Dalit burden of being is shown as filmic reality in the least complex way. The slow and violent condescension of Western Ghats Dalits under Gandhian theo-political universality is excellently projected in film with victimized inhabitant subjects facing being as a total social excess, incapable of enjoying it's existence under that reality. This proves that the myth of Indian ontological completeness has an extimate ring filled by Dalit subject's unresolved subjectivity which will always subvert the existence of its ideological burden and symbolic core reminding of it's incompleteness. The film thematically portrays this Dalit pessimism against the backdrop of mother nature being static, cold, oblivious, and unresponsive to human subjectivities under distress which leaves very dark unsatisfactory and unresolved ending with directors intentional comic facet to it, inhabitants leaving the area conceding with the dictates of power hopelessly of a failed rebellion. But this ending shouldn't discourage any Dalit subject. Such hopelessness in fact is a Hope for new political and tactical prospects Dalit subject must imagine under its totalitarian existence. It is actually a cry longing for a free universal subject. Freed of its psycho-sexual and socio-ideological dimensions.
5 Reviews
One of the best Indian movies
anoop4616 August 2014
This is definitely one the best movies I have seen. The film clearly portrays the ill treatment given to the dalits by our society and how the political parties tries to exploit them. The treatment of the movie is raw.. I have not seen such a film in Malayalam.. One should appreciate the director Jayan Cherian for his bravery.. He has even taken on the Gandhian myth.. Also the way the movie has treated sexuality without taking any stance.. The language used pure bliss, so natural.. One should appreciate the director for not using the artificial Malayalam cinema language.. Shame on the censor board for banning this film..
A Good Movie From Malayalam And No Acceptance
liginmane21 October 2015
Excellent movie. We will see foreign movies and why not this, accept this good movie, Why Censering Good Movies ? We all appreciate the skills and works of foreign language movies, don't we have a shy. We should change our mind.Paplio Buddha is not a child movie or any other type movie, it is very excellent creation by the director Jayan K Cheriyan. If we don't look this movie as director's point of view everyone including juries also not accept this movie, if not include such dialogues and scenes in this movie there is no good movies will get to us.Social issues and exploitation should see as what it is otherwise movie will be a foolishness. This movie has done an excellent job in that category.
Boring Art-sy Film About Serious Issues
sourabhyadavsonu26 February 2022
The screen time would have been less than 20 minutes if it weren't for the excessively long wide shots that followed the characters across the entire length of the frame several times. The formula for artsy indie films seems to be to shoot everything at 0.25x speed and then slow it further still in the editing.
Yes, the film makes several bold and uninhibited statements. But does that make a good film? Little depth in characters, stilted dialogues, and the most cliched binarism of good vs bad people-I did not enjoy the film.
Yes, the film makes several bold and uninhibited statements. But does that make a good film? Little depth in characters, stilted dialogues, and the most cliched binarism of good vs bad people-I did not enjoy the film.
An Overly Dark Approach To State Stark Issues.
nairtejas27 May 2014
And I believe the makers took darkness very much literally. While the lack of proper lighting in the scenes is okay, the amateur narration of what feels like a vague story disappoints.
There is no specific conclusion to what the makers told the story in the first place nor do they provide a solution/explanation. Some of us are well versed with the atrocities of the minorities, the struggle they experience every day in their lives, and we also know few of its causes. Now, I think the makers wanted to convey a broader perspective into the matter, but they fail. Titling the film after a rare butterfly specie's name which is also a small talked-about issue in the film is where the makers start to go wrong.
I can relate with the use of adivasis and non-professional actors, but it does affect the film when none of these can act. And the poor direction just aggravates it all. The whole 2 hours looked like a drama of spontaneity.
Then topics like homosexuality, nature invasion, attacks on women, rape, religion and casteism are all touched but they are left hanging as the film ends with a silent note. While I always appreciate boldness in films, all the stuffs it had to show was pure bland and ridiculous. You talk about homosexuality, but there is no need to show two men kissing; the use of f-word could have been avoided; third-degree tactics of policemen on Maoist/Naxalite suspects could have also been dumbed down to superficiality; erotic sex/foreplay could have been done without, etc.. All these elements makes me wanna question the makers' intentions because at the end of the day, they focus only on certain checkpoints, never explaining the ABCs.
BOTTOM LINE: It might talk about sensitive topics, but when you are making a film (and not a documentary), you pay attention to the basics. There's no reason to add songs, stupid slapstick or melodrama; we are fine with pure drama played on intense BG score. Is that asking for more? Anyway, Papilio Buddha is a self-righteous kind of a modern propaganda cinema. Avoid!
I wonder why it was banned. People would have watched and openly derided it. The makers would get the feedback and never make such movies again. Reminds me of 2013's box office bomb, Jayasurya-starrer Pigman.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO
There is no specific conclusion to what the makers told the story in the first place nor do they provide a solution/explanation. Some of us are well versed with the atrocities of the minorities, the struggle they experience every day in their lives, and we also know few of its causes. Now, I think the makers wanted to convey a broader perspective into the matter, but they fail. Titling the film after a rare butterfly specie's name which is also a small talked-about issue in the film is where the makers start to go wrong.
I can relate with the use of adivasis and non-professional actors, but it does affect the film when none of these can act. And the poor direction just aggravates it all. The whole 2 hours looked like a drama of spontaneity.
Then topics like homosexuality, nature invasion, attacks on women, rape, religion and casteism are all touched but they are left hanging as the film ends with a silent note. While I always appreciate boldness in films, all the stuffs it had to show was pure bland and ridiculous. You talk about homosexuality, but there is no need to show two men kissing; the use of f-word could have been avoided; third-degree tactics of policemen on Maoist/Naxalite suspects could have also been dumbed down to superficiality; erotic sex/foreplay could have been done without, etc.. All these elements makes me wanna question the makers' intentions because at the end of the day, they focus only on certain checkpoints, never explaining the ABCs.
BOTTOM LINE: It might talk about sensitive topics, but when you are making a film (and not a documentary), you pay attention to the basics. There's no reason to add songs, stupid slapstick or melodrama; we are fine with pure drama played on intense BG score. Is that asking for more? Anyway, Papilio Buddha is a self-righteous kind of a modern propaganda cinema. Avoid!
I wonder why it was banned. People would have watched and openly derided it. The makers would get the feedback and never make such movies again. Reminds me of 2013's box office bomb, Jayasurya-starrer Pigman.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO
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