Films that celebrate police brutality and star the hero as a law officer and warrior for justice have often been blockbusters. Suriya himself has appeared in a number of them. But how does police brutality manifest itself in the real world? In a country with profound imbalances, how does a system that invests disproportionate authority in law enforcement function? The plot of jai Bhim focuses around the theft of three Irular (a Scheduled Tribe) men. Under compulsion to resolve pending cases, the police file bogus charges against people from marginalised groups, knowing full well that they lack the contacts or financial resources to protect themselves from the legal system.


Rajakannu (performed by Manikandan), Mosakutty, and Irutappan stumble into one of these traps, starting off a chain of awful events that don't even allow the viewer to believe it's fictional. When Suriya was cast in the lead role in jai Bhim, I worried if it would be a typical'saviour' storey in which the hero makes the conflict all about him, relegating the victims and survivors to a minor role.


Suriya's portrayal of lawyer Chandru (who is known for taking anti-caste and pro-justice positions during his lengthy career as a lawyer and magistrate) is understated; there are no histrionic dialogues that have come to define tamil courtroom dramas. The reasons mentioned to the judges sound genuine and to-the-point, a welcome change from the long, overdone monologues we're used to watching on TV. In an otherwise sombre drama, MS Bhaskar's brief appearance as a senior lawyer provides some giggles. prakash raj as IG Perumalswamy and Rajisha Vijayan as instructor Mythra, as well as the performers portraying the harsh cops, give strong performances.


The narrative jumps back and forth through time yet is always logical, building suspense without going overboard. It's also admirable that it avoids superfluous romantic tracks and punch lines. The tunes, too, don't interfere with the flow and seem natural. Perumalswamy hitting a Marwari moneylender for talking in hindi, on the other hand, appears to be a cheap ploy to encourage the audience to applaud. The fight against hindi imposition is important and should continue, but advocating violence against hindi residents is a risky and unethical game.


The conclusion, with the Irular folks folding their hands in appreciation, flirts with the'saviour' narrative, but is countered by the final tableau, which highlights Ambedkar's emphasis on education as a way of liberation once more. It also helps that the plot isn't fully focused on Chandru as a person, but rather on how he applies the law to benefit those who need it most.


Jai Bhim is a distressing film that raises numerous questions regarding law enforcement and the legal system's checks and balances. Perhaps there is something to consider before another time the public applauds policeman bravery in the face of a murder.
For more interesting updates wa click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel

Find out more:

jai bhim review

SIBY JEYYA

02/11/2021 12:00 AM