Salini Sentyl
The lack of exorbitant pre-release publicity seems to be an indicator of a low-budget, quietly well-made independent film in this day and age.after silence 2018 Waved quietly throughout the theater in my heartfelt gratitude (I was never a fan of winning) Story of Kerala Saw it on BO), this week it was DDM. There are clear signs that it’s a small movie with big ambitions, full of newcomers, Daredevil Mustafa It is made to clarify what you want to say.
The writers and creators have chosen the lighthearted fun and hilarity genre. DDM We do not hesitate to introduce social commentary on the communal issues and problems there that plague our land. Set in a small village in the heart of Karnataka, it offers an up-close look at how seemingly simple acts can disrupt the harmony of the land. The decision to introduce the story in depth with plenty of screen time for six characters, intimate close-ups, and a brilliant script creates magic in simple moments and builds an intimate connection with the story for the viewer.
Based on a short story by writer and poet KP Poornachandra Tejaswi, a new state village in Karnataka is shown thriving on the apparent Hindu-Muslim divide. The act of interfaith elopement heightens tensions. But instead of taking the lofty theatrical path, we enter the cracked classroom of a freshman (currently eleventh grader?). Get to know Iyangari, Shankar, Kumara, Seenu, Rama Mani and others in a fully Hindu classroom, featuring unabashed caste names and markers, anonymity and anonymity carefully employed in Tamil cinema. It’s a gentle shock to those accustomed to subtleties.
New students, especially Muslim admissions (starring Jamal Adbullah Mustafa Hussein played by the stunningly handsome Shishira Baikadi), are received as expected. Like a UFO landing and an eight-limbed alien walking straight to the last bench. Thus begins a comedy-drama that conveys what each one wants, with precisely written and cut scenes.
And when we sit down expecting a message film that celebrates how Hindus and Muslims can live and coexist in peace, we are disappointed. While unity of diversity is a major theme of this effort, we also get a nuanced glimpse of petty corruption, a female-only love story, an unexpected cricket showdown, and a critique of male chauvinism.
The story progresses at a steady pace of drama and comedy. You get a nice scene that gives you insight into the six teenagers that breathe and move the story forward. We see them in the classroom, but we never study them. The film brilliantly highlights the traits of young people who imitate and thoughtlessly regurgitate what they have been taught or said. Young and inexperienced in the world, they daydream of fear. They act foolishly, blindly, and thoughtlessly. When faced with the consequences of their actions, they simply flee into the jungle and even, absurdly, consider suicide.
A worldly army man appears to unravel the insignificance of our infighting. He is blind and unaffected by the religious tone around him (and has probably seen greater suffering). Because he is also immune to the outcome of ‘important’ cricket matches (which is slightly overdrawn later in the film). For him, it doesn’t matter if the team loses. All I can see is that the village is united, watching over and supporting each other. That’s reason enough to celebrate, right? The film will not hit your nose. I will leave it on the spot while giving a mischievous wink.
The film culminates during the celebration of the annual day. The theatrical dramatization of the bravery of the brave Mysore king was brilliantly arranged with wonderful music, and the halls roared with joy. Immediately, tension was brought to the screen with an egg in the Brahmin’s pocket, making him wide-eyed and gasping. The creators make great use of small scenes to express high emotions, but this is no small feat. The film also depicts the tender and sweet moment of a girl-to-boy proposal when a boy who was dragged down by his classmates challenges him to a bicycle race to lift his spirits. I will spoil you. She wins him the race while also uplifting him with her great camaraderie and giving him a hesitant but tender hug. In a world where teenagers choose to flaunt their desires, the space given to the tenderness of love to breathe is heartwarming.
Mustafa is not in a position to represent the “only Muslim with a good character” trope. He is rather a quiet boy, with a kind and gentle personality at heart. That is the personality that shines in every scene. And it grabs an inch here, an inch there, and sometimes at the same time. There are some things in his life that he can’t be friends with or can’t get over. He’s one of those people who gives you a date when you’re hungry.
Pushed to the brink of losing his self-esteem, Mustafa commits his first and only act of “violence” in self-defense. This scene is a stark reminder to the viewer that we often blame victims/survivors/minorities for their overreactions and actions, but taken out of context it’s ridiculous. This is a multi-layered film with lots of tropes and food for thought and discussion. However, movies released on OTT are also movies that can be enjoyed casually after a busy day at work. Therein lies the great success of his DDM, crafted from the heart of choosing the most important subject, treating it with utmost delicacy, and packaging it to deliver great entertainment.
