Of late, cinema has become a balanced mix of fiction and reality. Many movies that are made nowadays depict ground realities without overly dramatising or using unnecessary cinematic liberties. At the risk of inciting a debate, it won¡¯t be wrong to say that South filmmakers are way ahead of their time and are acing their game with every passing year. So much so that their movies are garnering a pan-India appeal.
The recent one to make it to the top of this list is none other than TJ Gnanvel¡¯s Jai Bhim. Not one to watch dubbed movies from the South, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to give it a shot without any prejudices.?
Even though it was the best decision, I can¡¯t really deny that Jai Bhim was an uncomfortable watch and it left me disturbed for hours. Before diving into it, it¡¯s vital to know for the unversed that Jai Bhim is inspired by a real-life lawyer turned Judge who made a significant contribution towards the betterment of oppressed communities.
Just like the premise of the film, a man belonging to the Irular tribe was wrongly framed in a theft case. Soon after, he died due to custodial torture by the police. K Chandru who was an advocate at that time, was approached by his wife (real name Parvathi) for help.
As per a report in Telangana today, Chandru admitted on several occasions that the police involved in the case had tried to bribe him as well as the victim¡¯s wife for an out of court settlement.?
Not one to have keen interest in law initially, Chandru realised in the 70s that it was a good tool to win back the rights of people, especially the oppressed. In his long stint as a judge, Chandru has disposed of 96,000 cases, a feat that he achieved because of meticulous planning and classification of cases.
Suriya plays the role of Chandru, a simpleton lawyer with a knack for details and tying loose ends. There are no heavy dialogues or unnecessary preaching in the film. He plays a mellow yet assertive advocate who is hell bent on getting to the bottom of the truth.?
The beauty lies in the writing as it doesn¡¯t sway away the audience from the matter at hand. Throughout the movie, the focus lies on whether the victim will get justice or not. Suriya acts as a catalyst who is seen bridging the gap between the truth and the false narrative that the police have built up to cover up their shortcomings.?
Special mention for Prakash Raj who¡¯s screen presence never fails to impress. He plays an Inspector General of Police who is torn between supporting what is right and his duty towards the police force. In the end, he abides by his principle and does what he deems is right.
Small towns and under-developed areas perhaps still undergo such brutal interrogations. Many custodial deaths are not even spoken about or recorded. With this movie, many questions have been raised. Are human rights violations accounted for and should police encounters be celebrated or condemned among others.
In a wider sense, Jai Bhim presents an intricate view into caste-based violence that still exists in some areas of the country. In its wake, it has definitely hit at the right spots and incited difficult conversations which were often swept under the rug.
Originally a Tamil film, Jai Bhim has been dubbed in several other languages and can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.