Tha. Se. Gnanavel, the director of one of the boldest takes on the flaws in law enforcement and the justice system said that the Tamil film ‘Jai Bhim’ is not just a word, it is an emotion.
Gnanavel, while interacting with the media and festival delegates at one of the ‘Table Talks’ sessions being organised by PIB on the side-lines of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), shared the thought behind choosing the title ‘ Jai Bhim’ for the movie. “For me the word Jai Bhim is synonymous to the word oppressed and marginalised people for whom Dr BR Ambedkar always stood for.
Expressing his immense joy over movie’s unimaginable reception from all quarters, Gnanavel said the movie connected with all just because it dealt with a subject that is universal. “Post Jai Bhim, I heard hundreds of such stories on caste discrimination, the flaws in law enforcement and justice system,” he said and added that through his movie he is trying to portray that the Constitution is real weapon in fighting against injustice.
‘Jai Bhim’ the raw and real take on a series of burning issues, portrays the life and struggles of tribal couple Rajakannu and Sengeni who leads a life based on the whims and fancies of upper caste people by doing menial jobs for them .The movie shifts to a gritty filmmaking style when Rajakannu gets arrested for a crime he hasn’t committed. From then on the movie with its terrific moments of defiance, powerfully captures the abuse and humiliation meted out to the underprivileged by those in power.
Describing how cinema can play catalyst in social change, Gnanavel said though there is a saviour in the film who fights for the oppressed, his film tries to give message based on a thought voiced by the great scholar BR Ambedkar that education is the only tool that could empower people. “In real life there are no heroes. One has to be their own heroes by empowering themselves through education. My movie will achieve its real goal only when all the oppressed are empowered.”
The film is based on a real-life incident involving Justice K Chandru, from his days as a lawyer and celebrated actor Suriya plays this role.
Stating how content is the real hero in any film, Gnanavel said if there is soul in the content, there would be people to make the movie the way a creator wishes and later everything else will fall in its rightful place.