On our 70th Independence Day, an immediate recall of some socially relevant movies set within a political backdrop would be AR Murugadas’s powerful Kaththi (2014) on farmer’s suicide. His other film Ramana (2002) was a vigilante thriller. Shankar’s debut, Gentleman (1993) was based on the education system, Indian (1996), was about a freedom fighter fighting corruption, Mudhalvan (1999) had a TV anchor take on a Chief Minister and become one for a day, and Anniyan (2005) saw the evil guys bumped off as ‘prescribed’ in the Puranas. Earlier, RK Selvamani gave Vijayakanth the title for his political career with Captain Prabhakaran (1991). He made the serious Makkal Aatchi (1995) with Mammootty on power-play in politics. Manivannan’s Amaidhipadai (1994) with Sathyaraj is a super-hit political satire. These films have had big stars and were packaged with a cinematic suspension of disbelief. Taking a political stand has its repercussions and usually, the maximum ‘politics’ we see in most Tamil films is a cop-hero taking on a minister-villain. Current affairs is at best a sub plot, not the whole film.
Given this context, here is Joker. Have you heard the public service announcement on radio where Vidya Balan urges you to build a toilet in your house? This movie is about that toilet and then, some more! We are 70 years into being a free nation but the lead character’s house in a remote village of Dharmapuri does not have a toilet. The girl he likes refuses to marry him until he builds one. The film however doesn’t begin this simply! It begins with us getting to know Mannar Mannan.
Post an impressive Aranya Kandam (2011) and Jigarthanda (2014), Guru Somasundaram delivers a supremely pure performance that holds the film tight. Mannar Mannan is not a random title some minister bestowed upon him, it is his name. He carries an official seal that also says he is the President of India! But he is no able-bodied star-hero. This flight of fancy is only a tool to depict rightful anger and inherent helplessness against a corrupt administrative ladder. The fight for living a straightforward, free life (not to be mistaken for a freebie life!) in one of the greatest democracies of the world is the larger picture. The film is honest to this premise.
Mannar Mannan, contrary to his name, is the quintessential common man with an uncommon destiny. His life is no fairy tale. Raju Murugan’s sharp writing reveals his stand on social ills and still has space for a beautiful love story with significantly well-filmed visuals by Chezhiyan and a rich musical score by Sean Rolden. Names of characters, situations, set props, lyrics...everything is a stark reminder of India’s politics — past and present.
What better time to release such a film than on I-Day weekend! Joker highlights socialism to fix the glaring potholes (pun intended) in our system. Albeit a ‘message’ film, the makers ensure our Tamil cinema flag indeed flies high.
@n_sujatha08