THE ISSUES OF VIOLENCE! #BLOGCHATTER #WRITEAPAGEADAY
Sometimes, there comes a movie which clicks for all the
right reasons. Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey is one such offering written and
directed by a newcomer Vipin Das. The main roles are essayed by Basil Joseph as
Rajesh and Darshana Rajendran as the beleaguered Jaya.
What makes this a must-watch movie?
a. The movie starts with girls having no rights. Jaya does
her B.A. Malayalam, just because she is not allowed to go far away from home.
No Anthropology for her, because she is anyway going to get married in due
course.
b. Her teacher, played by Aju Varghese, is a modern man
who talks about women’s liberation and their rights to live life on their own
terms, ideas which turn on their head when he turns possessive about Jaya. Gaslighting
raises its head for the first time in the movie.
c. Rajesh, Jaya’s prospective husband, reluctantly agrees
that she can continue her studies after marriage. The amazement on his mother’s
face is as palpable as the broken chairs and items in their house that Jaya
notices when she walks in for the first time. Someone, obviously, has an
extremely bad temper.
d. The cracks begin showing, one by one. The first slap
and the first half-hearted apology are in tandem. Thereafter, every bout of
violence is followed by a grudging treat where Jaya has no say, even in the
choice of the menu at the restaurant. Rajesh’s “Happy alle?” (Aren’t you happy?)
gets more and more ironic when the violence escalates.
e. Little nuggets of advice pop up from all quarters.
When Jaya speaks of her unhappiness, her mother says, “It is for women to
adjust. Give your marriage time.” The father adds later, “That’s life!” At a stage
later, her mother-in-law defends her son. “Don’t men get angry and hit their
wives?” That’s seemingly normal.
f. What is abnormal is what happens when Jaya finally
reaches the end of her tether, according to her mother-in-law. How dare the girl
retaliate? Isn’t she meant to adjust, after all? Jaya calculates the number of
slaps she would have to endure over forty years. That leads to a strained
reconciliation.
g. What is the best way to control a wife who has proved
that she can protect herself by turning aggressive? Tie her down with a child,
and keep her within the four walls of the house. Pertinent advice from a wily male relative.
What stands out is the subtle humour that keeps the movie
running along its rails. Gaslighting is a real problem, and when Jaya decides
to take matters into her own hands, or in this case, feet, the audience gets
its money’s worth. The message is crystal-clear. Treat people with respect or
else you will end up with regrets, possibly broken bones as well.
Brilliant acting by Basil Joseph and Darshana Rajendran,
and kudos to Vipin Das for his deft direction! The music is noteworthy too. This
movie deserves the accolades it has received.
Spiceonion.com
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