Mersal Vs Newton - Part 3

'Newton' is the kind of short and sweet hard-hitting movie that simply makes you stop in your tracks and wows you away like a dreamy Firework spectacle atop the Disney Land Castle. I am not saying this just because it's an Oscar Entrant. They say God is in the details. The level of attention to detail given in the movie is really remarkable and realistic.

Take for example where the Electoral Team (ET) sets up the booth in the disused and abandoned school. The person who was due to retire following that last duty, he imagines how any voter will be filled up with strong pride by stroking their mustache while walking out of the classroom after their vote is cast. Another would be how Newton runs back to the school in an amateurish and a typical ordinary man's fashion in the early stages of the film when he converses with the head of the Security Personnel. Yet another is the fact that how a high-flying individual escaped from his electoral duties by citing his wife's pregnancy and heart-attack when he was commissioned to the place. 

Speaking of Newton, it's one of the finest performances being a rule-centric, duty-bound and value-driven dedicated and upright officer who defies the gravest security risk posed to him considering the location of the outpost and the stubbornness of the accompanying Police Officer to not risk the lives of his brave troop. That last scene where he asks a desirous and eager colleague, who wants to hook up with him, to wait until the tea time for a friendly banter was the fitting, anti-climatic and wry humorous end that the movie deserved to have.

'Newton' showcases how much a Policeman suffers in silence and unnecessary bloodshed when their voices are not heard by the concerned authorities even for the request of a Night Vision Goggles to keep the unacceptable and violent-fraught elements at bay. I have also covered it at length here. When you don't have the avant-garde defense capabilities at your disposal, it becomes an arduous task for the men and women on the ground to perform their duty effectively. A good sharp kick to the shin of the respective authorities by such a powerful message to not be in a state of comatose but be aware and sensitive to the necessary needs.  

Is this the controversy?

Some have pronounced their views that 'Newton' is a facsimile of an Iranian movie. Personally, I haven't seen it. So, I have no right to comment on it. But, there have been many who has seen it and this is what they feel - Mere Similarities or Exact Replica?

Whether the foundational narrative is stolen and then the script is modified to cater to the Indian Audience is purely on the conscience of the Director and Script Writer. It becomes important and relevant from the Awards standpoint.

When we look beyond it, as a common audience who loves and enjoys watching fabulous creations of art,  'Newton' scores damn high in its rendition of the workings of our Democracy especially where the top official tells that his reputation is on stake for the voters' turnout from the neglected and frightened village.

I just imagined an alternative scenario what might have happened hadn't the higher command commanded such an order to carry out the process. It doesn't take a Tesla to figure it out. The Security Personnel and his team would have ensured that the voting couldn't have taken place. As simple as that. 

Practically speaking what he suggested was right - Why to risk unnecessary lives when even the village people do not care and have no interest in the elections? But, is it the right thing to do?  When we go a level deeper and examine it closely, it would have been a dereliction of duty as it still flouts the established rules and roles mandated to each and every person in the complete electoral process. 

'Newton' tickles your funny bone and at the same time, it makes you be cognizance of the harsh realities of what the policemen are undergoing in addition to the difficulties faced by a straightforward and morally oriented individual to do his bidding.

             

                                                                X--Concluded--X

PS:

There were two exceptional screen-screamers in both 'Mersal' and 'Newton'

In 'Mersal', you have one of the many Vijay's opines that his brother usually speaks punch dialogues before bashing whereas he thrashes the bad guys first. In the context of the scene, it may not have been funny. But, when you look at the history of every Vijay film, you will know that he utters the punch dialogue and then, he proceeds to assault the villains. This dialogue in 'Mersal' was a revelation that he doesn't take himself too seriously and gives a lighter tone to his nature and character on-screen.

Likewise, when we see 'Newton', there is this absolute ripper wherein the leader of the village tribe decides to intervene and act as a mediator between Newton and the head of the Security Personnel when they had a conflict of interest. Great timing!