Jagat (film)

Jagat (Tamil: ஜாகட், slang derived from Malay word jahat, translated as ‘bad’) is a 2015 Malaysian crime drama film.[6][7] Set in the early 1990s, the story follows a mischievous 12-year-old boy named Appoy and his relationships with his father, Maniam, and his uncles, former drug-addict Bala and local gangster Dorai. The boy faces pressure from his father to focus on school, but he is drawn to his uncle's life of crime.

Jagat
Jagat Film Poster
ஜாகட்
Directed byShanjhey Kumar Perumal[1]
Written byShanjhey Kumar Perumal
Produced byDatuk Seri A. Anandan (AG Statue & Silverware)

Myskills Foundation

Skyzen Studios
Mageswari Anandan
StarringJibrail Rajhula
Harvind Raj
Kuben Mahadevan
Tinesh Sarathi Krishnan
Senthil Kumaran Muniandy
CinematographySenthil Kumaran Muniandy
Edited byKumarann Arumugam
Music bySpace Gambus Experiment[2]
Production
company
Skyzen Studios
Distributed bySkyzen Studios
Release date
  • 17 December 2015 (2015-12-17)[3][4]
Running time
90 minutes
CountryMalaysia
LanguageTamil
BudgetRM300,000[5]

The background of the film is a critical period in Malaysian Indian history, the coming-of-age story subtly underlines the plight of the Malaysian Indians community who were forsaken by the estate owners and forced to move to the cities, surviving under harsh circumstances.

The film is directed by Shanjhey Kumar Perumal. He has described the film as semi-autobiographical, having lived for two years in squatter areas with his family.[8] It was released on 17 December 2015 in Malaysia.

The film receives positive reviews from critics. It had won the Best Malaysian Film award in the 28th Malaysia Film Festival in 2016, whereas its director Shanjhey Kumar won the award for Best Director.[9] The film also represent Malaysia at Asean Film Fest 2017.[10]

Plot

The plot centres on Appoy, a spirited kid who would rather watch gangster flicks and make prank calls than memorise his multiplication tables. Desperately trying to keep his son on the straight path, Appoy’s hard-working father becomes increasingly abusive, as the boy is inexorably drawn to the criminal lifestyle of his uncle, a henchman for a local gang. How will their story go?

Cast
  • Jibrail Rajhula as Mexico[11]
  • Harvind Raj as Appoy
  • Kuben Mahadevan as Maniam
  • Tinesh Sarathi Krishnan as Chicago
  • Senthil Kumaran Muniandy as Bala
  • Marup Mustapah as Da Gou
  • Aahmuu Thirunyanam as Mangai
  • Saravanan Ramasamy Vishwa as Teacher Ramu
  • Pugalenthan as Takkali
  • Siranjeevi as Gila
  • Perakas Rajaram as Vadivelan

Production

The film took around 10 years to be completed as the production team faced several financial issues.

Filming

The principal photography for the film was done across 13 different locations in Malaysia. Some of the locations are Klian Intan Pangkalan Hulu, Baling, Lenggong, Grik, Kuala Sepetang, Bukit Rotan, Sabak Bernam, Jasin, Jerantut and Kuala Lumpur.

Music
Jagat
Soundtrack album Jagat by
Kamal Sabran(SPACE GAMBUS EXPERIMENT)
Recorded2016
GenreFeature film soundtrack
LanguageTamil
LabelSkyzen Studios
ProducerDatuk Seri A. Anandan

The film score and soundtrack album are composed by Kamal Sabran and the Space Gambus Experiment.[2]

No.TitleLength
1."Intro" 
2."Set your life on fire-Seek those who fan your flames" 
3."Fear is the path to darkside" 
4."The cure for pain is in the pain" 
5."The wound is the place where the Light enters you" 
6."I have thunder hidden inside" 
7."The gates made of light swing open" 
8."Those who love fire fall in the fire" 
9."Soul within soul" 
10."Every end is a new beginning" 
11."Jagat Theme Music remix by Eric Hausman" 

There is also separate soundtrack done strictly for promotional purposes called 'JAGAT Naan Nalla Paiyen'.

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."JAGAT Naan Nalla Paiyen (Jagat The Movie Promo Song)"Coco NanthaLawrence Soosai3:37
Total length:3:37

Reception

The film was released on 17 December 2015 and is considered to be one of the best Tamil language movies to be made in Malaysia.[12][13] The film managed to gross a moderate collection in box office despite facing intense competition from blockbuster movies like Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Pasanga 2. It was also the first Tamil-language local movie to screen in cinemas for eight weeks running.

