19 1 a

I watched on Hotstar the Malayalam film (w/Eng. Subs) : 19(1)(a)

For quick reference: Art 19 The Constitution Of India 1949 19. Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech etc (1) All citizens shall have the right (a) to freedom of speech and expression; ....

However other than brief sundry mentions of "communal forces" trying to curb the "freedom of expression" of Indian citizens, the film does not convincingly convey any great message in this regard.

The film meanders too much into art frames and great cinematography coupled with two beautiful songs but the narration does not do very much else vis a vis the above cited Art.19(1)(a).

In brief, an ordinary young lady (Nithya Menen) whose father has lost interest in everything, takes over the running of his photocopy shop. An unknown customer (Vijay Setupathy) turns up one evening leaving a sheaf of handwritten notes to be copied. He says he will definitely pick them up later. She asks if she should bind them and he tells her to do whatever she feels is necessary. The customer fails to turn up late into the night and Nithya goes home. Breaking news reports a killing in Nithya's locality of a Tamilian author Gowrishankar who has been targetted previously by communal forces. Nithya recognises the man as her customer. Now come endless frames of Nithya in a trancelike state, almost meditating on the series of events. She starts getting dreams about Gowri getting shot. She looks for his published books and tries to meet his publisher (Indrajith) which she manages to eventually. A side plot narrates how Nithya's best friend Fathima (Athulya) who works in the next door shop, reluctantly agrees to get married as per her parents choice. Nithya attends Fathi's mehndi and bethrothal ceremonies (the two beautiful songs are in these segments). Nithya becomes obsessed with getting Gowri's last work - the handwritten sheaf of papers - to his publisher. She befriends a TV reporter Jenny (Arya Salim) who takes her along to meet Gowri's sister Saroja (Sreelakshmi). Several meaningless stretched "arty" frames later, Nithya hands over the last work of author Gowri to Indrajith.

Watch if this holds your interest to find out how the narration goes on and on and on to convey nothing very much other than beautiful cinematography. Not even any particularly defining message is conveyed about the serious attacks on Freedom of Speech & Expression that one sees in India these days.

Not to deprecate the actors, all of them who essay their respective characters convincingly. But what can you do when the plot stretches endlessly to convey nothing very much that could not have been achieved in half the time.

This movie is such a drag... Don't waste your time watching this , it has nothing that will hold your attention. I had to watch this at 2x speed,it was that slow.

Big fan of Vijay sethupathi movies in this movie the director didn't give him importance this movie had that potential only Nithya menen dominated but her dominance couldn't up to the mark.

Star cast wasted on a wannabe movie which goes nowhere and lacks substance. Mood, music and ambience works along with content and not independently. Govind's music deserves special mention as he tries to lift lackluster scenes.

The movie has a very relevant socio-political references , though it fails to develop from anything more than a mere reference. VJS and Nithya Menen have done their best , but the roles are nothing challenging for them. Nithya dubbing sounds terrible.

The political reference had so much opportunities to create an impact . How ever the story is stuck around nithyas uneventful life getting tangled with something very important. It's not just her life, the whole movie is quite uneventful thru out.

When the police team ,especially when Indrans , stepped in I had high hopes that the movie would now lead to something more. But it then goes back to same path. Why did they even have Indrans name in poster and his role ?

Super slow movie, only 1.45hrs but it felt like taking ages to finish. I wouldn't recommend watching even for the good cast.