Alias Janaki Movie Review

Story: Janaki Ram, (Rahul Venkat), son of an idealistic school teacher gets a government job and moves to the city. Disillusioned by the rampant corruption, he stands up to fight for the values instilled by his father.

Movie Review: It is a bizarre turn of events when the cinematography (which seems to have a huge Panjaa hangover about it) and music are more dramatic than the plot, and the narrative flow. To put it simply there is a gaping disconnect between the story and the story telling. In any case how differently can you tell the story of an underdog who rebels against an exploitative system? We've seen too many films with that plotline and even with a non-linear narrative there is hardly any element of surprise per se.

However, we can't fault the debutante filmmaker for not trying, although only partly succeeding in weaving an intense cinema experience. With grim lighting, immersive sound design and skillful camera work, the director creates an intense visual ambience. However, that nuance goes missing in the execution.

The protagonist, Janaki Ram is a reserved good guy who is brought up on staunch ideals in a far away village moves to Hyderabad after getting a job in the GHMC. He is appalled with the immoral ways of the city life. Janaki prevents a local goon, Maisa, from forcefully evacuating slum dwellers and earns his wrath. He soon finds himself framed in false corruption charges and his girlfriend, Chaitra (Anisha) dumps him unable to deal with his moral uprightness. On seeing the hapless slum dwellers being burnt alive by Maisa, he decides to retaliate, for the values he believes in. Then we have a happy ending.

There isn't the usual jingoism like gravity defying action episodes, forced comedy tracks (there is one redundant love track though), punch dialogues and stays reasonably realistic. But the film takes a typically over simplistic look at the whole idea of corruption. Neither does it offer any worthwhile insights into causes and effects of this collective moral degradation in the society at the story level. Neither does it offer any quirky solutions.

It takes the easy way out by playing to the messiah syndrome where we have this righteous Ram like character who goes though the proverbial "angipravesh" (trail by fire) to cleanse the society of it's ills, which is embodied by a menacing looking guy with dreadlocks. So zero points for any philosophical or intellectual integrity there. All the movie has to offer is good intentions. The acting is generally subdued. Rahul Venkat looks like Chiranjeevi in some profile shots, and does a reasonable job of breaking down into tears every now and then, but there isn't anything wow about the performance as such.

Anisha Ambrose has a vivacious screen presence but is just filling up the numbers here. She's the decorative ornament in an otherwise bleak effort. However, with better roles and capable directors, she would do much better. The rest of cast does an ok job. The music is easily the stand out.

Note: It's a little too loaded and preachy, besides some shallow intensity and noble intentions it has nothing much to offer.

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