RIFLE RANGE BOY: Indian cinema's fascination with identical twins

Iratta(Twin, Malayalam; 2023)

Written & Directed By: Rohit M G Krishnan

Indian cinema's fascination with twins, particularly identical twins, goes way back to the late 1960s and 70s. Kollywood had MGR appear in many swashbuckling matinees featuring twins separated at birth by twist of fate, only to be reunited in adulthood by chance. Invariably, the twins would be different in mannerisms and characters, like day and night, but would be the spitting image of each other in appearance. These movies were mainly to boost MGR's political career as well as to spread Dravidian party ideologies. His films that involve twins' confusion include 'Enga Veetu Pillai' (1965) and 'Maattukara Velan' (1970).

Not wanting to be left out in the race to stardom, Sivaji Ganesan took the challenge to act in double roles. He pushed his acting prowess to the limit by appearing in triple roles - 'Deiva Magan' (1969), as a pair of twins, one looking normal and one scarred face, just like the father who is also Sivaji and scarred faced! Pushing the limit to the point of no return, this excellent actor assumed nine roles in 1964's 'Navarathri'. In 2001, BBC described Sivaji Ganesan's appearance in that movie as the best in his illustrious career. Each part is said to reflect nine human behaviours.

Double acting of yesteryears.

Kamal Haasan tried to outdo Sivaji's roles via his 2008's 10 avatars in 'Dasavathaaram'. A fine actor he is, some characters did create a buzz, but sadly others fell flat, giving the feeling that they were just forced upon.

We have our own representation of double acting in the 1956 P Ramlee's 'Anak Ku Sazali', which earned him the Best Actor award in the 1957 Asia-Pacific Film Festival.

This police procedural Malayalam film is different from most 'twin' stories. Most movies depict twins as poles apart, so black or white, one good and the other bad. However, this one has both good and bad, just like an average Joe in real life.

Pramod and Vinodh are twins separated in childhood by feuding parents. Their abusive alcoholic father chased out the mother and Pramod after a drunken stupor. Interestingly, both twins become police officers working in the same area. Pramod becomes a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Vinod becomes an Assistant Sub Inspector. Pramod had drinking problems and was separated from his wife and daughter. Vinod is a hot-tempered cop who has no qualms about abusing his power. He throws his weight around the public and is a menace to his colleagues. The story starts with three gunshots that shatter the tranquillity of an idyllic hilly town in Kerala. ASI Vinod is shot at close range and found sprawled at his table in the police station. The rest of the story is about the investigation of the murder, interviews with Vinodh's working colleagues and narration of flashbacks to the deceased and his brother's back history.

The beauty of the movie is the fine acting of Joju George, who did not give a single hint that Vinodh and Paramod are acted by the same actor. Their body language, mannerisms and speech differ much. There was no uncertainty about who was who. Wait for the twist at the end.