The new Malayalam film Meppadiyan is making waves in Kerala, despite some hardcore Communists and their political bedfellows, Islamists, mounting a below-the-belt political campaign against the film and the hero of the film Unni Mukundan.
The film seeks to present Unni Mukundan who usually appears in macho, heavy-action roles in an entirely subdued role of a young man who is trying his level best to make both ends meet. This was welcomed by most of the people who had watched the movie. From the reports, the film has done well at the box office. It also received good reviews by critics.
Meppadiyan is directed by first-timer Vishnu Mohan who has handled the subject with high-level of dexterity. The film portrays the trials and tribulations of a garage owner who is facing perennial financial problems. Unni Mukundan who enacts the character of Jayakrishnan has no time for romance because of his other pre-occupations and troubles. At the most, we get an intense scuffle inside a government office. It’s the moments where Jayakrishnan has to run around the block a lot—on account of government officials, barristers, cops, money lenders—that Unni shines the most.
Built with a lot of suspense, twists and turns, audience gets the feel of a Sathyan Anthikkad film and a Jeethu Joseph film rolled into one. The climax is unpredictable. The scene of his visiting Sabarimala adds a twist driving home the message of transformation in the character, which only true connoisseur of art can appreciate not the ones who views it with a ideological tinted glass.
Ever since the film hit the screen, a section of Communists and Islamists have started a vicious campaign against the film and Unni Mukundan. Unni Mukundan, a supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, takes a clear stand on issues. He is reported to have said, ’If anyone attacks India, I would consider it as a personal attack on me.’ He also shared a cartoon recently on CPI(M)’s support for China.
Islamists are annoyed with Unni because he supports PM Modi. They are also upset that the film shows a Seva Bharati ambulance in the film. On this, the director Vishnu Mohan said the crew wanted an ambulance at its disposal for 12 days of shooting. Other service providers were charging exorbitantly. Seva Bharati provided ambulance service free of cost. Hence it was shown.
Discussion about this post