By Shane J Alliew
Kolkata, Dec 21, 2021: Running at 164 minutes, written and directed by T J Gnanavel, Jai Bhim, originally in Tamil is a legal drama film starring Suriya (Chandru), Lijo Mol Jose (Senggeni) and Manikandan (Rajakannu).
Based on a true incident of 1993, involving a case fought by the famous Justice Chandru, the film delves into the deepest of caste divides which still haunts independent India and perhaps will continue to do so, until the dogma of it all is irradiated from the very roots, through a deliberate and conscious effort, at all levels, via design and not by default.
Rajakannu and Senggeni are a couple from the Irula tribe, one of snake catchers, who are merely able to eke out a living by working as temporary laborers in the fields of the rich landlords who continue to exploit them on all counts, abusing their very existence. Rajakannu is called to catch a deadly snake from the house of the village headman followed by a robbery of the headman’s wife’s jewelry.
The blame of course is put onto Rajakannu and his associates who are swiftly brought in by the police in order to bring the case to a closure. What follows next are gory scenes of police brutality and custody violence which shake the cornerstones of humanity.
Whilst trying to force the accused into a false confession, Rajakannu dies at the hands of the police in custody and his body is dumped on the borders of two states, so as to further confuse the jurisdiction and draw the case into the vortex of another legal tangle, in an attempt to sniff it into oblivion.
Senggeni, with the help of the village volunteer teacher Maithra (Rajisha Vijayan) is brought in to meet Chandru who decides to fight the case free of any charge. What follows is not only courtroom drama but also an investigation into a case which is open and shut yet which cannot be proved, as per the requirements of the Indian legal system.
Jai Bhim, makes an indelible mark on several counts, right from the first frame and is sure to cause a shake-up in the psyche of its audiences both in India and abroad. A subject like Human Rights is what crafts the film as an outstanding one, but the way the plot unfolds with its true-to-life acting is what makes it a most memorable one.
Lijo Mol has put in some exceptional work, both as a woman who has lost her husband and as an oppressed and crushed tribal. Her screen presence gnaws at the inner existence of an individual asking the one vital question, ‘Do we have a Voice?’ ‘Are we part of a Nation which is Independent?’ Lijo plays her role with immaculate perfection.
Equally exceptional is the work of Manikandan, who plays his part to the hilt, suffering yet one who never compromises on the truth and his principles.
Jai Bhim, draws parallels with the Bollywood hit Article 15, which was the opening film at the London Indian Film Festival and went onto become a commercial success. It is believed that Jai Bhim will for certain make a dent in the Indian film industry to be included in the halls of fame.
Rating: 4.8/5