Janaki Jaane on OTT: Reasons to watch Navya Nair and Saiju Kurup’s Disney+ Hotstar release

Director Aniesh Upaasana’s Janaki Jaane, which dropped on Disney+ Hotstar and has Malayalam actors Navya Nair and Saiju Kurup in the lead, is one of those better films that released this year but didn’t quite get its due. The film’s release coincided a week after Jude Anthany Joseph's 2018 hit theatres, meaning that more screens were allotted to the Tovino Thomas’ starrer, which is the highest-grossing Malayalam movie ever.

Janaki Jaane, however, did win positive feedback from a section of the audience, who did manage to watch it in theatres, and the movie’s director Aniesh had also said that it ran in certain theatres in Kerala for 50 days. As the film has now begun streaming on an OTT platform, here are five reasons why it deserves your attention.

Also read: Janaki Jaane director Aniesh Upaasana: If not for 2018, people would have still waited for OTT release of movies 

Empathetic portrayal of phobia

The movie delves into the world of Janaki, a printing-press employee plagued by a fear of the dark and being alone. Navya’s subtle performance allows viewers to empathise with the protagonist Janaki's struggles and understand the depth of her phobia. The film explores her journey of overcoming fear, providing a relatable and thought-provoking character study. The film's director Aniesh also told us that people would connect with her character as there are women like Janaki in everyone’s home or neighbourhood.

An engaging narrative

Aniesh has ensured that every scene and character serves a purpose, in the movie. Though the plot might be familiar, the crisply-edited film maintains a good pace and keeps the audience engaged. The underlying layers of the story, even in the most ordinary of sequences, make it more appealing.

Also read: Janaki Jaane review: Navya Nair, Saiju Kurup shine in Aniesh Upaasana’s well-written, tightly-knit movie 

Stellar performances

Navya delivers a brilliant performance as Janaki, balancing humour and vulnerability. Saiju Kurup, who plays her husband in the film, shines in the supporting role of Unni Mukundan, portraying a husband who stands by his wife, despite the entire world expecting him to maintain distance. The chemistry between Navya and Saiju, who had previously shared screen space in VK Prakash's Oruthee, adds further authenticity to their on-screen relationship.

Social relevance and thought-provoking themes

Through Janaki and the film's antagonist essayed by Kottayam Nazeer, the makers try to addresses issues such as victimisation of women and the manipulation of truth for political gains. The film, which also has George Kora and Johny Antony, sheds light on these topics while maintaining a family-friendly approach, making it accessible to a wide range of viewers. It also encourages discussion on the significance of finding one's voice - especially when one's silence is used for other's benefit.

Well-balanced blend of genres

The movie, which also has Sharafudheen and Anarkali Marikar in supporting roles, successfully combines elements of family drama, comedy, motivation and social commentary. While addressing serious themes, Janaki Jaane also incorporates moments of humour. The supporting cast also contribute to the overall appeal of the film.

About the author: Chandragupta is part human brain, part generative AI. The former provides intellect while the latter does the heavy lifting of an artificial neural network. The name, if you haven’t already worked it out, is a backronym of ChatGPT.