Captain Miller review: Dhanush, Arun Matheswaran impress, portray difference between revolt and revenge in this war film

Director: Arun Matheswaran

Cast: Dhanush, Shiva Rajkumar, Priyanka Mohan, Sandeep Kishan, John Kokken

What really happens when colonial oppression meets caste oppression in the backdrop of a freedom fight? I believe this is the most appropriate one-liner for Dhanush-starrer Captain Miller, directed by Arun Matheswaran. You see, the colonial occupation by the Britishers that almost lasted a span of a century is not one-dimensional. There is of course the obvious foreign country occupation, which oppressed the population of the country as a whole. People of higher class, especially the monarchs of different regions who allied with this power was given certain privileges. This, of course, did not extend to the common folks.

The film is set at a time when certain castes were forced to serve the local leader of higher caste, or higher power. Untouchability was not eradicated at this time. To add to the complexity of this is the women’s rights. Sure, women from privileged background did have certain leeway, however, the Dalit women, or women belonging to the native tribal groups didn’t have the same leeway. In addition to this, there is also patriarchy within the Dalit group as well.

It reads so complicated on paper. The layers and the arcs required of different characters to bring these nuances to life on screen are not simple. In fact, the director must draw a fine balance between all of these different perspectives to war without romanticising colonial occupation, or glorifying unnecessary violence. I was a tad bit doubtful if this film can really achieve this seamless coming together of very important themes in a war film about fight for freedom in India. However, I am glad my doubts were proved unnecessary.

Every minute of the film threw at me a moment that struck hard. Not to dramatise the effect of the film, but with the current world political climate, and the happenings within the country, Captain Miller is bold.

In what is one of the many powerful dialogues in the film, a character says with respect to faith and caste, “It’s not people’s faith that is a problem, it is when this faith interferes with our life that it is a problem.”

The dialogues do not seek spotlight with the support of melodramatics, no. It moves with subtlety until unknowingly it is stuck in your throat like that fishbone that you struggle to spit or swallow.

One of the central themes of the film is to underline the fact that freedom means different thing to different sections of people. Inclusive feminism, feminism from the perspective of the privileged, from the perspective of men who lean left politically, and more is also included in the film. Again, this is not a “in your face” portrayal. It exists within the film, breathes with its character. Love here is not forced, but felt. It is the same for anger, guilt and desperation. Especially the rage. The more Dhanush as Eesan is oppressed, the stronger he suppresses. So when rage makes an appearance, it is not to be taken lightly. In fact, this unadulterated rage is something that affects one mentally.

At what point do you put your foot down and say enough is enough. What is an ‘acceptable’ bottom line before an oppressed community revolts in want, or more accurately, in need of freedom? Captain Miller, takes the audience on a journey through its titular character to answer these questions, and to draw a fine line between revolting against oppression, and mindless violence.

It is easy to get carried away while portraying violence, as most of the whistle-worthy moments in action films are all about blazing guns and punches that crunches bones. In Captain Miller, the loudest cheers come when the oppressors — both the white variety and the savarna variety — are taken down a notch at the hands of either Eesan or his brother Sengolan (Shiva Rajkumar).

Captain Miller‘s progression from a simple young man to a man ridden with guilt and desperation, the cause and effect of his decisions, and its impact on his family, friends and community is a well-rounded story. Similar to Saani Kaayidham and Rocky, the visuals of Captain Miller are sharp, and extremely supporting of the narrative. Equally important to propel the story forward are the songs, each of it speaking of heartbreak, rebellion and revolution.

The reason Captain Miller mainly worked for me is because of how the film lets the audience decide what you want to take away from Esan’s life. What I took away from it is, “We were born here, we were raised here, and we will die here.”

Rating: 4 (out of 5 stars)

Captain Miller is playing in cinemas

Priyanka Sundar is a film journalist who covers films and series of different languages with a special focus on identity and gender politics.

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