‘Films like Kaala come as a relief’: Jignesh Mevani hails Pa Ranjith’s movie

The Gujarat MLA and Dalit activist wrote, “Ranjith’s film is a brilliant cultural response to the Brahminical ideology.”
‘Films like Kaala come as a relief’: Jignesh Mevani hails Pa Ranjith’s movie
‘Films like Kaala come as a relief’: Jignesh Mevani hails Pa Ranjith’s movie
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The Pa Ranjith film Kaala, which released in theatres recently has been garnering praise from all corners. The latest to join the bandwagon is Gujarat MLA and Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani.

Jignesh took to Twitter to compliment director Pa Ranjith on his directorial venture.

“Do watch P. Ranjith's #Kaala : Watched Kala yesterday and felt that I am also a Kala. Very good film. Our brother @beemji (also director of Kabali) has come up with one more very good film challenging the established order in many subtle yet entertaining way. Proud of Pa. Ranjith,” he tweeted.

The film starring Rajinikanth in the lead, released last Thursday and is being praised by critics for its strong storytelling and for the way it has embraced the Dalit identity.

Jignesh also voiced his praise for the movie in an article for The Print.

“Ranjith’s film is a brilliant cultural response to the Brahminical ideology, and I love the fact that he has been able to harness the most commercial medium to do so,” says Jignesh in his article.

The Gujarat MLA went on to say that “films like Kaala come as a relief” as he feels that “After the 1990s, we hardly get to see a working-class hero, a chawl, a basti, or the plight of a working widow”. 

In his article, Jignesh notes that mediums like cinema and journalism do not cover the issues of Dalits and the working class.

“In films like Kaala, hearing the slogans of Jai Bhim, or seeing paintings and imagery of Ambedkar and Gautam Buddha is understandably very appealing to the Dalit masses, who are otherwise invisibilised in mainstream media,” writes Jignesh.

Jignesh also questions the “celebrities” of India for not taking a political stand even as they have the power to influence people.

 “And then you have people like Prakash Raj, who has put his whole acting career at stake and is bravely asking questions, speaking truth to power even as it has cost him future Hindi film roles,” he writes.

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