19(1)(A) MOVIE REVIEW CLICK TO RATE THE MOVIE

A single moment and an unexpected encounter can change the course of your life. Debutant director Indhu VS's 19(1)(a) tells the story of one such chance meeting and moment. The film stars Nithya Menen, and Vijay Sethupathi in pivotal roles, with Indrans, Indrajith Sukumaran, Srikanth Murali, Bhagath Manuel, Deepak Parambol, and Athulya Ashadam forming the supporting cast.

19(1)(a) follows the mundane life of a woman running a Xerox shop. While discontent with her life, she has accepted the limited options she has. Her life, however, takes an interesting turn when she meets Gauri Shankar, a revolutionary writer, and he leaves his unpublished manuscript with her. What follows is her journey of self-discovery as she gets to know more about Gauri.

The Indhu VS directorial is as simple as it gets. From the story to the film's technical aspects, everything reeks of simplicity that lends to the film's impact. However, the film's haunting violin score and unique shots ensure the film hits you with the intended effect.

Credit must also be given to the cast who gave wonderful performances. Vijay Sethupathi as a revolutionary writer with strong beliefs and stance, was a marvel. Likewise, Nithya Menen perfectly embodied the almost robotic nature of her character as she went through her transformative journey. The supporting cast also lends credible performances to make one believe their convictions as a character.

19(1)(a) uses Menen's and Indrajith Sukumaran's characters to tell Gauri's story through imagination and flashbacks. This technique allows you to understand the impact the writer had on these two individuals, especially Menen's copy shop lady, whose revolutionary beliefs awaken after the encounter. However, this storytelling device is also the downfall of the movie. While most of Gauri Shankar's story is conveyed through retelling, some sequences are randomly placed, disrupting the flow of the film.

Despite the slight inconsistency in the storytelling, 19(1)(a) is a movie worth watching for its social commentary. With crisp screenplay and hard-hitting but not-to-the-face dialogues, the Vijay Sethupathi starrer holds a mirror to the often-forgotten incidents of the society that indicate a bigger problem than anticipated. It’s a movie that will leave you thinking and maybe a little revolutionized.