‘Oru Jaathi Jathakam’ movie review: Vineeth Sreenivasan headlines a fun flick that punches up
The M Mohanan-directorial takes a dig at outdated sensibilities about gender, sexuality and relationships
by Nainu Oommen · The Hindu“Misogyny is my fundamental right,” says one of the characters in the initial scenes of the Vineeth Sreenivasan-starrer Oru Jaathi Jathakam, setting the tone for what the movie promises to discuss. The light-hearted flick directed by veteran filmmaker, M Mohanan forays into themes of gender and sexuality while poking fun at the age-old notions about the same.
Mambaram Jayesh, portrayed by Vineeth, is many things that one might find wrong in a man. His bigoted tendencies regarding caste, colour, sex, gender and age are not subtle and he is even proud of it. At the movie’s beginning, Jayesh, with his proud Nair (a Hindu caste) heritage, is on a quest to find the ”perfect” bride who meets his criteria for an ideal woman.
Oru Jaathi Jathakam (Malayalam)
Director: M Mohanan
Cast: Vineeth Sreenivasan, PP Kunhikrishnan, Mridul Nair, Amal Thaha, Indu Thampy and Nikhila Vimal
Runtime: 123 minutes
Storyline: A man who has been looking to get married for several years is unable to find a bride owing to his expectations about women and relationships
As the movie progresses, chaos rains on the protagonist’s life as he is unable to find the bride. Jayesh, a staunch believer in his own manhood, slowly starts losing his marbles as questions regarding his “masculinity” arise. It also takes a dig at the idea of arranged marriages and a lack of compatibility while basing the relationships on factors such as algorithms and horoscopes.
The latter half of the movie offers some interesting twists to the plot and also conveys a good message.
Vineeth’s over-the-top portrayal of Jayesh manages to make the audience laugh on multiple occasions with a specific emphasis on his character being the butt of the joke, offering a glance into the deeply flawed male psyche. Multiple scenes hinting at the protagonist’s upbringing and the values with which he was raised, reveal the inherent sexist norms often deep-rooted within families.
PP Kunhikrishnan, who plays Jayesh’s father, does a fine job with his portrayal, making the audience laugh almost every time he is onscreen. Amal Thaha — popularly known as a Thaha Thug in the comedy sketches on Alambanz YouTube channel — plays Aneesh, Jayesh’s roommate and best friend, and the actor shares great chemistry with Vineeth. Pallavi played by Indu Thampy and Merin played by Chippy Devassy also stand out in their short yet impactful roles. Performances by Mridul Nair, Babu Antony, Sayanora Philip, and Nikhila Vimal among others are quite enjoyable.
However, the ending of the movie, while comforting, does not offer anything new, much like the conclusion of the director’s previous outings. The initial scenes are slightly overpowered by the jarring background score. The music, expected to act as a comedic cue, could have been mellowed down.
Overall, Oru Jaathi Jathakam is an enjoyable watch as it manages to open up discussions about topics that require a stage. It does not falter in its execution of humour making a clear distinction between laughing at and laughing about certain things.
Published - January 31, 2025 04:37 pm IST