JOJI (2021)
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| Critic - No. 208 |
Director: Dileesh Pothan
Produced by: Bhavana Studios, Working Class Hero, Fahadh Fazil and Friends
Casts: Fahadh Fazil, Baburaj, Joji Mundakayam, Sunny PN, Unnimaya Prasad, Shammy Thilakan, Alister Alex
Language: Malayalam
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Music: Justin Varghese
SYNOPSIS:
Joji (Fahadh Fazil), an engineering dropout and the youngest son of a rich family lives with his aspirations of becoming super-wealthy. Driven by greed and blind ambition, he decides to execute his plans following an unexpected event in the family.
REVIEW:
Fahadh Fazil is one of the strongest young actors we have in Indian cinema who also has a great knack for producing good scripts that pushes the narrative styles and boundaries of the industry. After a shocking, lackluster, Irul (2021), a Netflix film that premiered a few weeks back, Fahadh strikes back with Joji, an intriguing thriller inspired by Macbeth.
The film revolves around a plantation family in Kottayam, with a powerfully strict father, Kuttappan Panachel, and his sons, Jomon, Jaison, and Joji who are fearful of him. Even when he suffers a stroke and is almost reduced to a vegetable state, his three adult sons are still almost just whimpering boys in his presence. How Joji sneakily plans to fulfill his ambitions forms the rest of the story. More than a story-driven film, Joji is a character-driven film that fleshes out the mental space of the lead character in detail.
The slow-burn thriller is excellently layered by writer Syam Pushkaran (Kumbalangi Nights’ fame) and all the characters are complex. Besides, Joji, another character which I felt was very interestingly built was Jincy, the wife of Jaison. Her desperation to free from the shackles of toxicity that feels the house (through the fear of the sons, underlying greed, patriotic household, spineless husband, etc.) was amazingly complex which I felt could have had a better closure. Yes, the film walks on a very simple thread that sometimes looks far-fetched and stretched but the strong characters sell the idea to us effectively.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth has spawned many films and stage versions in many languages around the world. Joji picks up the overarching theme of crime and punishment, beautifully to create an arresting thriller. Shyju’s immersive angles and Justin’s quirky mood enhances the intensity of the film as well. The only time I felt that the film loses its grip is when it nears the end of the second act where the overriding guilt meets a very hurried resolution which misses the ending high note that the thriller warranted.
Fahadh Fazil looks really young, fitting the character of an irresponsible last son, and gives another stunning performance. Other actors such as Baburaj (Jomon) play their part with neat restraint, whether he is drunk, comic, angry, or confused, and Sunny PN (Kuttapan), conveys menace perfectly through his brief role.
VERDICT:
Joji is an interesting slow-burn, character-driven thriller that keeps us on the edge through its dysfunctional characters and jittery suspense.
CELLULOID METER- 3.5/5:
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