19 (1) (A) is the article in the Indian Constitution that guarantees freedom of speech for every individual.?
However, freedom of speech has its own price in the movie.?
Everyone is trying to achieve their right to freedom of speech but is caught up in a web of stigma whose end is uncertain and often heavy on emotions. The film starts with a man locking himself in a lodge in Dharmapuri, and he later orders tea, but a vehicle comes into the frame, and later, he is shot dead. Meanwhile, in Kerala, we see our protagonist opening a printing shop. She isn¡¯t given a name by the filmmaker because she resembles every woman of the society, which is as ordinary as it gets, yet her ordinary feature makes her special beyond words and expression.
Nithya Menen plays the role of the protagonist as if it¡¯s a daily routine she has been living for a very long time. Director Indhu, in her very first film, is fierce and clear when communicating her opinion on the movie. Nithya is suddenly pushed into a position from being an insignificant woman into a role that is very important. She falters, yet she stands tall in most important moments. However, this switch in the character may feel sudden, but actually, it isn¡¯t in reality, small chapters have affected the way she perceives the world, and it feels very personal.
The closest comparison to such a tale for me is October - a beautiful tale of unrequited love and is nowhere close to 19 (1) (A), but they do have one thing in common- both the films have protagonists who have the feeling of not meeting the person who changed their life. This factor probably makes their transition into a completely different person very rapidly. However, the writing style of the film is very different. In 19 (1) (A), the protagonist isn¡¯t as layered as a character in the second lead. The second lead character is played by Vijay Sethupathi, who plays the role of Gauri in the movie, who is an activist as well as a writer who preaches to Ambedkar.
Gauri¡¯s character is so layered that everyone around him is delighted by his presence. Vijay Sethupathi plays this role with utmost honesty.?
They aren¡¯t conveyed in a strong aura or a heavy tone; they just are said plainly and can create an impact that stays on our minds for a very long time. 19 (1) (A) is a slice-of-life of a woman who doesn¡¯t use to take politics seriously but later became a symbol of a strong and morally correct form of politics. Keeping aside the politics, it is also a tale of a woman who used to suppress her feelings previously, but she was taught to utilize her freedom of speech and step out of the mundane daily routine and give a purpose to live far greater than just managing a home where even her own family members don¡¯t value her efforts.
The end is a bit underwhelming if it¡¯s compared to the buildup done throughout the movie, but it still lands on a somewhat satisfactory note. The film works the best when it tries the viewers to guess the flow of the narrative, but whenever it tries to unravel a plot point or a theme, it falters a bit, and yet somehow, it manages to stand in totality.?
The performances and the characterization are the two pillars of this movie. The rest of the things just make the film appear more strong. Overall, 19 (1) (A) is driven by emotions mixed with 3Ps ¨C politics, performances, and a plot that knows the value of strong opinions and how a common woman can also be a symbol of revolution.?
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