The film available for the international audience through Netflix platform starting from April 2019.[14]

Accolades
Award Category Result
28th Malaysia Film Festival[15] Best Picture Won
Best Director Won
Best Editor Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated
2016 Kuala Lumpur Film Critics Award[16] Best Film Won
Best Director Won
Best Male Actor Won
Best Cinematography Won
Best Screenplay Won

Controversies

Disqualification in the 28th Malaysia Film Festival

Jagat became a subject of public outrage when it became one of the high-profile films to be disqualified from the Best Film shortlist in the 28th Malaysia Film Festival and lumped in the controversial Non-Bahasa Malaysia categories by the award organisers National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) and Film Producers Association Malaysia (PFM), because it contained less than 70% Bahasa Malaysia dialogue.[17][18][19]

The action was deemed to be a "racist" move, as claimed by the president of the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Screenwriters Association (PENULIS), Alfie Palermo.[20] Filmmaker Afdlin Shauki announced on his Facebook page of his boycott to express his dissatisfaction,[21] which was supported by CIMB Group chairman Nazir Razak and Air Asia CEO Tony Fernandes.[22] One participating cinematographer, Mohd Noor Kassim, also followed suit; withdrawing his nominations in the occasion[23] and returned two FFM trophies he won in previous editions to FINAS director Kamil Othman during a forum held by the agency in Kuala Lumpur. There had also been calls from both within and out of the film industry to boycott the award ceremony.[24][25][26] The assistant-general secretary of the Film Directors’ Association of Malaysia (FDAM) Hafiz Ibrahim resigned in protest of the unfair segregation.

See also

References
  1. "Director's Profile | Jagat". Jagatthemovie.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  2. ""JAGAT" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, by Space Gambus Experiment". Space Gambus Experiment Bandcamp site. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  3. Smith, Joshua (24 November 2016). "Shanjhey Kumar Perumal interview: "Jagat is my revenge to the system"". easternkicks.com. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  4. "Five Flavours Film Festival - Jagat". Festiwal Filmowy Pięć Smaków. 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  5. Keanu Azman (5 December 2015). "Local film 'Jagat' costs "roughly RM300,000", tells tale of 90's Indian community". The Daily Seni. Archived from the original on 9 December 2015.
  6. "Golden Screen Cinemas :: JAGAT - Synopsis". Gsc.com.my. 30 March 2015. Archived from the original on 16 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  7. "Jagat, the other film that matters this week". Star2.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  8. "Interview: Shanjhey Kumar Perumal talks Jagat". FilmDoo. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  9. Yeoh, Angelin (4 September 2016). "'Jagat' bags top film award, creates history". The Star. Star Media Group Berhad. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  10. http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2017/08/07/jagat-movie-to-represent-malaysia-at-asean-film-fest-2017/
  11. "Cast | Jagat". Jagatthemovie.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  12. K. Anand (23 December 2015). "Jagat, a harsh dose of reality that works". The Malaysian Insider. Edge Insider Sdn Bhd. Archived from the original on 30 December 2015.
  13. Yeoh, Angelin (19 December 2015). "Review: Jagat". Star2. Star Media Group Berhad. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  14. "'Jagat' makes it to Netflix". The Star. Star Media Group Berhad. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  15. "Finas cancels all non-BM awards for FFM". The Malay Mail. Malay Mail Online. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  16. Fadli Al-Akiti (7 October 2011). "Keputusan Anugerah Majlis Pengkritik Filem Kuala Lumpur 2016". Majlis Pengkritik Filem Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumput Film Critics Circle) (in Malay). Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  17. ""Ola Bola", "Polis Evo" lead FFM 28 nominations". Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  18. "Screenwriters rage 'Jagat', 'Ola Bola' disqualified as best film contenders". Malaysiakini. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  19. "FFM awards: Jagat wins Best Malaysian Film, Best Film in National Language goes to Munafik". The Star. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  20. "'Divisive' film awards panned". The Star. Star Media Group Berhad. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  21. Afdlin Shauki (4 August 2016). "Mintak Maaf, Tahun Ini Saya Boikot FFM". www.facebook.com (in Malay).
  22. Hemananthani Sivanandam (6 August 2016). "Big guns back Afdlin's stand". The Star. Star Media Group Berhad. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  23. "'Best Cinematography' nominee withdraws from 'racist' FFM". 6 August 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  24. Syed Jaymal Zahid (5 August 2016). "Boycott racially-divisive FMM, Afdlin Shauki tells peers after 'Ola Bola', 'Jagat' snub". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  25. Amar Shah Mohsen (7 August 2016). "Abdul Rahman critical of Finas and PFM for omitting 'Jagat' and 'Ola Bola'". The Sun.
  26. "Film Directors' Association official quits over language segregation issue". The Star. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
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