Source: IMDb
Joji deftly adapts Shakespeare's Macbeth to show the complex dynamics of power within an ordinary Indian family headed by a patriarch. The film brilliantly uses space and set design to underscore those dynamics. Part of the film’s appeal is also the performance by the lead actor– Fahadh Faasil who hits the right spot as an ambitious, young Joji. All of this including a tragic and melancholic background score makes for an appealing film.
Introduction
Movie Name: Joji
Director’s Name: Dileesh Pothan
Genre: Crime Drama
Language: Malayalam
Adapted from: Macbeth
Synopsis– Spoiler alert
Joji lives with his two elder brothers, a sister-in-law, a nephew, and his father in a sprawling, spacious house surrounded by plantations owned by the family.
At the very start of the film, Joji’s father gets a stroke while pulling out a valve from a pond. He is immediately rushed to the hospital where his family learns that his chances of survival are very slim. Somehow, after a few days, the father (the patriarch), now completely paralyzed, returns to the house. The sons already make preparations for their father’s death and due to their greed care about nothing more than his finances and property.
However, to the disappointment of his sons, after surgery, the father is able to gain control of his upper body and his health improves significantly. Joji, particularly disheartened creates a plan to murder him. He keeps replacing his medicines with deadlier ones. Soon, the father dies. After conducting the burial and funeral service, Joji starts getting uneasy. He is haunted by guilt and is gets paranoid about getting caught.
His fears turn to reality when his eldest brother starts suspecting his whereabouts at the time of their father’s death. A rumour leads him to believe that he was at a pond nearby and relaxingly walked towards the house upon hearing of the death. Joji enters into a dilemma. To protect himself, he impulsively kills his brother.
Soon though, his family catches on and figures out he is the culprit behind both the death. Left without many options, Joji shoots himself in the head with an airgun.
The coda of the film shows him alive in a hospital. In the end, he is questioned by the police and remains unable to escape the consequences of his actions.
About the Director
Source: IMDb
Dileesh Pothan is an Indian film director, actor, and producer, who works in Malayalam cinema. He made his directorial debut with the 2016 comedy-drama film Maheshinte Prathikaaram. The film received the Best Feature Film in Malayalam Award at the 64th National Film Awards. Pothan also won the Best Director Award at the 64th Filmfare Awards South.
Pothan began his career as an associate director to the 2010 film 9 KK Road. He served as an assistant director under Aashiq Abu, assisting in five of Aashiq's films. He made his acting debut as a film director in one scene in Aashiq Abu's 2011 film Salt N' Pepper.
His second directional was Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017), which was also a critical and commercial hit. Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum won the Best Feature Film in Malayalam Award as well at the 65th National Film Awards. His third and latest film Joji, starring Fahadh Faasil, was released to highly positive reviews on the OTT platform of Amazon Prime Video in April 2021. Joji won the best international film award at the Swedish International Film Festival (SIFF2021).
Self Analysis
The first few scenes masterfully establish the relationship between the patriarch and the rest of the family. Everyone has to take the permission of the father in order to do any little thing. Even in his absence, the family cannot do anything that might go against what the father wants.
The oppression of the patriarch is forever present. In one scene, when the father comes back from the hospital, Joji puts his watch (which he bought using money stolen from his father) back in his pocket. This is symbolic of the kind of restraint everyone practices around the patriarch.
This oppression is especially heavily felt by Joji who is constantly looked down upon by everyone. He is even choked by his father in one instance. This along with his unchecked ambition, highlighted in his dreams of becoming a rich NRI, and greed of getting his inheritance resulted in him murdering his father.
The character arc here is like that of in most Shakespearean tragedies. here too, the protagonist goes from being seemingly innocent and oppressed to become the oppressor and getting entangled in immoral acts.
“Who is there? One of the subjects of your kingdom’’
This dialogue clearly references Macbeth and equates the father with the king and Joji himself with the blinded ambition of Macbeth.
Another remarkable thing is that the actors cast as Joji’s father and his two elder brothers were big, buff guys while Joji (A lean Fahadh Faasil) is comparatively small and therefore insignificant. This comparison is also underlined by the fact that Joji has the smallest, least furnished room in the house. All of this tells us what his status was in the house.
There is a moment in the film after Joji murders his father, he goes for a jog signifying that he is liberated of the oppression and views his house (which was previously a prison for him) from a top angle like he has conquered it.
The only major difference I see between Macbeth and Joji is that Macbeth was simply blinded by ambition but Joji was fighting against oppression, against the feeling of nothingness. The typical patriarchal society that gives birth to such families is also responsible for what happens in the end. Indeed, this is reflected in Joji’s last message to his family before he shoots himself, “the society has ruined me.
Conclusion
The film has been meticulously created. Every element has a meaning to it. Even if you don’t notice it consciously, you’ll imbibe it subliminally. This will enhance the viewing experience.
I hope you enjoy this deeply unsettling tale of crime, guilt, and betrayal.
My rating for the film– 5 out of 5.
You can watch this on Amazon Prime Video.
Written by - Anika Sharma
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