Joji movie review: Fahadh shines in this exceptional retelling of MacBeth

4/5

Almost 40 minutes into director Dileesh Pothan’s Joji, two of its pivotal characters – Joji (Fahadh Faasil) and Bincy (Unnimaya Prasad) – share a scene that goes a long way into establishing their place in the family, their materialistic ambitions, intentions and how it all hangs in the balance as the patriarch Kuttapan PK Panachel battles for his life. The scene has Bincy, whose plans were shattered just moments ago, storming into the kitchen to see the indolent Joji having food and asking her to hand him cold water from the refrigerator that’s just an arm’s length away. She berates him, prompting him to pacify her. Here the viewer senses that her scolding earlier didn’t have any effect on Joji and so she drives the nail deeper by telling him that his fate is to always eat from a slab in the kitchen. Joji laughs at her and turns away, before returning to the slab and contemplating in distress, his place in the family.   

The film Joji, which is scripted by Syam Pushkaran of Kumbalangi Nights fame, is packed with scenes like these; the more you linger on them, the more layers you see. The movie is inspired by William Shakespeare’s MacBeth but is a completely different retelling of the ‘cursed play’ that aims to give the audience the experience MacBeth provides, rather than the narrative. 

Here the story revolves around the wealthy Panachel family ruled by its patriarch Kuttapan (brilliantly played by PN Sunny) with an iron fist. His sons Jomon (Baburaj), Jaison (Joji Mundakayam) and Joji quiver in front of him and don't find the strength to speak up till Kuttapan is near death. The newfound courage soon also stokes the greed in them, especially Joji. The dark path Joji takes to accomplish his desires is what the movie is about. 

By now, it’s a given that a Pothan-Pushkaran-Faasil combo guarantees strong scripts and performances; they did it with Maheshinte Prathikaaram and Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, and now score a hat-trick with Joji. Pushkaran weaves multiple threads within the layers and probably none more effective than how the gun that the family’s youngest member Popy purchases without his grandfather’s knowledge in the start of the film, would alter so many lives including his own. 

The film also makes use of its setting in the Covid-19 era to much effect – be it how the family and what’s happening between them are ‘distanced’ from the rest of the society or how the face mask is used to hide something sinister. While you know MacBeth is the movie’s inspiration and you try and draw parallels between the two, Pushkaran has also convincingly made it a stand-alone tale with just minor nods to the Shakespearean play. In fact, many would find Joji closer to KG George’s masterpiece Irakal, which also revolved around a ruthless patriarch’s family. Despite so much going for the movie, its denouement however seems rather abrupt and leaves the audience with an incomplete feeling. 

As Joji, Fahadh is flawless. The actor, who shed a few kilos for the role, convincingly portrays the conflicted and avarice-driven youth, who can be passed off without a second glance as “second-rate loser” by the society, but has the acumen to manipulate every single emotion. Bincy is the closest character to Lady MacBeth in the movie and Unnimaya stands out with her performance, aiding and abetting Joji’s crimes with gestures and later questioning him with her eyes. Baburaj as Jomon, who is judged by the society for his alcoholism and rebelliousness against the church but ultimately is the only son who truly cares for his father, showcases his career-best performance. In fact, the casting of the movie is so perfect that there is hardly any actor who underperforms. Shammi Thilakan, Joji Mundakayam and Basil Joseph shine in their roles.  

The movie’s background music by Justin Varghese is another element that accentuates the whole viewing experience. The Western influence reminds you of the inspiration behind the film but also melds beautifully into the story set in the plantations of Kerala. 

Verdict: Joji is a haunting tale packed with brilliant performances, soulful music and masterful storytelling. It’s another great addition to the gems that Malayalam cinema has been turning out in the past decade.