may be not a single scene that appears boring, and there’s something continually taking place. Even the courtroom scenes, which can endure from familiarity in one other movie, brim with an timeless spirit. Suriya performs a social activist-cum-lawyer Chandru, based mostly on the real-life particular person. There may be simmering anger in Suriya’s eyes that’s even all through. However the anger doesn’t cut back Suriya to a rabble rouser; it reveals dignity too.

These are all of the deserves. Now allow us to handle the elephant within the room: Jai Bhim, if something, is a tragic but essential addition to the lengthy listing of movies about oppression that, if you happen to come to consider it, could not transcend past the OTT crowd and attain its major supply viewers — on this case, the largely ignored Irular group. Are we fake-congratulating ourselves by simply giving them mainstream consideration? How will we iron out this disparity?

Jai Bhim streams on Amazon Prime from November 2