Random Musings
Imagine this.
It's the dawn of 2004. At a time when internet cafes, Splendour bikes and polo striped t-shirts were in vogue, Jayaraj decides to tell the story of 4 vigilantes.
Armed with Iqbal Kuttipuram's script, and the nostalgia that frames from 2003 - 2004 Kerala brings us, Jayaraj crafted one of the best thrillers, that made people stop and think about how determined people can take law in their hands to avenge inequality and corruption. At a time when Malayalam Cinema was going through a less than stellar phase, we got some real gems that aimed to explore themes beyond what was the norm. Aparichithan, Kalachakram, Athbudhadweepu, Black and Kadhavaseshan are notable names. 4 The People is another pick that falls snugly into that select basket.
In the state of Kerala, where politics is a common tea-time topic of discussion, and SFI goons disrupt businesses every other week, vigilantes were an unexplored topic. Sure, Communist Kerala has had it's fair share of political killings in the annals of it's history, but Jayaraj went one step forward to make his story a reality
4 The People - When Young Blood meets the heat of Vigilante Justice
| “Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.” ~ Plato The breeding ground of politics in Kerala have originated from organised collectives in colleges. Earlier, when politics really had a noble cause to drive change and the existing mindset amongst people to live life as it was handed to them - from the days of our departed leaders V.S and Oommen Chandy, today it has become a mockery dispersed with greed, unqualified people drunk on power, and the byproduct, that is corruption. As we broaden our social conscious during the care-free days of college, it's natural to react on these pressing needs amongst the general public. That's where real change comes to play, with a sense of accountability. 4 college students, each with scars of their own, inflicted by the general public set out to abet social evils. Social evils, that have become bedfellows since the inception of humanity. The film addresses how violence has become institutionalised in politics, especially within student unions. It critiques the use of violence and intimidation as a tool for gaining and maintaining power. This is especially relevant in Kerala, where political violence involving student groups, unions, and sometimes even parties been a significant issue. I liked the janky style of cinematography and editing that was used in this film. Not sure how to relay it across, but it suited this film oh so perfectly, with the script. ThoughtsCertain reservations may exist on how practical would similar retaliation play out in real life. Criminals labelled as 'Robinhoods' have existed throughout the years, however that doesn't mean that you can perform crime to provide to your people.Sure, people with similar ideologies will be celebrated as heroes amongst the masses, but people do have a right to live in this world, irrespective of their doings. That's why mercy pleas are still entertained before execution of death sentences around the world. The film also showcases the journey of the students as one filled with personal sacrifices, disillusionment, and the challenge of maintaining one's ideals amidst systemic corruption. Integrating Incidents from Kerala's yesteryearsHere are some of the incidents that I believe have been addressed in the movie, from Kerala's history
SoundtrackThis was one was an unconventional one from Jassie Gift, which remains the best work of his careerRight from the track that plays during the credit roll in the beginning, to the evergreen Loka Samastha that spells out the story of underdogs trying to make a change and then the chartbusters "Lajjavathiye" and "Anakili" that tries to fit in a love track in a movie that had taken the neo-noir treatment, this mix of tracks have left a sour taste in my mouth No disrespect to Jassie, but this just didn't sit right. I love the tracks and they still remain dear to Malayalees even after 20 wonderful years   ConclusionThough the protagonists are celebrated as heroes, the film never seriously interrogates whether extrajudicial violence is justifiable, regardless of cause. To the audience, this moral ambiguity is left unresolved.Jayaraj's work paints a stark picture of how violence and intimidation are often used as tools to gain and hold onto power. This theme hits home especially in Kerala, where violence has been a troubling and persistent issue, with student groups, unions, and even political parties sometimes caught in the crossfire. It asks a simple yet important question: how did things get to this point, where power is won not through ideas, but through force? Needless to say, we got ourselves a gem. An unexplored subject at that AfterthoughtsI never knew that bike taxi's were a thing in Kerala, during the early 2000's. That looks like a well-kept store in a shopping complex that's slowly from view nowadays. |
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