One film that you would definitely be included in any list of must-see Indian movies in 2019 is a gem from Director #KhalidRahman called #Unda. Starring #Mammootty in a true flesh-and-blood role, it is a tale of honour above everything else and strikes a chord. Don’t miss it.
ASHOK’s FIVE reviews #Unda available on #AmazonPrimeVideo. #Mammootty is Sub-Inspector Manikandan, entrusted with the task of leading a contingent of the Kerala Police to Bastar in Chhattisgarh for election duty in a Maoist area. The hapless set of policemen reach there armed with lathis, cane-shields and wet behind their ears. What unfolds is a tale of life, insecurities and ultimately valour in the face of opposition.
1. The longevity of megastar #Mammootty now nearing seventy is explained in #Unda. He plays a relatable human being instead of the usual glitter and shine. After the first attack, he is in fact shaken up and clutches his chest and cuts a sorry figure in front of his younger subordinates. He is an honest man though and you begin to see shades of him as a team player, mentor and empathetic human being as the film progresses. For example, when the vehicle in which they are travelling suffers a puncture, he lends his shoulder to raise the van rather than just standing around and supervising the work. He understands the pain that the tribals have gone through, even though he may not be able to do much. He calls his wife back in Kerala to apprise her of the attack, but she is not bothered. In the final encounter though, he leads from the front and demonstrates that courage is about who you are and not what you have.
2. Each of the characters has a story that is brought out subtly. There is one policeman whose marriage is on the rocks but remains defiant. Another has been pulled away from his marriage. A third one is hurt by casteist slurs and jibes that his colleagues have been hurling at him. And yet another one who is happy to be carefree and jovial. Amidst all this is a leader who admits that he has never caught a thief or murderer in a career spanning fifteen years. The opening scene where a pick-pocket desists from his trade when he spots SI Manikandan staring at him is incredible. The thief is abashed at being spotted; the fans of the superstar are happy that with one look he has managed to thwart a robbery and as far as the police official is concerned, he is incredulous that his stare has actually stopped the thief in his tracks! #Mammootty is brilliant as the vulnerable SI Manikandan, scared, ageing but acutely conscious of his duty. He is gutsy, real and shorn of the trappings of glamour. Much like his roles in Pathemari (2015) and Munariyuppu (2014).
3. Sajith Purushan’s cinematography and Prashanth Pillai’s music score aid the story development. The film is shot on location in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Kerala. #ShineTomChacko, #ArjunAshokan and #Lukman provide admirable support as part of the platoon. The dark and satirical humour shines through in the dialogues. Some of the boys talk about how they are ill-equipped to handle the guns. You actually begin to empathise with the police and their thankless work.
4. The film dialogues slip easily into English and Hindi where necessary giving it an authentic feel. #BhagwanTiwari’s Kapil Dev, the ITBP officer comes across as a haughty north-Indian man, dismissive of non-native Hindi speakers but as the film progresses, it shows the humane side of the man. And this, I felt was a mature approach and attitude moving away from lowly parochialistic narratives that films tend to slip into.
5. There are no female protagonists, and this works both ways. The story does not necessitate one; at the same time, I wonder what value this could bring to the table in case there was one.
#Unda literally means ‘bullet’ in Malayalam. It is a term for false machismo. The film does not slip into that though and is a strong commentary on the rift between the administration, the bureaucracy and the actual working class in todays society. One cannot but reflect on our internal bias against the police force. It is easy to comment on their inefficiency or lack of empathy, but the film makes you look at the other side. Next time I encounter a police officer or security guard, I know I will ponder about the person behind the uniform!
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