Nobody asked for my review- Unda
I recently watched the Malayalam movie ‘Unda’ and I absolutely loved it. Read on to find out why you should watch it too!
Unda (transl. Bullet) is a 2019 Malayalam film directed
by Khalid Rahman. Rahman's second film after his debut, "Anuraga Karikkin
Vellam" (another movie I loved) is based on a real incident that
occurred during the time of the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections when a police unit
from Kerala led by Sub-inspector Manikandan C. P. (played by Mammootty), was
sent to Bastar, a Maoist-affected area of Chhattisgarh, as part of election
duty. The film stars Mammootty, Shine Tom Chacko, Dileesh Pothan, Rony David,
Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Omkar Das Manikpuri, and Arjun Ashokan among others with
cameos from Asif Ali, Vinay Forrt.
The police unit from Kerala initially appears nonchalant about the
situation. However, one night the realization of their dwindling supply of
bullets (unda) make them grasp the enormity of their task. Whether they manage
to conduct the elections peacefully, with limited bullets amid the risk of a
shootout looming large, forms the rest of the story.
This movie is based on a real incident and is portrayed with
striking realism. From the setting in a village located in the jungles of
Chhattisgarh – an area afflicted by left-wing extremism (LWE)- to shedding
light on the difficulties of running a polling station in such an area, director
Khalid Rahman and scriptwriter Harshad PK have conducted thorough research to
make the story as authentic on the big screen as it was in real life.
It’s also a movie that showcases various divides. The north-south
divide is evident between the resource-rich policemen from Kerala and the
tribals, who live in scarcity where even water is a luxury. It highlights the
tension between tribal rights to their land and the government’s plans for
development. Additionally, it portrays the disconnect between the police force
and their higher command, particularly through the inadequate training and
insufficient ammunition provided to the officers.
Unda is different.
Unlike the smart, macho, no-nonsense policeman that Mammootty
often portrays in his earlier films, his character in Unda is the
complete opposite. His introduction is through a subtle scene where he stops a
pickpocket with nothing more than a gentle gaze. As the story progresses, we
see a man with 15 years of service but no experience in shootout situations,
faltering during one of the movie's most pivotal moments.
Director Khalid Rahman brilliantly captures the fears and
realities faced by these policemen. The film portrays nine officers—none with
shootout experience, armed with limited ammunition, grappling with language
barriers, and lacking high-level training—navigating a volatile region to
uphold the democratic process during elections.
If you're looking for a compelling and thought-provoking movie, I’d highly suggest you watch Unda. It’s streaming on Amazon Prime. Don’t miss it! 😊
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