2018 movie review: The Kerala story fanatics and their bot squads don’t want you to know

2018 – Everyone Is A Hero, as the title suggests, is a homage to the hundreds of thousands of people who banded together in the face of extreme rainfall and helped one another during a time of great darkness, rather than being the documentation of actual events that unfolded in the weeks that led up to mid-August that year.

In the movie’s opening sequences, people are seen going about their regular lives amid light rain. The film’s numerous characters are mostly introduced in the first act, and these people later play crucial roles in the story. The majority of them are good-hearted, although there are some who are petty and egotistical. They are hostile towards some people, including their family members. But nearly everyone initially has no idea that a catastrophe is just outside their door. 

The makers quickly establish that rain is a pervasive and influential character in the movie, and as the story progresses, the rain becomes more intense. Gradually, people who were initially unconcerned begin to recognise that the situation is spiralling out of control and take action to help. Soon, the rain and flash floods escalate into a catastrophic disaster, leaving many in dire straits. However, people who were previously divided by various factors put their differences aside and come together to assist those in need.

In a nutshell, 2018 portrays how Kerala overcame the challenge rather than focusing solely on the struggles it faced. Instead of following a straightforward plot with ups and downs, the film is like a beautifully crafted necklace, with each incident and occurrence adding to its charm. 2018 presents a heartwarming tale of unity and resilience that give goosebumps at every juncture. 

The movie deserves praise for emphasising the significance of the fisherfolk, who were like Kerala’s own army, leading altruistic rescue operations and saving numerous Malayalis who were stranded when the entire state was flooded. Even when the government’s efforts were stymied, the fisherfolk stepped up and became the heroes of the hour, deserving commendation for their selfless actions.

Despite featuring a vast array of actors, including Tovino Thomas, Indrans, Kunchacko Boban, Aparna Balamurali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Asif Ali, Lal, Narain, Tanvi Ram, Sshivada, Kalaiyarasan, Aju Varghese, Siddique, Joy Mathew, Sudheesh, and others, the two-and-a-half-hour-long film manages to give each character adequate significance and follow up on their lives later on. Although all actors exhibit exceptional skill, Indrans and Tovino Thomas deliver outstanding performances that make them stand out from the rest of the cast.

Although visual effects are not typically a strong suit in Malayalam cinema, the film 2018 demonstrates that the industry is capable of pulling them off. Akhil George’s cinematography and Chaman Chacko’s editing are the standout features of the film. They managed to capture emotions effectively and produce a final product that would move anyone who watches it. Nobin Paul’s music and Vishnu Govind’s audiography also contribute to creating a fantastic atmosphere that will evoke feelings of déjà vu. Additionally, colourist Srik Varier’s work is praiseworthy for providing an immersive experience.

Given that the film is based on one of the biggest natural disasters in Kerala’s history, which resulted in the death of 483 individuals and the destruction of thousands of homes, there were concerns about whether Jude, who is known for his comedy films, could handle the subject matter effectively. Rightly so, as it can be emotionally challenging for survivors to revisit the events that caused them so much pain and suffering. However, Jude’s understanding and empathy towards the survivors are remarkable. Throughout the film, he manages to avoid making anyone feel uncomfortable or distressed when revisiting the tragedy that occurred five years ago. 

As previously stated, the movie is a tribute to the heroes who saved lives during the calamity and does not delve into the specifics of the actual events. As a result, it avoids pointing fingers or making political statements, which could be considered a minus since negative campaigns against Kerala were widespread even during that period. Some of the fisherfolk who were involved in the relief operations stated that they were mistreated later when they were in need of help. Despite these issues, the makers’ aim was to portray the heroes’ story rather than focusing on the specifics of what happened, and this approach is justifiable from their POV.

One area where the movie falls short is its portrayal of female characters. The film focuses solely on male heroes, while women are often depicted as helpless and in need of rescue, which does not accurately reflect reality. In actuality, thousands of women also contributed to rescue operations and relief efforts, but this is rarely shown in the movie. While there are female characters played by Aparna Balamurali and Tanvi Ram, their potential is not fully realised, and the movie fails to adequately represent the role of Kerala women in the state’s recovery efforts.

In her review of the controversial Hindi film The Kerala Story, which was released alongside 2018, The Indian Express’ Shubhra Gupta wrote “The Kerala Story is nothing but a poorly-made, poorly-acted rant which is not interested in interrogating the social complexities of Kerala, a state proud of its multi-religious, multi-ethnic identity. All it is intent upon is creating the most simplistic, paper-thin characters to tell us that Kerala is in danger.” Amid the false narrative of hate, a film like 2018 – Everyone Is A Hero emphasises the unity of people and their can-do attitude. 

2018 – Everyone Is A Hero movie cast: Tovino Thomas, Indrans, Kunchacko Boban, Aparna Balamurali, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Asif Ali, Lal, Narain, Tanvi Ram, Sshivada, Kalaiyarasan, Aju Varghese
2018 – Everyone Is A Hero movie director: Jude Anthany Joseph
2018 – Everyone Is A Hero movie rating: 4 stars