Joji : Macbeth in the time of Covid

The fact that even after centuries, Macbeth continues to be the inspiration for great movies is a testament to the genius of Shakespeare. The latest in this line of inspired movies is Joji. And it does a great job of living up to the expectations.

The basic premise remains one of how the quest for power and money can make people do things nobody ever thought them capable of. Though Joji is the main character, every character has his/her own story which is brought out very well by the actors and stays with you long after the credits have rolled. Look at the movie's poster after watching the movie, and each character on the poster seems to be shouting out his/her own story.

Set in the present days of Covid chaos, as the titular character, we see a frail Fahadh Faasil (and he has lost serious weight to look the part) living a life even he isn't very proud of. He is the youngest of 3 sons of an old, rich and surprisingly strong plantation owner but is the least favoured by his dad. Joji lives a laid back life spending most of his time under the blanket, but thinks that if his dad pays for his studies abroad he might still make something of his life. But the father does not think Joji to be worth his time or money and thus hates his guts. Thanks to his online IELTS classes, we see Joji spouting English from time to time. But daddy dearest is not easily impressed and does not think twice before taking it out on Joji, sometime pretty physically as well. 

And it is not just Joji who isn't very happy with his dad. The second son Jaison (played by an actor named Joji How cool is that? Turns out there are a total of 3 Jojis in the credits) thinks he could live a better life with his wife Bincy if only dad would part with some of his wealth. However Jaison plays the timid, obeying son who really can't think of getting on the wrong side of dad. 

His wife Bincy plays the role of the typical Indian housewife (a la The Great Indian Kitchen) who spends her days feeding the men of the house and praying for their well-being. But it isn't love that keeps her running but the fear of the patriarch. The character does not have too many dialogues but Unnimaya Prasad manages to bring out the insecurities of the character brilliantly. 

Fun fact, she is an architect in real life and has worked as an Assistant Director for a number of critically acclaimed movies like Maheshinte Pratikaram, Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum and Kumbalangi Nights alongwith small parts in these movies among several others. One of the best things about Joji is how it puts the spotlight on these lesser known actors and makes them shine, even though it also has a star like Fahadh on its rolls.

Bincy stumbles upon Joji's nefarious plans but does not try dissuading Joji from going ahead with them. In that sense, she plays a non-participatory Lady Macbeth. It seems that for Bincy, unlike Lady Macbeth, the greed wasn't for money or power, but for freedom from her prison of dutiful submission to household chores. And the movie shows how Bincy starts spending more time on herself (painting her nails, getting a household help to do the washing) once the patriarch meets his untimely death. 

The eldest son Jomon is a divorced alcholic who stays in the house with his son. He is probably the only one who actually loves his dad but that could be also because over the years he has become like his dad - phyically strong, hot-headed and irreverent to people he shares the house and society with. And given that he is heir apparent, he does not think he needs to play the game of thrones and runs roughshod over both his younger brothers. At one moment he decides everyone should be at home by 8PM for the evening prayer and at another he is happily insulting the parish priest in his house.

His son Popy is another trapped soul with no one to share his world with. He looks for release through the online world (like most of the world in the time of Covid) and is forever hiding things from his family members - be it the air gun he ordered online or his OTP stealing to fund his online purchases.

 Coming back to Joji, he has the smallest room in the sprawling house (which he grandly names Joji's Palace) and finds himself on the lowest rung of the masculine heriarchy and tries to boss over the only people he can - Popy and Bincy.

Fahad does a great job of potraying a guy who does not have a very high opinion of himself but knows that he is heir to a fortune and therefore doesn't mind giving outrageous tips to build his image of a rich guy even if it only in his own mind. He is constantly insulted by his father, discounted by his brothers and sometimes the house help too. All this makes Joji angry but he cannot express it and it silently keeps building inside and is taken out by Joji once he is behind closed doors. His final descent into madness when he decides to kill his father, after another choking at his hands, is beautifully portrayed by his climbing down into the house pond.

 And after the father's death, Joji does not look back and when his father finally dies, he runs free. Again beautifully potrayed. 

Post that it is a slippery slope and he gets braver and more dangeorus with each passing day and finally this madness consumes him. If you know your Shakespeare that is what you would have been expecting but this movie still makes you wait with bated breath for the next turn of events. The haunting background music is brilliant and sets the perfect atmosphere to this tragedy.

The God is in the Details

Joji has some really clever details all through.

You can notice in a scene when Popy is seen watching Sherlock when Joji is plotting the murder of his father. Later, Popy ends up exposing Joji with some clever deductions of his own.

 

Another was when Bincy is praying in the morning and Joji says he saw a dream about his dead father. Bincy goes on to say that "The dead will never return. But beware of those who are alive." Joji ponders over it and then looks up at the cross Bincy is praying to. Happy Easter, anybody? :D

The Covid masks has been subtly woven into the narrative to show how everyone always has a mask on - be it Popy who is constantly hiding something or the brothers who are waiting for their father to die but don't say it out openly or Joji who does not want to come down to his father's funeral but finally comes down with a mask on, as per Bincy's suggestion.

And lastly, in the play, Macbeth is warned by the witches that he will not be conquered until the trees from Birnam Wood approach his castle. And later in the story, soldiers disguised with branches of trees attack the castle and eventually leads to his death. 

In Joji, just after the father's death, someone sees Joji walking lesiurely in the woods and thus suspects Joji's hand in the father's death. So in a twisted way, the woods were responsible for Joji getting caught. Maybe I am reading too much into it, maybe that is what the makers wanted to portray.  :)

 Overall, Joji is another of those new-age Malayalam movies which has changed my mind about Malayalam movies. It may change yours too.

PS: 

The movie has a Jeep Compass with an actual compass on the entertainment system. :D

In the final scene, Joji sends out an SMS to all the family members. TrueCaller says that the number belongs to a Renjith Rajan. It also turns out that a Renjith Rajan played the role of Gireesh, one of the house helps.