“Peace maintain karne se aasan hota hain, war maintain karna. Isiliye sab karte hain. Tum bhi, hum bhi” – No, that’s not how many starts. But it largely gives you an idea of how diversity is still a bookish term somewhere. Many filmmaker Anubhav Sinha’s second collaboration with Ayushmann Khurrana after Article 15 (2019). Sinha is mostly known for making political issues simple for common people. Did he also do this to many? Umm, medium, shall we say.
The note during the beginning of Anek goes, ‘With love to the people of North East India’. And this is one of the best parts of the film. The film takes you on a journey of injustice and rebellion together. Another best part? Casting. Sinha’s attempt was to make his film appear authentic, and it happened. Instead of changing who suited the role, he cast stars from the region to make the film believable. And you trust us, it had a big role to play. Manyak felt a little too much stretch and dragged to bits somewhere. But we will get to that later.
The protagonist Ayushmann Khurrana (better known as Amman/Joshua) is an undercover agent in the film. He works for the Government of India. After conquering several challenging political turmoils, Amman changed its name to Joshua to keep a close eye on the political unrest in the north-eastern region of India, in which rebels had ganged up against the Indian government. The Reason? The people of the north-eastern borders want a separate country of their own and do not consider themselves to be a part of India. Except for one girl, Aido (played by Andrea Cevichusa), who wants to play for India as a boxer despite being judged as a masseuse/parlourist based on what she looks like.
Actually, the film begins with how the people of North East often face discrimination for their frame, looks and culture. How, they have often been called Chinki, Chilli Chicken, Chinese. And this is so unfair! Years of injustice, which resulted in the formation of many radical groups in the states who do not want to work together with the Indian government. And that is Joshua’s mission. Tiger signs a peace treaty with the government to ensure the union (the leader of the largest extremist group in the northeastern states). But this is no easy task. He also has to fight another extremist group, the Johnsons. But there is a twist to it and we are not going to ruin it for you in any way.
For the mission, Joshua lives in the northeastern states as if it were his own. To keep a close eye on what’s going on, a militant group leader’s daughter (Aido) is befriended, as in the phrase ‘keep your friends close and enemies close’. But his loyalty is tested when his superiors feel that he is taking decisions with his heart rather than his mind.
Bollywood has its own habit of presenting signatures which become iconic to the character. For example, rubbing Pushpa’s chin or Laila’s crooked smile. In many, Ayushmann sniffs the nose during acute conditions. But boy, does he shine like Joshua! His tenacity, patriotism and dialogue delivery is all that you understand by the word gripping. And so is the debutante, Andrea. His role is small as compared to Ayushmann, but even considering playing the role of an athlete for Bollywood debut, completing it in itself deserves a stupendous accolade.
Watch the trailer of Many here:
Another gripping moment in Anek is the return of JD Chakraborty to Bollywood. But we want Sinha to make better use of this collaboration. We understand that it is a cameo but by the time his character comes to a boil, his cameo is over. just like that! In fact, after Ayushmann and Chakraborty parted ways about origin, diversity and nationality and you feel that something else is coming, Chakraborty is nowhere to be seen. His entry will make you curious but by the time it heats up, his role is over.
Though we are not sure if Sinha has attempted to pull off Article 15 with many, but the film lacks salt somewhere that makes the broth delicious. Some parts look stretched and stretched, while some characters come and go and you end up asking yourself, ‘Who was that?’, until the half-hearted character is gone forever. Entertaining fight scenes, drama, punches, politics and fights but you will always feel ‘Kisi cheez ki toh kami hain’,
Another interesting part about the film is the repetition of the “I have to go home” dialogue. rings a bell? Alia Bhatt in Raazi! We know it has become a meme, but in many a rebel, bewildered by the situation around him, cries loudly and utters words almost in the same situation as in Meghna Gulzar’s film. If you know, you know.
Overall it is a good watch. If political thrillers fascinate you, then this could also be the weekend pick for you. However, if you go in with the same expectation as in paragraph 15, you may return disappointed. But we would like you to keep both the movies separate and enjoy both as two separate dishes. Who knows, in the age of political thrillers many might actually be the conversation starters once again. Doesn’t seem too far, does it?