Jai Mahendran: A fun political satire on the functioning of government offices

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Director Srikanth Mohan successfully feeds upon the general impression that a common man has about the working system in government offices. While not outstanding, the show is a breezy watch if you are looking for some fun

Starcast: Saiju Kurup, Suhasini Maniratnam, Rahul Riji Nair, Miya George and others

Director: Srikanth Mohan

Writer: Rahul Riji Nair

Music: Siddarth Pradeep

Cinematography: Prashanth Raveendran

Streaming site: Sony Liv

No of episodes: 6

As the title suggests the story of Jai Mahendran focuses on the journey of a Deputy Tahsildar Mahendran (Saiju Kurup). Mahendran is the go-to man for any problems that department faces. By hook or crook, he always comes up with a successful idea. Often times he alternates between a miscreant and a helpful officer. However, his helpful nature is only restricted to those in power or the ones with connections. Writer Rahul Riji Nair plays Mahendran’s right-hand man Balu. Balu is the perfect accomplice to Mahendran. Soon Mahendran faces a major opposition in the form of Shoba (Suhasini Maniratnam). Shoba is the new sitting Tahsildar; unlike Mahendran she is a more honest officer. His life takes a drastic turn with her entry, he is no longer the all-powerful entity. This is the story in brief.

Saiju Kurup as Jai Mahendran and Suhasini Maniratnam as Shoba.

A strong aspect of Jai Mahendran are the fun dialogues coupled with the believable scenarios. Writer Rahul Riji Nair does a wonderful job in using satire to talk about what happens in a normal government office. Sure, the situations are stereotypical. You have officers who are both corrupt and lazy. They spend more time in having tea and indulging in activities that are not related to work. Files are passed on endlessly from one desk to another. The applicants come and go fully frustrated. Still the tight writing makes it an enjoyable show.

Regarding the functioning of the government offices two segments need to be mentioned here. One scene involves a young woman flirting on a phone while someone asks her to give an application form. Instead of cutting the call she gets annoyed. In another one an employee is busy munching o unni appams, when a person comes to find out where his government allocated land is. But this employee instead of answering the question asks the man to have one unni appam because they are tasty. Both these scenes may present an exaggerated picture, yet the lethargic nature of these employees comes across strongly.

The show also does a fine job in showcasing the dangers of office politics driven by differing political leanings.

What also makes the show engaging is the on-screen camaraderie between Saiju and Rahul Riji. The chemistry is absolutely spot on, as an actor Rahul Riji does a fine job in evoking comedy thorough his expressions more so in the scenes where he follows Mahendran blindly.

Another strong point for Jai Mahendran is the dynamics between Shobha and Mahendran. Both of them are polar opposites in their functioning resulting in an underlying tension. The tussle between these two give the show some of its best moments. At one point an unlikely friendship happens too when both their careers are at a dead end.

Saiju Kurup in the role of Mahendran aces the various shades of his role starting off as a corrupt tahsildar to underdoing a major transformation. From the initial haughtiness to a sense of despair the actor does a very fine job. Having said that the characterization would have had a stronger impact if Srikanth Mohan had dwelled deeper into his moral compass. Suhasini Mainiratnam is also powerful as the superior officer bringing in the required authority. But even her characterization could have done with little more meat.

Technically there isn’t much to rave about. The title song is a perfect upbeat number, but the background score becomes very repetitive. Prasanth Raveendran’s visuals go well with the realistic setting.

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