Anjaamai: A Fearless Voice Against Unempathetic Policies
Anjaamai, a commendable political drama, fearlessly voices against unempathetic policies drafted by bureaucrats and politicians, unmindful of how they will be received by the common man. The film stands out in highlighting how the system keeps parents on tenterhooks and gets them more tense than the students.
The struggles of the education system
Several films have been made on how a taxing education system has been forced on students. Anjaamai takes a step further, focusing on the bigger picture and not just personal losses rendered by the system.
The film starts with Arunthavam, a Class 12 student, running into a police station in Dindigul’s Gandhigramam and demanding a case be filed against the government. He threatens to shoot himself, with the gun he snatches from a cop. A do-gooder inspector, Manikkam, calms him down and decides to hear him out. Arunthavam reveals how NEET left his family traumatized and how the entrance exam is designed to filter out students from a poor background with a particular apathy for those from Tamil Nadu.
The struggles of NEET
Kudos to the director Subburaman and the film’s creator and producer Dr. Thirunavukkaras, for providing a deep insight into the processes involved in enrolling and appearing for NEET. This run-through prevents us from getting disassociated when the narration shifts to questioning the mindless rigmarole students are forced to go through.
Anjaamai has also ripped through the facade of requiring a coaching centre’s guidance to crack NEET. The close-to-home performances by actors Vidharth and Vani Bhojan are sure to resonate with parents of students preparing for NEET and other competitive exams.
The struggles of students preparing for NEET
The film’s portrayal of the education system is relatable, and the performances by the actors make it even more impactful. However, Anjaamai is not devoid of problems. The film, which was planned for a release in 2019, was under post-production for several years. The time-lapse is of tantamount importance when handling a complex and sensitive issue like NEET, which has kept evolving over the years.
Despite its flaws, Anjaamai still manages to stay relevant as issues like taking multiple attempts to land a seat in government medical college despite clearing the exam, unchecked clout of private colleges, objectionable practice in the name of frisking, and mushrooming of blood-sucking coaching institutes still make a strong case against NEET.
A protest against NEET
On the technical side, the camera work looks neat and even more pleasant in capturing the verdant village the film is set in. Editing could not have been crisper. With music having less to contribute to the narration, it can still be appreciated for not taking anything away from it.
In conclusion, Anjaamai fearlessly voices against unempathetic policies drafted by bureaucrats and politicians, unmindful of how they will be received by the common man. The film’s portrayal of the education system is relatable, and the performances by the actors make it even more impactful.
The poster of Anjaamai
