Every once in a while you come across a hard-hitting gritty and grim story of how the system can antagonize the common man. Even when they are part of that very same system. How the politicians, the police and the laws can turn against you in no time and when you throw in matters of caste politics into that simmering cauldron, you get an explosive range of outcomes. The only caveat though is it requires a fine blend of writing to make all this a gripping tale. You take one look at the film and know what the power of good writing can do!
ASHOK’s FIVE reviews #Nayattu (The Hunt) streaming now on #NetflixIndia. This is the story of Praveen Michael (#KunchackoBoban), a young cop who joins a particular station, Sunita(#NimishaSajayan) a woman cop battling issues with a belligerent relative) and a senior officer Maniyan (#JojuGeorge in a terrific performance who dotes on his daughter and knows how the system works ). Praveen’s mother is very unwell as well. They are the cogs of the well-oiled police machinery that turns on them in a trice and the events that play out in the next few days form the crux of the story.
#Nayattu is what you would call a “genuine” film that portrays how the political machinery makes puppets out of the common man. Praveen is the young and hot-headed cop but Maniayan is the more experienced man and seeks to provide much needed advice and counsel to his colleagues. The confrontation with the Dalit leaders shows how the socio situation in Kerala is sitting on a tinder-box. A series of events lead to an unfortunate situation that the three cops find themselves in . The police become the hunted and all hell breaks loose, leading to a rather unfortunate turn of events..
#JojuGeorge deserves accolades for the shining performance as the anchored cop. He dotes on his daughter and looks forward to her performance at the University Arts festival. For him, what his daughter will think of him is more important than what happens to him. And that is the veritable Achilles heel for most middle-class Indians - what a clear and specific insight that is.
What I especially liked about #Nayattu is that it sticks to the core narrative and does not deviate into unnecessary tracks. For example, the tender moments between Praveen and Sunita simmer up but do not lead to a full blown narrative. There is one scene where Praveen goes out to buy a sanitary napkin for Sunita without her asking for it. But that's just what that is; a gesture of kindness and understanding.
The performances are excellent. #JafferIdukki plays the Machiavellian Chief Minister who is furthering his own political agenda. The political scenes depict the election season in Kerala and the behind-the-scenes wheeling dealing that goes on. One of the party functionaries tells him “After the Elections, please get these police officers suspended”; this is more of an order than a request. Then there is #YamaGilgamesh who plays Anuradha, the determined cop who hunts down the trio. She represents the set of cops seeking professional glory and are impervious to the humane aspects of the case. The late #AnilNedumangad and #VinodSagar also play their parts well in the cast.
Technically, the film is superb. Editing is handled by #MaheshNarayanan who made the lockdown sensation #CUSoon. DoP #ShyjuKhalid does fantastic job of the scenic locales of Munnar and the sound design by #AjayanAdat is just right. Music has been provided by #VishnuVijay.
#Nayattu demonstrates how individual human beings are irrelevant in a situation where political machinations are ruthless. I liked the fact that the writing is honest and stays the course, not meandering into unnecessary drama or over hyping the plot. There is a matter-of-fact-feel to the film right up to the climax which makes it eminently believable. There is no holding hands and walking away into the orange sunset. Instead, life just goes on. And yet another set of commonplace individuals have been compromised with no one to question the system!
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