Adrishya Jalakangal movie review - Tovino Thomas plays a man with no value

3/5

Adrishya Jalakangal story: The protagonist without an iota of power or identity learns a big secret, with the fate of his countrymen hanging in the balance based on his actions.

Adrishya Jalakangal review: The film unfolds in a setting that feels both familiar and strange. The deserted streets, dotted with closed shops, imbue the movie with a surreal visual quality. The unusual sight of people in Kerala brooding over an impending war adds an intriguing layer to the narrative.

The eerie silence envelopes the deserted streets as preparations for war escalate. Kerala police round up all the homeless people and take them to a mental institution for they are deemed a security risk. That's where we meet the nameless protagonist (played by Tovino Thomas). He's discharged from the hospital to make way for a fresh wave of homeless individuals.

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In Adrishya Jalakangal, the protagonist grapples with utter helplessness. In a different film, this would have destroyed the narrative. But, considering the nature of Adrishya Jalakangal, we need to make an effort to understand why writer-director Dr. Biju envisioned the protagonist as a passive bystander.

The protagonist has resigned to his fate, fully accepting the fact that he lacks even the slightest power to effect change or speak out—something that could make a difference for himself or those around him. All he is capable of is suffering the punishment imposed on him by those in power. Because no matter how much he insists he will not be heard. And what happens when the responsibility to prevent a huge disaster falls into his untrained and fragile hands? The question arises: who will lend an ear to him? Even if individuals in authoritative positions hear his pleas, his reality is beyond the comprehension of thickheaded officials, who limit their abilities to just follow orders without asking questions.

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How can the protagonist convince those in power that he has gained the ability to see and speak with the dead? It seems after being repeatedly subjected to electric shocks has rewired his brain allowing him to peek into a realm invisible to others.

The dead confide in him, entrusting him with their secrets, yet he remains powerless and unnoticed by the government. He might as well be one of the dead because his feelings, thoughts and emotions are inconsequential. Perhaps that's why the departed can communicate with him—he is akin to one of them. Just because he is alive, it doesn't mean he counts, no?

Adrishya Jalakangal verdict: Adrishya Jalakangal is a timely film that deals with a pressing issue facing the world - the unrelenting human desire to dominate, harass, terrorise, and harm fellow humans.