Jallikattu (2019)

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When we talk about the South Indian film industry, movies like Bahubali, RRR, and Pushpa are the ones that come into our minds. These types of films are super hits in North India owing to their over-the-top action sequences, the clichéd hero saving his love, and item sequences that are tempting to the eyes of the viewers. But today, I'd like to talk about an underrated gem from the South Indian film industry that absolutely shook me to the core. This masterpiece was India’s official entry into the Oscars in 2021. Yes, even though it was nominated for the Academy Awards, I still believe this movie is not talked about enough. The movie’s name is Jallikattu (2019).

Jallikattu follows the account of a rural, remote village in Kerala. Selling beef is one of the most profitable businesses in the village. So every morning, a butcher, Kalan Varkey, and his assistant Antony meet and they slaughter a bull and prepare its meat for sale in the market. One fateful day, a bull escapes into the forest and wreaks havoc all over the town. The story may seem simple and straightforward, but what follows is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece. 

One element that stands out in the movie is its cinematography. The director, Lijo Jose Pellisery, and the cinematographer Girish Ganagadharan, regularly use One take shots. A one-take shot refers to a shot where the camera just follows the characters in a scene without any sudden cuts in between. It gives an extremely realistic touch to the movie and makes the audience think that they themselves are present in the scene. This can be seen in shows like ‘Mirzapur’ and ‘The Family Man '. The Argentine independent filmmaker, Gaspar Noé (Irréversible) is also a big fan of this cinematic ingredient. Lijo Jose Pellissery used the one-take shots to show basic human emotions and habits. A person going through the village, greeting everyone or a family waking up in the morning and having an early start to the day. This adds a beautiful touch to the customs that have been followed for generations.

There are many symbolic elements and metaphorical references in the movie. Even after millions of years of evolution, is there any factor that can differentiate a human from a wild beast? The human hierarchy represents a primal urge in man to prove dominance and establish his authority. The wild bull has been used as a comparing tool with a man just to show that even a beast isn’t as brutal and vicious as what man can be at his worst. A race to the top with complete disregard for the rest of the people. These selfish urges overpower the man and the original motive is forgotten. 

The movie follows the stories of various people living in the village. A father deciding the menu for his daughter’s wedding, a local farmer pleading for compensation after the bull destroys his crops, a castaway returning back to the village to capture the mighty beast. This does not allow the audience even a moment of relief and keeps them at the edge of their seats and constantly engaged. But despite all the subplots, the movie does not shift the attention from the prime issue at hand. 

Jallikattu has a vernacular touch in many scenes as well. The villagers sing local folk songs while preparing their meals, they chant while catching the bull. The elders in the movie also give an earful to the youngsters about how they are treading away from their ancient roots by wearing modern clothes and trying to leave the village by any means possible. This gives the audience an understanding of their cultural differences and beliefs and makes the movie even more appealing. 

The final moments of the film offer bone-chilling visuals coupled with the haunting score by Prashant Pillai which will shake the audience to its core and be in awe of what they are witnessing. Bollywood can never match these independent movies from the South in terms of quality. Even though the boycott culture is sometimes misdirected, it does not mean that the movies being released by Bollywood are substandard and in poor taste. Many Bollywood hits like Drishyam are remakes of South Indian movies. The fact that Jallikattu was India’s official entry in the Oscars proves that the Indian audience in general is leaning more towards quality instead of the usual action movies that Bollywood shoves down our throats. This film has changed the movie landscape in the country owing to its brilliant direction and I believe it will gain a massive following in the years to come.