Jersey – The Sound Of Victory

There are many things to admire about Gowtham Tinnanuri’s second film Jersey. The biggest compliment I can give the film is that they have taken a tried and tested template and presented in a fresh way. Yes, we do know what is going to happen but the way it happens is nice to see. A big part of this is due to the performance of Nani and there is one scene in particular that will stay in the minds of people for a long time. For a man who spends most of the film in a restrained manner, the outpouring of emotion at the railway station is a joy to behold. We scream with Nani and we are happy for him like we have achieved something. That is the power of good cinema.

In that one stretch of action, we can see so many things being said about the society we live in. People who suppress their emotions will strongly relate to that scene and given the way society has conditioned us, I wouldn’t be surprised if that was most of us. Here is a man who has achieved something that no one thought he could, yet somehow he has managed to do it. In the grand scheme of the film, we know that he is going to do this but it is exhilarating to see the outpouring of emotion from Nani. Jersey works because it has an inherently realistic tone that is spiced with some cinematic elements. The train scene could be considered by some to be cinematic but I think it is one of the more realistic parts of the film. I myself have wanted to scream in anger or pain but haven’t been able to. Perhaps I should start going to the railway station more often. The train scene comes at a crucial moment in the film helps ground the film in reality. From then on, what happens is just part of the journey and we are happy to be along for the ride.

Until next time, bye.

The Hangout Series #3

The one thing that can be said about Kancharapalem is that, you feel that you know what is going to happen. But the way they take this story forward is quite interesting. I do not want to say more and spoil it for those who haven’t yet seen it.

This is a film with four ‘different’ stories that talk about one emotion – love. We see love of different ages and shades and the keyword here is relatability. No matter how old or young you are, there is something that you can relate to and that is the beauty of the film.

A film like this needs to have interesting characters to work and thankfully it has quite a few of them. Take one look at your neighborhood and you are sure to run into someone who is quirky in their own way. Kancharapalem at times feels like a documentary. This is not in its cinematic form but rather in its treatment of the characters. We feel like we are a fly on the wall that is observing what is happening.

When this happens, you do not need to have a plot per say, all that needs to happen is for the proceedings to flow in an organic manner. This happens for the most part and aside from a few cinematic moments at the end of the film, what we see is a highly realistic portrayal of small-town India.

Another aspect that works in the film’s favor is the universal appeal of its setting. Though the story is set in Kancharapalem, this could be any small-town in India. Everywhere, we get to see problems relating to religion, caste, social status etc.

There is a lot of humor present in the film and that makes it possible to truly hangout with these people. Yes, there are some really emotional moments but you do not feel overwhelmed by them. Even when something poignant happens, the way it is presented is very simple. It is just everyday people having everyday realizations.

This is nice because not all of us have these realizations in a big dramatic way. Kancharapalem presents this in a more understated fashion and for that I would like to thank director/writer Venkatesh Maha.

As for flaws in Kancharapalem, I did feel that the length was a little too much at times. But every time that happened, there was something to make me smile or tear up. A true hangout film doesn’t make you feel the same emotion over and over. It takes you on a journey that can sometimes be bumpy but the destination is beautiful and that makes it worth it.

Until next time, bye.