We haven’t seen a movie that takes turns in the same way for a while, like Attention Please. The camera work and the environment both exhibit intellect, which elevates them to the status of essential elements of the narrative. On the one hand, the film includes a crucial conversation—albeit a little one-sided—about the state of inventive narrative in movies today and the various responses to it. From there, there is a carefully planned, step-by-step build-up to a remark on industry casteism. Jana Gana Mana is a recent film that addressed the issue of casteism in its plot, similar to Attention Please. The seemingly unrelated events that gave rise to that specific comment are depicted in both movies. However, the former explains it with its story in contrast to the latter, which capitalises on the topic’s shock value. Let’s examine how that transpires.
Spoilers upcoming
Hari s Stories On The Rooftop
Attention The video below begins with five men beginning their day in their home. Like any other bachelor pad, the men converse regularly about movies and cuisine there. Our main character Hari, a struggling author, resides with Ajith, Jithin, Yadhu, and Himal. As he doesn’t work and they frequently have to pay his bills, his roommates, notably Jithin, don’t respect him. They all regularly warn him that his screenplays are subpar and that if he must keep writing, he should search for other employment as they no longer want to pay for him. It’s important to note that the others are not only instructing him to bring some cash inside. He is being deliberately told that he is unfit to realise his dream by them. No criticism they offer is constructive, despite their claim that they have good intentions.
The five of them gather to drink later that evening. As entertainment that evening, Hari begins to narrate some of his tales. That much is true—he tells good stories. The group has many viewpoints as he tells his stories. They inform him that everything appears to be somewhat lifted. Jithin in particular appears to despise everything Hari writes. The men choose to carry on their conversation on the patio in either case. Ajith goes outside briefly to conduct some business. Hari is telling more tales on the terrace. Following one specific narration, the others appear to appreciate his writing. Jithin, however, keeps criticising Hari. Jithin accuses Hari of simply combining a few screenplays rather than coming up with something new as the two of them get into a furious dispute. Hari, who has had enough, stabs Jithin with a broken bottle as the confrontation heats up. The horrified Yadhu and Hamil want to assist him, but Hari warns them to back off. He describes how he was continuously reprimanded by Jithin and how he had grown weary of it through another anecdote. They then hear Ajith returning to the house. Jithin’s body is covered with a blanket, and Hari instructs the others to act normally.
When Ajith arrives on the terrace, we notice that he has Leena with him. They are getting married the following day after eloping. Jithin appears to be sleeping soundly, making it appear to be a typical sight. With Leena, Hari starts chatting right away and may be a touch nasty at times. Their parents’ opposition to the union is due to the fact that she is from a lower caste than Ajith. Especially when Leena performed a poem, this subject appears to push Hari dangerously near to the edge. Ajith and Hari eventually make the decision to descend to get certain items. Before departing, Hari asks Leena for her phone and promises to deliver it to Ajith when he is finished. Hamil and Yadhu inform Leena that Jithin is dead and that they are all in danger as soon as they leave. But Hari returns before they can take any action. Leena’s second phone, which they were intending to use to call the police, is taken by him. The three people are worried since Ajith is not with them and could possibly be dead. Hari continues to tell his stories while refusing to reveal what has happened to Ajith. He discusses his early years and how, because of his lesser caste, he has always been the one left out of everything. He talks about how his name and skin colour were used as targets for teasing. Hari also discusses how caste discrimination is implied by behaviour rather than being discussed outright. Leena is questioned by him about whether she truly thought that Ajith’s parents would ever accept her. Hari talks about how he is continually informed that he is not good enough in his home and how this is indicative of a bigger attitude that doesn’t value accomplishment and talent in those who belong to the so-called lower castes.
Attention Please Ending Explained: What Happens To Ajith And The Others?
As Jithin’s phone begins to ring near the end of Hari’s final story, Jithin begins to hear it. It’s the mother of Hari. Hari answers the phone and begins conversing with her. It’s like any other mother and son catching up, and neither would be able to comprehend that the other is killing two people and holding three captive. He answers the telephone downstairs. He is shown writing at his table, much as he was at the start of the movie. Jithin, who is still alive and well, informs his roommate about an incident that happened to him when his roommate calls him to eat. Hari smiles as something clicks in his head. Hari had a confused expression similar to someone having a Déjà Vu moment. The entire plot of the movie was written by Hari. And exactly as he had imagined it, it was happening in real life. His smile could indicate one of two things. One of them is how accurately he captured the routines and demeanours of his housemates, on whom the narrative is based. Second, he enjoys the repetition of the events, which indicates that he has no trouble bringing them to life. We wager on the latter.
Conclusion: What Works For Attention Please Film?
At no point does Attention Please imply that Hari is an accomplished writer. Most of the criticism he receives is justified. Hari is, at most, a mediocre person who lacks significant originality. Yet the message the film’s creators wanted to get over was that in a larger social framework, elite castes get away with being mediocre but lower castes don’t. Theoretically, neither ought to exist, but the pervasive artistic approval criteria create an unfair playing field. The commentary on this was done quite skillfully. One way to look at Attention Please is as a movie where a guy talks and everyone else listens. But, even that has a unique rhythm, packs a punch, and senses the viewer’s pulse. The Malayalam film industry is active and provides us with serves after serves. We adore this movie, which merely proves that quality material reigns supreme. As we gently prod Bollywood to take some more notes, our eyes will remain riveted to the South for more of this ground-breaking stuff.
Jithin Issac Thomas is the director of the Drama Thriller movie Attention Kindly from 2022.
