Jai Bhim movie is based on a true story during the 90s concerning the injustice against Tribal people and custodial torture over the members from the tribal social group in the district of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.
The film revolves around the case in the courtroom against the wrongful detention of Rajakannu, who belonged to the Irular tribe was brutally murdered inside the Police station. The wife (sengeni) of the deceased sort the help of Advocate Chandru(Surya), fought for justice against the evil things done by the Police officers.
The title of the movie Jai Bheem itself has the idea of celebrating the true icon of Social Justice “Babasaheb Ambedkar”, who stand tall for bringing out the Greatest Ideology - Equality.
But the saddest part of India in the 21st century is still the country is struggling to create an egalitarian society where the historical injustices against the marginalised social group, especially the tribal continue to prevail. The film tightly slapped on our head while watching the movie under proper roof with fast internet connectivity to think of a social group who have survived their lives by eating a rat.
The film also majorly encapsulates the atrocities against the marginalised, wrongful detention and custodial torture, exploitation of landholders, keeping the tribal social group under abject poverty and the distant dream of education for the tribal child.
The film has the right turn when the lawyer Chandru a crusader took up the case and filed Habeas corpus in Madras High court. Habeas corpus means to have a body of, which can be issued by both the High court and Supreme court against both public authorities and private individuals for unlawful detention. That person must be produced in the court to secure the release against illegal arrest and to protect individual liberty. He referred to Chandran vs the State of Kerala for cross-examining the eyewitness to unearth the real truth behind the falsification of charges against the innocent tribal member. With the right arguments placed before the Court, Lawyer Chandru brought the police found guilty over custodial death of innocent Rajakannu and secure the release of his relatives.
The film Jai Bhim must be widely discussed in a public forum not just as a film but as an instrument for bringing the tribal social group to mainstream society without disturbing their cultural values and traditions.
There is a need to establish State Police Complaints authority as recommended by Prakash Singh judgement where common man can approach the body against police excessive actions.
Education need to be inclusive and reaches the sons and daughters of tribal social group to make a better society for the marginalised.
Jai Bhim!
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