Oru Jaathi Jathakam review: A laughter riot that will raise eyebrows for its handling of a sensitive topic

Marriage is a popular theme in films, and Oru Jaathi Jathakam is the latest to explore it. Comedy plays a big role, as is typical in such movies.

Set in Kannur and Chennai, the film follows Jayesh (Vineeth Sreenivasan), a 38-year-old man seeking a wife. Written by Rakesh Manthodi, the script is filled with humour and addresses a sensitive topic—LGBTQ issues, as hinted in the trailer.

Synopsis

Jayesh, a 38-year-old misogynist, is desperate to find a bride. He works in Chennai but returns to his native village in Kannur on weekends to search for a wife.

The film begins with a song that introduces Jayesh’s chauvinistic nature. He’s quick to criticize women and has strict conditions for a bride, like being fair and good-looking, similar to characters from films like Manasinakkare or Kottaram Veettile Appoottan.

The comedy unfolds as Jayesh, with the help of his family and friends, searches for a bride. At one point, his family suspects he might be gay, which leads the story to explore this theme. Director M Mohanan uses this to show how people’s mindsets view being gay negatively.

There are several slapstick moments, with Vineeth Sreenivasan’s performance adding humour. While the situations are exaggerated for comedic effect, the film offers a satirical take on societal views.

Will Jayesh find a wife? Will he change his perspective? That’s the essence of the movie.

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Quirky screenplay

Rakesh Manthodi, known for Thira (2013) and Godha (2017), takes a full-fledged comedic approach in this film. He doesn’t shy away from using unfiltered dialogues, which might explain its U/A rating.

The film includes references to the LGBTQ community. Given the present times, some might feel the film overuses these references.

There are also scenes where men kiss, paired with funny dialogues. While these worked in theatres, they might face more criticism on OTT platforms. The filmmakers clearly intended these for entertainment.

However, the movie doesn’t glorify misogyny. Jayesh, played by Vineeth Sreenivasan, shows room for growth, especially with his friend Merin (Chippy) trying to change his views. Nikhila Vimal also plays an intriguing character, but revealing more would spoil the plot.

The film doesn’t preach against misogyny or body shaming. Instead, it presents a mix of modern and traditional characters. As a satire on a misogynistic society, the execution at times doesn’t meet expectations.

The movie features catchy songs by Guna Balasubramaniam, and Vishwajith Odukkathil’s cinematography is solid. It’s surprising to see M Mohanan, known for hits like Katha Parayumbol (2007) and Aravindante Athidhikal (2018), take on a bold project like this without hesitation.

Performances

Vineeth Sreenivasan delivers a strong performance as Jayesh, a male chauvinist. His mannerisms and loud dialogues, essential for slapstick comedy, work well for the film. His chemistry with Mridul Nair, who plays Jithesh, another misogynist, is effective. Together, they demonstrate the wrong way a man should treat a woman.

PP Kunhikrishnan, as Jayesh’s father, also gives an impressive performance. His interactions with his wife, other relatives, and Jayesh bring plenty of laughs.

Poorna Mohanraj plays Jayesh’s sister and has a solid role in the film. Singer Sayanora also delivers a memorable performance, with her final dialogue making a strong impact on Jayesh.

Other actors also shine in their roles, especially in the comedy scenes.

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Final take

Oru Jaathi Jathakam is a laughter riot that is a satire on misogyny. Vineeth Sreenivasan and other actors shine in this movie which may raise eyebrows for its handling of a sensitive subject.

(Views expressed here are personal.)