When a serious film is mixed with essence of mockery and surrealism, we get a film like Apothecary.
The film, which talks boldly about unauthorized medical tests on humans, is a slit in the throats of the inhumane men who actually conduct such tests in real world. It can also be said as a reality check for the ordinary people. Now it is the film's main flaw that it confuses between these two factions of people: to whom should they really point the film at? the ordinary people? Or the cruel, greedy scientists? The answer is pretty garbled.
Because it points at both of them.
Vijay (Gopi) is a reputed neurosurgeon who turns paranoid when the cunning management of the hospital he works in plead him to comply with the unlicensed lab tests on humans. He initially refuses to consent, but is cajoled by the ministers, top management, administrators, all greedy, ruthless men. His paranoia leads him to an accident which makes him brain dead. The management decide to test their unpatented medicines on him, as Vijay, in his surreal dreams, visualizes the fury of the patients who fell prey to the tests administered by him.
Half of the film happens in this sub-conscious state, with brilliant performances by Asif Ali and Jayasurya. Suresh Gopi acts strange; maybe it was his character but I thought he couldn't put his act together. The supporting cast is very good and after a very long time, I actually adored Indrans. Abhirami in her comeback role is fine. While the film started and flowed in the first half with good potential, it dwindled considerably in the second half. The wrongness strikes Vijay and he blurts out his angst at the management. The whole ten-minute drama at the end puts the climax in dirty waters and it becomes hard to derive a conclusion out of it.
Yes, it handles a very grave subject. But does it handle it with finesse? No, not at all. Instead, it only delves on the prime of the makers who seemed to be smitten with the art of doctoring.
BOTTOM LINE: A documentary about unethical lab tests, under the disguise of a film. Armchair activists may laud it for the bold flashes, but I for one wasn't much impressed by any of the factors. A one time watch that will dictate time (150 minutes), boredom and serious food for thought.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
