Review: Joji

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Joji may not be Dileesh Pothan's best work but it shines for some terrific casting and an amazing backdrop in which the plot plays out. There is a discussion (in film reviews etc.) on the inspiration of Macbeth to the plot but that might not seem to be the case as the events unfold. I thought before I talk of my experience with the film these two points must be kept as bylines to the discussion. 

Well, like I said before Joji's best part is the backdrop in which the plot is set. In the lush plantations of Kerala and the sprawling green the events that unfurl seems to form a perfect ploy to unravel. Fahadh Fasil shines in the title role of Joji but I thought there was a lot of moments where there were amazing things to be done. And that is where Unnimaya Prasad (as Bincy) shines. In a silent and unnerving role she comes across more colder in relationships and more casual as a witness to all the murky proceedings in front of her. One of her finest moments and that is where Bincy truly shines; her husband Jaison (Joji Mundakayam) comes out of his father's room to break the bad news to her wife, where the father has clearly said no to division of the family wealth and property. He breaks the news and retires to his room and leaves the weeping Bincy to herself. She cries yet she does not and for a few seconds we see her break into tears and then she quickly recovers to her solemn self. That moment is simply brilliant and Unnimaya Prasad shines. Later, when she is witness to her brother in law, Joji (Fahadh Fazil) and his misdemeanors and her nonchalance to all that is so amazing. Pity, at the end when it came to the moment of truth, the director did not sign off her character fluently. 

The other appreciative performance of Joji has to be Baburaj (Jomon) as the elder brother of Joji. Baburaj lends that little bit of eccentricity to the character. He day drinks and is the only one ironically the conscious keeper of the house; yet he is the one who is never to be taken seriously. Infact, as the proceedings flow more than Joji the youngest in the family it is Jomon who is side stepped for all his drinking habits and loose talks. Baburaj brings in the right variety required to the role. His bursting crackers when their father's funeral procession takes off and then later he is trying to foul mouth the priest. It is two different Jomon, but his good intentions cannot be questioned. 

Joji ended a little too soon and I thought another 15 minutes could have helped Fahadh's character flesh himself out better. As Joji, Fahadh shines, but I thought his screen time got limited. Also, in the first 20 minutes into film, we as viewers are given to understand that the three brothers want their father dead and that travesty does not come out clear in the screenplay. Later, as Joji is trying to figure out a way to cover up his crime, the predicament does not seem so pronounced through the screenplay. The repentance and the angst and the confusion and the fear and the scare all ideally should have added into the screenplay and for Joji to have displayed it a little more wholesomely. I guess, the screen time for Joji did it. 

Yet, I will still go on the table and say Joji needs to be seen for Dileesh's amazing talent to look for unusual plots and to play them out in equally unusually setting. It should be seen for Unnimaya; it should be seen for Baburaj and yes for Fahadh (he lost a lot of weight for the role); his quarter pants and t-shirts through the proceedings bring in a sense of realism to the character.

Joji is on Amazon Prime. Go watch.         

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