JAGAT (2015)

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 1:30
Cast: Harvind Raj, Jibrail Rajhula, Tinesh Sathi Krishnan, Kuben Mahadevan

Director: Shanjhey Kumar Perumal

Screenplay: Shanjhey Kumar Perumal

JAGAT (Tamil slang for Malay word ‘Jahat’ which loosely translated as ‘Bad’) is a very commendable Malaysian made Tamil movie. The debut film of Shanjhey Kumar Perumal tells the tale of a 12-year old boy Appoi (Harvind Raj) growing up in a marginalized community shaped by the cycle of poverty. It is set against a small Malaysian town in the early 1990s. 

There are two main characters in this movie; Appoi and his uncle, Mexico (Jibrail Rajula). Appoi is a smart and talented kid who's definitely ahead of his time, while his uncle is jobless and living a meaningless life. Both are finding redemption in their very own ways; Appoi is constantly trying to figure out this vicious cycle in order to break out of it while Mexico gives into it by joining the local gang. 

Jagat is a serious drama (no song and dance) which demonstrates how the rigid education system, the impoverished family unit and kids exposed to crime at an early age keeps the wheel of poverty turning. This film is almost a pseudo-documentary about life in a ghetto fused with a narrative about these few individuals. 

As newcomers, both Raj and Rajhula's raw performance are outstanding. The casting is good - right people for the right role. Some scenes are beautifully shot for eg. the landscape shots of the small town surrounded by mountains, the fishing village scenes and the little charms found only in small Malaysian "ghost" towns (suddenly there is an urge to do a road trip #cuticutimalaysia). Although there are some technical flaws (most likely due to the small production budget), the audience would be able to feel that every scene was meticulously planned and shot with love. 

From a narrative standpoint, it would definitely have benefited from a tighter script but I can't help but to feel proud of Shanjhey. This movie is definitely a big step forward to bridge the racial divide in our country. Through the power of storytelling, I now understand the Indian community much better. And I found out that despite our different skin colour, all of us share the same obstacles and aspirations in life. We are in fact unified in our diversity. 

Rating: 8/10