Mammootty’s latest film, ONE, has started streaming on Netflix on Tuesday. It has the political twists and turns, with goodness that is rare to find in politics.
The story revolves around Kadakkal Chandran, played by Mammootty, belonging to a low caste. After dedicating more than 37 years of his life to politics, he is still untouched by the iniquities of his profession. He is an idealistic man, who knows where he comes from and where he’s going.
He understands the dynamics of society. He, for instance, doesn’t put a student who asks him to give him a haircut in jail. The student in question meant that comment as an insult to the Chief Minister for being the son of a barber.
It is a bottom up to the top story, so many hardened politicians can’t digest the fact that a barber’s son holds the Chief Minister’s Office in Kerala. But, Chandran carries his past and his family legacy as armour, which saves him from fumbling on his own ego.
Bobby and Sanjay have dealt the story that highlights a lot of political awareness. The film acknowledges that politics is the last resort of the scoundrels but at the same time, it also refuses to be completely cynical. Going by the film, all it takes is a single self-destructive politician to ignite the fuse of progressive reform.
Mammootty’s ONE is a joy to watch
One is built around a power struggle, the main focus of the movie is the Chief Minister – his personal and professional lives. Mammootty, who appears in the signature white-and-white attire, is impeccable as Kadakkal Chandran and he plays the character with grace and ease
And Bobby and Sanjay want us to see the ironies in the state’s politics. In Kerala where communist ideology rules, people can’t stand a son of a proletarian becoming a chief minister. The filmmakers also want us to see the state’s obsession with hartal, and how disadvantages of frequent strikes outweigh the advantages.
It also emphasises on the fact that every political party has a few honest members who want to bring about a change in the country. It also highlights the need for a leader to cut the umbilical cord with his political party once he takes the oath of a public office. In other words, the separation of church and state. The picturization of director Santhosh Viswanath, however, doesn’t do justice to the keen observations of Bobby-Sanjay. Or Bobby-Sanjay deliberately sabotaged their script to accommodate hero-worshipping? It is hard to say.
For one, there are long build-ups to obvious outcomes and at times it gets preachy. Also, what’s up with Kadakkal Chandran’s head injury and his trouble with memory? Only Bobby-Sanjay and Santhosh Viswanath could tell us why they did not follow through with that sub-plot.
Despite its several follies, One is a enjoyable movie to watch. It feels good for a change when a powerful person uses his power to help the weak and fix problems of the poor with a single swing of his pen.
ONE is streaming on Netflix Now.
The film revolves around a crisis tackled by Kerala’a Chief Minister, who is a man of ideals.
വെറും ഭരണത്തിലല്ല ഭരിക്കുന്നുവെന്ന് ജനങ്ങൾക്ക് ബോധ്യപ്പെടുമ്പോഴാണ് ഏതൊരുഗവണ്മന്റെും അർത്ഥവത്താവുന്നത്.” C.m Kadaikkal Chandran`
Murali Gopi, as the opposition leader Jayanandhan, also presents a good opponent. He delivers a decent and memorable performance within his limited screen time and is especially impressive towards the climax.
Thanneer Mathan Dinanangal-fame Mathew Thomas and debutante Ishaani Krishna also have a fair share of the screen time in the movie. An array of actors including Alencier, Siddique, Krishnakumar, Salim Kumar, Joju George, Gayathri Arun and Binu Pappu support the entire journey.