Birbal: Kannada movie review
Birbal, case No.1 ( written and directed by M G Srinivas) : Finding Vajramuni is a legal thriller and the first part of the Birbal Trilogy. The second and third installments are yet to be released. I watched this movie as it was heavily recommended by wifey so naturally it became top priority in a very short time :P. We follow the investigation of an 8 - year old case which has been re-opened for some reason. The suspect has already spent 8 years in prison and is now out on parole. There is a lawyer and his 2 associates who begin to unravel the layers of this case. At each step they go down the rabbit hole and uncover bits of evidence and put together the pieces of the puzzle. Characters involved in the case are revealed, each bringing a new dimension, their motivations and sub plots.
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| image courtesy IMDB |
The topic here is framing of an innocent person which I think happens fairly often. There is a superb sequence in the movie when the suspect gets a call from an unknown person. One of the dialogues here is:
ಎರಡು ಶ್ರೀಮಂತ ಕುಟುಂಬಗಳು ಯುದ್ಧ ಮಾಡುವಾಗ, ಸಾಯುವುದು ಬಡ ಸೈನಿಕರು ಮಾತ್ರ .
(When two royal families wage war, only the poor soldiers die).
I think this sums up the central theme of the movie. Throughout the world, this is at play. In a clash between nations, the soldiers on the ground die. In a clash between ideologies, the common man just trying to live life peacefully suffers the most. The poor, the marginalized and the minorities become collateral damage, caught in the crossfire of dirty politics, power,megalomania and mob frenzy.
Some of the positive messages I liked in the movie are:
- Justice will ultimately served. Never lose hope. Keep trying.
- The protagonist doesn't bow for money. Even though he is made an offer, he refuses because he wants to fight till the end.
- Because of complications, and money, people fear courts and anything to do with them. But free service can help a lot of people. Justice shouldn't become a business. It should be fair.
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| image courtesy IMDB |
The narration style is excellent. There are multiple dimensions shown for same story - with different POVs. The suspense is preserved till the very end. The BGM accentuates the situations to a great level. The editing department has done a tremendous job . There are so many innovative cuts used, and along with the brilliant cinematography and graphics, the effect is captivating.
The casting is perfect. From the lawyers to the policemen and the suspect, everyone has played their part to the T. From the beginning, you will be wondering who is Birbal and what is the connection to this movie. The climax of the movie deserves special mention. This slick sequence, shot in Majestic is filmed in an arresting way, and had me completely hooked. I could watch this sequence multiple times and not get bored. At 2 3⁄4 hours, the movie might be too long for some people. I felt that some song and fight sequences didn't belong here completely. I suspect they've been added from commercial pressures, perhaps?
All in all, this is a very innovatively - made movie with superb, all round performances. It would have been much better with some sequences removed. We're awaiting the next installment eagerly.
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