"Monkey Man" blends fast-paced action with social commentary, reflecting India's societal divides.
Director Dev Patel intertwines folklore with political critique, offering a unique perspective on Indian cinema. The film underscores the necessity of radical action in combating injustice, signaling Patel's promising future as a director.
The film, released in 2024, combines brutal action sequences with political themes as Patel seeks to establish himself as a formidable presence in cinema.
The narrative follows Kid (played by Patel), a young man seeking vengeance for the death of his mother, Neela (Adithi Kalkunte), and his own disfigurement. Patel's character draws strength from the tales of Hanuman as he confronts corrupt figures, including the ruthless police chief Rana (Sikandar Kher) and Baba Shakti (Makarand Deshpande), who oversee human trafficking and political corruption.
In “Monkey Man,” Kid is depicted assuming the likeness of the ape god Hanuman. The process of transfiguration is supported by flashbacks of his mother recounting tales of Hanuman’s valor, drawing structural inspiration from the Ramayana.
The film seems to aim at reclaiming images associated with Hinduism, aligning with the efforts of various Hindu leaders who oppose Hindu nationalism. However, the use of Hindu imagery as a call to violence, reminiscent of the Hindutva project, creates narrative dissonance.
The movie's villains employ Hinduism as a guise for violence and financial gain. Rather than as a sincere aspect of their fanaticism, they only represent Hindutva superficially, echoing its power structures without its core ideology. In contrast, Kid embodies Hindutva in both belief and action.
Through the film, Kid forms alliances with figures like Alfonso (Pitobash) and Sita (Sobhita Dhulipala), leading to a broader mission against injustice. Notably, the film portrays the Hijra people group as heroes, challenging stereotypes and highlighting an aspect of the marginalized communities' struggles.
This comes more than ten years after India's top court issued a landmark verdict creating a third gender category that allows transgender people to identify themselves as such on official documents.
Junior Simeon Popa described the film as enjoyable, but with fluctuations in quality. He also noted its highs in neon-lit fight scenes but also mentioned a sense of inconsistency, possibly due to dramatic recutting. He admitted to feeling disconnected from certain emotional aspects due to a lack of familiarity with Indian politics.
In the film, Patel briefly employs video footage of real protests against India’s current regime under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi without mentioning their names.
"Monkey Man" delivers a poignant message: in a world fraught with injustice, radical action can pave the way for change.
Patel seamlessly merges elements of folklore with socio-political critique, offering audiences an immersive and thought-provoking cinematic experience.
Senior Thiago Camacho lauded "Monkey Man" for its distinctive blend of brutal action and political themes, drawing parallels to the acclaimed John Wick franchise.
He highlighted Patel's multifaceted role as writer, director, producer and star, commending his performance and vision.
“He establishes himself as a certified movie star, and, though the plot sometimes suffers from clear chopping in the edit suite, Monkey Man is a unique action film that got my heart pumping and my mind engaged in the political, religious, and socioeconomic issues in modern-day urban India,” Camacho said.
The film’s exploration of themes that are often overlooked by mainstream Indian cinema highlight an emerging scene that diverges from typical Bollywood spectacles.
Patel's meticulous attention to detail and his skillful blending of folklore and socio-political commentary set "Monkey Man" apart, deserving wider recognition on the international stage.
As Patel's directorial prowess shines through in "Monkey Man," it signals a promising trajectory for his future projects. With his keen eye for action and narrative depth, Patel is poised to continue making impactful contributions to cinema, both within the action genre and beyond.
