Mandela Review: Powerful Message on the Suffrage!

When YNOT Studios and Producer Sashikanth decided to release their star project Jagame Thanthiram on Netflix, the distributor council has issued a red card against him and stated that the distributors won’t screen any of the upcoming films belonging to the production company. This pushed the producers to release Mandela as a direct to television premiere on Star Vijay on 4th April 2021, and the film to globally stream via Netflix on 9th April 2021. The Netflix release of Mandela was preponed to 5th April 2021, as they wanted to release the movie before the State elections.

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Mandela has Yogi Babu as the main lead and Kanna Ravi, G.M.Sundaram, Sangili Murugan and Sheela Rajkumar in pivotal roles. This political satire is written and directed by Madonne Ashwin on his directorial debut. And the music is composed by Bharath Shankar of the Oorka band.

Panchayat elections are announced in a remote village, lacking basic amenities, and the people divided into two groups based on caste. A representative from the two caste groups decides to contest the election and find that they have an equal amount of vote share. And the deciding vote of who wins the election lies on the decision made by a Barber. The rest of Mandela is how both parties convince him to vote for their respective party.

There are quite a few political satire films in Tamil Cinema that genuinely qualify to be called one. Rest end as mocking the ruling government or speak WhatsApp politics. But, Mandela can be certified as a legitimate satirical film loaded with Dravidian ideology. The first prominent subject of the film is discrimination based on one’s caste. And how one caste tries to assert dominance over the other. The scenes showing the ill-doings of the upper caste people to the Barber is gruelling. And how he is man-handled for his one vote shows the extent people go.

The power dynamics of caste in society are strong, and not many get it. The Caste system may be misinterpreted or modified. But that doesn’t take what the practice has been doing for centuries. Who gets educated? Who were slaves? Who is still being denied education and are victims of crime? Why are that Dalits have no power over lands? Why are they still separated? The reality is just awful. If religion or caste influences the space of the people’s position and role in society, then that is a matter of concern. (from Adithya Mani Iyer, Dravidian Ideologist)

Yogi Babu, as the discriminated Barber, in Mandela was a perfect choice for the role. He understands the requirement of the character and has given his 100%. Kanna Ravi, as the caste representative, is a proven performer. I loved his performance in the Hit YouTube series Livin’ with Amrutha Srinivasan. He also made a brief appearance in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Kaithi.

It is unbelievable that a debutant could handle such sensitive subjects. Director Madonne Ashwin has neatly crafted the screenplay of Mandela and has executed it on screen with utmost care. Each scene speaks volume of the cruelty in society and educates on the power of a single vote.

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Overall, Mandela is sweet, fun, warming, warning and educating on the importance of voting and how to use suffrage effectively. I wish the film were released much earlier. As the state elections recently concluded, this film would have created the necessary awareness among the people. Watch ‘Mandela’ on Netflix here .

Rating – 3.75/5 | Grade – B+

Images via Netflix India

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