19(1)(a) Movie Review: Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen's film is a wasted opportunity

Debutant director Indhu VS' 19(1)(a), starring Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen, is an incoherent film on freedom of speech and expression. Here's our review.

Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen are two powerhouse performers, who manage to impress the audience with every film. When the two joined hands for debutant director Indhu VS' 19(1)(a), expectations skyrocketed. Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution upholds freedom of speech and expression. Now that's a solid cast for a film based on an important topic, isn't it? Did Indhu, Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya achieve what they set out to do?

19(1)(a) opens with writer Gauri Shankar (Vijay Sethupathi) casually drinking tea in the middle of the night. Two people on a bike approach him and we hear gun shots. We don't get to see what happens to him. We only see a blank screen. Meanwhile, Nithya Menen, who is nameless in the film, takes over her widowed father's xerox shop.One day, Gauri visits the xerox shop and hands over the script of his unpublished novel. He promises that he'd return later that night to collect the photocopy. But, he never returns. Nithya comes to know that Gauri was killed because of his political ideology. What does Nithya do with Gauri's unpublished novel? Will the police find the killer with the clue? Watch the film to find out the answers.

Indhu VS' story has many angles to explore. We don't get to know what Gauri Shankar's background is. We don't know what Nithya Menen is going to do with the unpublished novel. With such interesting angles, Indhu could have weaved an interesting story. However, there's hardly any story in 19(1)(a).

With a short runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes, 19(1)(a) barely scratches the surface. There are too many sub-plots and most of which do not get any closure. There's a separate story about Nithya Menen and her Muslim friend, who is forced to get married. Another track is about the not-so-cordial relationship between Nithya and her father. Nithya goes to meet the publisher of Vijay Sethupathi's novels. But, that doesn't lead anywhere either.

Here's the trailer of 19(1)(a):

Nithya Menen is confused when she gets hold of the unpublished novel. And the same confusion is visible in the screenplay as it doesn't convey what it is set out to. In a scene, Nithya Menen goes to meet the late Gauri Shankar's sister. While leaving, she hugs her. But, you don't feel any emotion because of the incoherent screenplay.

Vijay Sethupathi is portrayed as a hot-shot writer and a human rights activist, who exposes the flaws in the system. Gauri Krishnan and Gauri Lankesh. Does it ring a bell? However, 19(1)(a) is a wasted opportunity as there's nothing in the story to root for. Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen are exceptional in the film. They do their best to salvage an underwritten script. But, their attempt goes in vain as well. Similarly, even Indrajith Sukumaran and Indrans' brief roles and they do their best, as usual.