Irakal

Whatever the makers or people say, Joji is a clear cut remake/copy of this classic movie called Irakal.

The first scene at the hostel sets the tone and there is never a dull moment. A fantastic study on what goes through the mind of a violent man with killer instincts.

'Irakal' is a movie which portrays the 'Psychology of Violence'. This film is about Baby (Ganesh), who has Psychosis or Neurosis and the film is the in-depth exploration of his violence. Although, this film's first-half may be lagging for some viewers, the Background Music is suited to the mood of the film. The film is very engaging.

This film is a KG Brilliance with Detailed Screenplay and Impressive acting by Ganesh Kumar made the film chilling thriller. Thilakan and Srividya has also done their roles well.

This film may be lagging for some viewers. This movie can be watched by those who loves Movies well. 'Irakal' can be analysed from the sociological, psychological and philosophical levels in addition to the surface level of pure cinema. The one scene near Nirmala's house when the camera slowly zooms back from a close view of the house taking in more and more of the surroundings till it reveals the cold and menacing figure of Ganesh is the work of pure genius.

This is a psycho drama created by KG George with Ganesh Kumar being the uncanny central character.

The film is a landmark for being a study into the mind of an idle mind, exposed to corruption and moral depravity in the family, steadily gets pulled into a situation where it can't make out right from wrong. Likewise such a mind is then unable to judge where to draw the line and gets sucked invariably to extreme violence and do unspeakable things.

Ganesh plays the role to the hilt. Thilakan as the father who is both corrupt and powerful has a well written character too.

The film is must watch for people who indulge in wrongdoing. They should understand that life comes full circle. The immediate family, especially impressionable minds are watching and absorbing. Integrity is first learnt in the family; it starts with example. That's the key message the film drives home via it's tragic ending.

Irakal (Victims) is a brilliant tour de force of a film, taking us without ado into the mind and actions of a youth born with a silver spoon and grown up in reckless familial ecosystem where human vices are celebrated. It is a fascinating film, with the right amount of drama and thrills, which are only accentuated by the clever use of stunning music and effortless rustic cast performances. A must-watch.

Irakal (The Victims) is a 1985(IMDB misrepresents it as 1986) film directed by K G George and has been produced by veteran actor Sukumaran.

George's films like Kolangal, Yavanika, Mela, Adaminte Variyellu, Panchavadippaalam and Ulkkadal are considered some of the best Malayalam films ever. Irakal too is equally significant. As the title suggests, the film bears an indirect reference to the turbulent political scenario following the assassination of Prime minister Indira Gandhi and the subsequent inhuman Sikh massacres. The film investigates into this victimization of violence in the society.

Ganesh Kumar plays the protagonist 'Baby', an engineering student and the son of a wealthy high-range landlord in Kottayam. After being expelled from college for cruelly ragging a junior student, Baby returns to his family home and reluctantly spends his days wandering in the estate and smoking opium. He despises and fears his patriarchal father (Thilakan)and fails to establish relations with his two brothers and highly religious mother. P.C.George and Sukumaran plays his two elder brothers Koshy and Sunny. While the first one is an unscrupulous usurper much like his father, Sukumaran longs to detach himself from his patriarchal father and start a new business in the city-much to the disapproval of his father.

Bharath Gopi, Venu Nagavalli and Nedumudi Venu appear in small but powerful roles. While Gopi plays a pious priest, Nagavalli appears as the suitor of Nirmala(Radha), a poor tenant girl on whom Baby has a possessive infatuation. Nedumudi is the husband of Annie(Sreevidya), Baby's daughter. Innocent, Chandran Nair and Shammi Thilakan too appear in the cast.

Ashokan, a talented actor introduced by P. Padmarajan in his 'Peruvazhiyambalam' plays a strong character ,Raghavan through whom baby's character gets unraveled. It is to this character that Baby tries to open his mind at times, at least partially, and gives a narrow glimpse of his dark, brooding mind to the audience.When he says to Raghavan that,"Everybody lies to everybody else" in his house or "I don't like things offered, I relish in usurping from others", we get the portrait of a restless young man who is a victim of his own life.

M.B.Sreenivasan's background music and Venu's camera are the highlights of the movie. Backed by a strong script by the director himself, Irakal continues to be one among the best work of George even three decades after its inception. Thilakan narrowly missed the National Award of the year for his performance in the film. But it won two state awards for second best film and best story.It was a financial disaster at the theaters and Sukumaran went on to produce 'Padayani' a commercially successful film to meet up the losses.

From a different perspective, the film also can be seen as a monologue on fascism and violence perpetrated by Nation-state on the individuals. The period during which the film is set and the numerous opium driven/surrealist scenes in the film hides some very explicit arguments on the after effects of Tyranny/Fascism. I think that a more Political/historical reading would provide much more insights into the movie.

A cult-Malayalam art house movie!! 8 stars