‘Jai Mahendran’ Review: Saiju Kurup and Suhasini Maniratnam’s Political Satire Falls Short of Its Sharp Potential and Humour (LatestLY Exclusive)

Jai Mahendran Review: Government offices often provide fertile ground for biting satire, as seen in shows like Office Office (Hindi) and its Malayalam equivalent, Marimayam. Writer Rahul Riji Nair and director Srikanth Mohan tap into this setting for their new series, Jai Mahendran, streaming on Sony LIV. The six-episode series is set in a taluka office in Thiruvananthapuram and centres on the indifferent manner in which the employees handle public grievances. At its core is the character of Mahendran, a crafty protagonist who, at least conceptually, is well-versed in navigating his office’s bureaucracy and the political chaos surrounding it to his advantage. However, in its execution, Jai Mahendran fails to deliver the sharpness or humour necessary to make the series truly work. Antakshari Movie Review: Saiju Kurup's Investigative Thriller Creeps Through Patchy Subplots and Delivers Some Chilling Moments.

Mahendran (played by Saiju Kurup) is the deputy tehsildar, the go-to man for handling crises in the office, with the power to manipulate the system for those who seek his favour. He has strong political connections and is supported by his opportunistic acolyte, Balu (Rahul Riji Nair).

Watch the Trailer of 'Jai Mahendran':

Mahendran’s dominance in the office is challenged when the new, principled tehsildar, Shobha (Suhasini Maniratnam), refuses to endorse his methods. However, both soon find themselves entangled in a corruption scandal, and the series follows how Mahendran uses his wit and political cunning to extricate them from the mess.

'Jai Mahendran' Review - A Show With Too Many Cogs

One aspect I appreciate about the recent wave of Malayalam series, now available on platforms like Disney+ Hotstar and Sony LIV, is their excellent casting choices. The performances significantly enhance their appeal. Jai Mahendran features a talented ensemble (and one rather average performer), and it is this cast that carries the show through its weaker moments. However, the lacklustre writing offers them little to work with.

For instance, it takes four episodes for Jai Mahendran to introduce the corruption case that drives the plot, despite hints being dropped earlier. Up until then, the show aims to familiarise us with the characters and their environment, while attempting situational humour that, unfortunately, rarely lands. This is in stark contrast to Perilloor Premier League, which handled political satire far more effectively.

What Jai Mahendran does well, in the beginning, is depicting the chaotic working conditions of the taluka office, where rats make themselves at home (earning a nickname), snakes occasionally visit, and files are in constant disarray. While the employees are not always indifferent, their apathy takes centre stage. This provides an interesting premise, but the show struggles to build on it effectively. There are too many characters, and not all are fully developed. For example, Mahendran’s pregnant, disapproving wife, Priya (Miya George), barely gets enough screen time to justify her presence.

Even the rivalry between Mahendran and Shobha lacks depth. This seems more due to the way Shobha's character is written; her integrity feels superficial, and she is repeatedly sidelined, requiring a ‘knight in shining armour’ to rescue her.

With one female lead reduced to a cameo and the other in constant need of rescue, Jai Mahendran certainly doesn’t offer strong female characters.

'Jai Mahendran' Review - Tonal Issues and Weak Writing

The introduction of the corruption case does provide some much-needed momentum to the plot. The twist adds weight to the storyline, and Mahendran’s realisation that he’s dispensable when the stakes are low is a familiar trope, but it works well here. However, it remains unclear why we should root for his redemption. His comeback plan lacks the cleverness expected of his character.

Instead of bettering his redemption arc, the show throws in more gags—like the chaos surrounding a snake or a vehicle inauguration—that fail to land as intended. Additionally, the introduction of new characters, such as the replacement tehsildar ( ‘Convincing Star’ Suresh Krishna), doesn’t add much value. The dramatic subplots, especially those involving Shobha and her daughter, feel jarring and don’t mesh well with the rest of the series. Kerala Crime Files Review: Aju Varghese and Lal’s Malayalam Series Is a Well-Knit Investigative Thriller That Loses Its Grip Near the End.

While there are a few surprises along the way, by the time Jai Mahendran reaches its conclusion, it feels like a wasted opportunity, squandering both its potential and its talented cast.

As for the performances, Saiju Kurup is in his element, lending credibility to his character, though it doesn’t seem to challenge him much. After Kurup, the actor with the most screen time is Rahul Riji Nair, the writer and creator of the show. At times, it feels as though the series exists mainly to showcase his acting abilities, but his exuberant performance becomes grating after a while. The rest of the cast performs adequately, given the limited material given to them. Suhasini, however, feels underwhelming, and her role seems undeserving of an actress of her calibre.

'Jai Mahendran' Review - Final Thoughts

Despite having a talented cast and an intriguing premise rooted in political satire, Jai Mahendran never quite finds its footing. The humour doesn’t land as it should, and the lack of depth in both character development and the storyline leaves much to be desired. Jai Mahendran is streaming on Sony LIV.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 14, 2024 03:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).