A professor walks into a class and barks at the students to rise up and protest against an incident. Later we see the students protesting with the slogan “**** FASICISM”. The irony is double fold!!
So, Jana Gana Mana is an hyperbolic expression against the political situations of the conutry. Incorporating many real life incidents, the film tries to be the widely loved utopian representation of justice. We have a murder and Sajjan Kumar (Suraj Venjarumoodu) in investigation of the crime. Along with this,we see students politics wavering in the backdrop.
Actually, Jana Gana Mana is written in the format of a multi-starrer. Each gets to headline one half of the film. Here, Suraj Venjarumoodu dominates the first half and we just see glimpses of Prithviraj. In the second half, it goes the other way around. The biggest asset lies in the film’s dependency on its leads. Suraj and Prithviraj are brilliant; the former plays it subtle while the latter mouths crowd pleasing dialogues. Mamta Mohandas’ character is rooted in everything but relatability. Though Dhruvan and others seem to be fit in their roles, Vincy Alosius tries to lift above her weight in many scenes. Having said that, one cannot neglect the fact that most of it is perfectly cast.
The issues discussed are serious. They are horrifying. But things only made sense when it boxed itself into the courtroom.
Jakes Bejoy rise to occassions. His background score and songs gives a fresh outlook to the film. With the film moving to a courtroom drama in the second half, the job of a cinematographer becomes more strenuous. But Sudeep Elamon does it with style. The faulty part of the film is probably its length. The film ends so much after it should have actually ended. Compared to the first half, the second half is racy and gripping. We see a lot of illogical sequences in the first half and we do see a lawyer who puts justice before law while advocating, in the second half.
Keeping it all aside, Jana Gana Mana is definitely watchable. Thanks to the performances!
Review by Gautham Ravichandhran
