Surprisingly contemplative and subdued political drama- Cinema express
For a movie titled after an article within the Indian Structure pertaining to freedom of expression, the expectation would’ve been one thing with loud political overtones. However Indhu VS’ directorial debut is surprisingly a contemplative work that gravitates extra in the direction of character behaviour and temper. And what a reduction it’s to see a subdued Vijay Sethupathi (VJS) after a very long time! What if the VJS from Aandavan Kattalai was a fearless, anti-right wing author who did not shove his ideology down others’ throats? That is what Gauri Shankar from 19(1)(a) is. No factors for guessing if a real-life journalist impressed this gender-switched model. What if, in the future, he walked right into a photostat store and handed over the manuscript of his final work to the woman managing it (Nithya Menen’s character is anonymous)? They solely meet as soon as, however the registered affect has a far-reaching impact, as we see later within the movie.
Director: Indhu VS
Solid: Vijay Sethupathi, Nithya Menen
Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar
Typically all it takes is a stunning piece of reports about a person you have solely met as soon as — or identified just for fairly some time — which kickstarts a course of you did not count on to vary you for the higher. And Indhu VS populates her movie with just a few characters which might be all searching for some that means and function. Some want to be freed from the shackles that society has sure them by however aren’t brave sufficient to take action as a result of whoever they’re making an attempt to persuade “will not get it”. When Nithya’s good friend and fixed lunch companion informs her that she is about to be married off quickly, the previous asks if she has not less than tried to query them as soon as. Maybe the previous would’ve thought in a different way had she not met Gauri Shankar that day. She might need behaved with the identical lackadaisical perspective with which her good friend responded when, for instance, Nithya requested her what she felt about Gauri’s assassination. Possibly Gauri’s arrival ignited a spark that was already in her. Maybe, it was all in regards to the timing.
Nithya is a girl who has been following a set routine for some time, however she isn’t the identical individual after a degree. We get the primary signal of her metamorphosis when, one evening, as a substitute of locking up her store and leaving early, she decides to remain again, dozes off and awakens someday late within the evening. She is quickly visiting all of the locations Gauri had frequented, strolling all of the slim and lonely paths. There’s a good second the place we see a previous imaginative and prescient of a solitary VJS whereas Nithya is in the identical place, within the current, and for a quick second, we see VJS pausing to look again. Was he wanting over his shoulder — within the figurative sense? Or was he questioning whether or not he might go on the baton to somebody? Or was it to recommend that Nithya is discovering inspiration from all of the paths he had walked on and making ready herself to step out of her consolation zone and boldly tackle each problem that comes her manner?
A lot of 19(1)(a) advantages from a powerful sense of minimalism in visuals, sounds, or dialogues. When Gauri first lands in Nithya’s locality, his eyes fall on a crimson social gathering flag. In a later scene, we see a black flag representing Gauri hoisted subsequent to it. Essentially the most placing sound within the movie belongs to an approaching motorbike, used in a different way within the opening and shutting photographs. They’ll both imply the identical factor or two various things. The primary time we hear it, there’s an undercurrent of menace. The second time, there’s a sense of ambiguity and hope.
Regardless of VJS being a reasonably dominant presence all through the movie, I want the movie had spent extra time exploring extra of his thought processes and beliefs. There’s a sense that the makers had been making an attempt to play it secure. However having stated that, kudos to them for not adopting the loud and preachy method that characterised a number of the most up-to-date political dramas in Malayalam cinema.
As for the music, Govind Vasantha’s rating, dominated by pianos, guitars and violins, carries a noticeable Latin flavour. This light musical method may appear odd and sharply contrasting for a topic of this nature, but it surely makes excellent sense contemplating the meditative nature of the storytelling. I used to be reminded of movies like Motorbike Diaries, the place the main target was extra on capturing the sentiments of characters present process a transition part. 19(1)(a) will get that tone proper.
