Azadi movie review: Sreenath Bhasi's jailbreak drama struggles to break free of clichés, is shackled to a terrible twist

Indian Express

24-05-2025

Azadi movie review: Jailbreak movies are inherently more intriguing compared to other crime thrillers. The stakes are usually higher, since the odds of the master plan succeeding are incredibly slim; there's also a cat-and-mouse element, with the police hot on the trail of the escapees. This not only creates ample potential for thrilling moments but also forces the filmmakers to craft airtight narratives.
Debutant director Jo George's Azadi is, at its core, a jailbreak drama where the stakes are incredibly high. Or, as Raghu (Sreenath Bhasi) puts it while explaining his plan to his teammates, 'There's a 99 per cent chance this will fail.' Yet, he, along with his father-in-law Sivan (Lal) and a band of commoners, embarks on a mission that could cost them all their Azadi (freedom) forever.
In prison for murdering the son of an influential p0litician, Ganga (Raveena Ravi) was spared from the death penalty solely because she was pregnant at the time of her conviction. Although she is relatively safe within the prison walls, Mohan (Boban Samuel) is waiting for the right opportunity to avenge his son's death. Meanwhile, Raghu and Sivan are on the outside, devising a master plan to help Ganga escape once and for all, with the help of their lawyer, Advocate Gangadhara Menon (TG Ravi).
Knowing that rescuing her directly from prison is impossible, they plan to make their move when she is transferred to Kottayam Medical College to give birth to her child. To execute the plan, they rope in four people: Pappan (Rajesh Sharma), Jinu (Abin Bino), Sathyan (Abhiram Radhakrishnan), and a doctor at the medical college (Gilu Joseph). Once Ganga is admitted to the hospital, they begin setting their plan in motion. Despite their efforts to keep everything under wraps, the police learns about the scheme. Enter the sharp and formidable Rani IPS (Vani Viswanath), determined to ensure that Ganga is returned to jail immediately after delivery. With increased security and a hospital swarming with thousands of people, how will Ganga be rescued?
From the very beginning, Azadi makes it clear that it's going to prioritise drama over thrills, and writer Sagar and director Jo George remain committed to that till the very end. Even when the narrative veers into thriller territory, the filmmakers resist the temptation. By fixing Azadi's roots firmly in drama, Jo and Sagar consistently aim to tug at the audiences' heartstrings; unfortunately, these attempts don't always work as intended. In fact, several moments come across as overly dramatic, largely due to heavy-handed dialogues. The same issue crops up in the film's tense scenes.
Though Sagar manages to maintain a generally organic narrative flow, several scenes feel undercooked. Whether it's Raghu's desperation to see the plan succeed, Sivan's helplessness, or the others' fear of getting nabbed, the writing frequently falls short due to an overreliance on unpolished dialogues. If not for the actors' good performances, the film would have struggled even more.
Jo George shows promise in his debut outing, but Azadi would have benefited from a brisker pace. While Noufal Abdullah's editing helps preserve the film's core essence, complemented by Varun Unni's superb music, a tighter cut could have eliminated many repetitive moments, especially the repeated scenes of the police confidently declaring that 'the problems are solved and the situation is under control' when things clearly aren't. And then, there's the pointless subplot featuring Saiju Kurup.
(Spoilers ahead) The film's climactic twist, meanwhile, is one of its biggest letdowns. Rather than elevating the story or compensating for its earlier shortcomings, the twist feels extremely contrived. Given Ganga's sad backstory and the impending threat to her life, the twist undermines the emotional build-up; the movie would have been better off if the twist had been avoided entirely.
Sreenath Bhasi shines as the protagonist, especially in scenes that require subtlety and restraint. In moments when his character is emotionally and spiritually crushed by the police, Bhasi convincingly portrays both Raghu's suffering and humility in tandem, adding the necessary layers to his role. Though his dialect initially feels inconsistent, as if he's struggling to find the right tone, it becomes clear after the climactic twist why he chose that tactic, and it ultimately pays off.
Though Vani Viswanath's aura is incomparable and she magnificently commands every frame she's in, her character is poorly written. Beyond a few 'punch' dialogues with a Tamil touch, Vani is given little else to work with. Lal, as the ageing distressed father with a dark past, is perfect in his role; though his performance could have been elevated further with stronger dialogues. Raveena Ravi delivers a standout portrayal as the speech-impaired, pregnant Ganga, capturing both vulnerability and quiet strength.
Azadi movie cast: Sreenath Bhasi, Vani Viswanath, Saiju Kurup, Lal, Raveena Ravi
Azadi movie director: Jo George
Azadi movie rating: 2 stars
Anandu Suresh is a Senior sub-editor at Indian Express Online. He specialises in Malayalam cinema, but doesn't limit himself to it and explores various aspects of the art form. He also pens a column titled Cinema Anatomy, where he delves extensively into the diverse layers and dimensions of cinema, aiming to uncover deeper meanings and foster continuous discourse. Anandu previously worked with The New Indian Express' news desk in Hyderabad, Telangana. You can follow him on Twitter @anandu_suresh_ and write (or send movie recommendations) to him at [e-mail]. ... Read More