Mandela movie review: The only film you need to watch before the next election

Mandela movie review: The film allows Yogi Babu to truly showcase his potential and he plays the titular character with so much sincerity.

Debutant writer-director Madone Ashwin’s Mandela, which premiered on Netflix on Monday, is a political satire that’s both entertaining and extremely impactful, especially in the ways it addresses issues such as caste-based politics. The film makes one realize the importance of a single vote, and why it’s essential to understanding modern-day politics in Tamil Nadu.

Yogi Babu in a still from Mandela.

Set in a small village, the film follows events leading up to a local body election, and how two half-brothers won’t stop at anything to win. The village is divided by two prominent caste groups which are led by the brothers.

Watch the Mandela trailer here

First-timer Ashwin’s writing deserves a lot of praise. Without ever making a mockery of the caste-politics, he deals with the issue with a lot of maturity. His understanding of how the oppressed are seen and treated as per everybody’s convenience is on point, and it never goes overboard in its representation.

The film feels slightly long-drawn in the second half but the way it ends leaves a strong impact. It gives us a front row seat to the times we live in, and it works like a charm. If there’s one film you need to watch before you cast your next vote, this is it.

Mandela

Director: Madone Ashwin

Cast: Yogi Babu, Kanna Ravi, Sheela and GM Sundar