Stand Up (2019 film)

Keerthi, an aspiring stand-up comedian, narrates the story of her friend Diya who was attacked in an apartment and is branded a victim.

Keerthi is at a stage where many stand-up comedians are presenting their acts. She starts with the typical stand-up comedy and talks about her family. Her brother Amal and her friend Diya are in a relationship. However, there is always a friction between them as Amal considers Diya to be more fond of her friends. Things go downhill at times. Amal convinces his mother to agree to their marriage and he meets Diya to tell her. Diya tells him that she has been admitted to Delhi University and is going to pursue the same. Amal is enraged because he had previously told Diya not to. Things become very bad and eventually they break up, but Amal is still not willing to let go. Sujith asks Diya to his flat for a final talk. Amal tells Sujith off and begins to talk to Diya angrily. He assaults her and leaves her unconscious. Sujith is framed for the rape and there is immense pressure on Diya to refrain from legal proceedings. Keerthi is forced to leave her home for supporting Diya. They come together to find justice for Diya.

{{castlist|

• Rajisha Vijayan as Diya
• Nimisha Sajayan as Keerthi
• Venkitesh V.P. as Amal{{cite web |url=https://tv.mathrubhumi.com/en/news/movies-and-music/su-1.35136 |work=Mathrubhumi |title=Actor Venkitesh Talks About His Movie 'Stand Up' |date=24 July 2020 }}
  - {{cite web |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/movies/movie-interviews/stand-movie-actor-venkitesh-movie-interviews/654672 |work=Madhyamam |title=എല്ലാം കൊണ്ടും 'സ്റ്റാൻഡ് അപ്' അടിപൊളിയാണ് -വെങ്കിടേഷ് |date=14 December 2019 |language=Malayalam |access-date=10 May 2023 |archive-date=22 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522122306/https://www.madhyamam.com/movies/movie-interviews/stand-movie-actor-venkitesh-movie-interviews/654672 |url-status=live }}
• Arjun Ashokan as Sujith
• Sajitha Madathil as Maria
• Jolly Chirayath as Mini
• Seema as Dr. Asha
• Rajesh Sharma as Diya's father
• Sethu Lakshmi as Achamma
• Divya Gopinath as Thasni

}}

The Times of India said that the film is "a brave female perspective on addressing abuse" and rated it 3.5 out of 5.{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/stand-up/movie-review/72516734.cms |title=Stand Up Movie Review: A brave female perspective on addressing abuse |work=The Times of India |author=Deepa Antony |date=13 December 2019 |access-date=14 December 2019 |archive-date=14 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214062002/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/stand-up/movie-review/72516734.cms |url-status=live }} A review in The Hindu praised the film for similar reasons;{{Cite news |last=Nagarajan |first=Saraswathy |date=2019-11-01 |title=Vidhu Vincent's Malayalam film 'Stand Up' exhorts women to speak up |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/vidhu-vincents-stand-up-is-about-the-ups-and-downs-in-the-life-of-a-group-of-friends/article29853702.ece |access-date=2023-05-02 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=4 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504203943/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/vidhu-vincents-stand-up-is-about-the-ups-and-downs-in-the-life-of-a-group-of-friends/article29853702.ece |url-status=live }} as did The New Indian Express, that found the film "disturbing, enraging and uplifting all at once." but its first half weaker than the second.{{Cite web |title='Stand Up' review: Rajisha Vijayan powers this brave film |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2019/dec/14/stand-up-review-rajisha-vijayan-powers-this-brave-film-2075735.html |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=The New Indian Express |date=14 December 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507235423/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2019/dec/14/stand-up-review-rajisha-vijayan-powers-this-brave-film-2075735.html |url-status=live }}

The website Lensmen Reviews also praised the film's message but criticised its ’amateurish’ production.{{Cite web |last=Bharadwaj |first=Aswin |date=2019-12-14 |title=Stand Up Review {{!}} An Amaeturishly Made "Socially Relevant" Film |url=https://lensmenreviews.com/stand-up-malayalam-movie-review-2019/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Lensmen Reviews |language=en-US |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505205952/https://lensmenreviews.com/stand-up-malayalam-movie-review-2019/ |url-status=live }}

The News Minute recalled the film had been criticised for its writing but that "Rajisha (Vijayan)'s performance as Diya, a sexual assault survivor, was appreciated", characterising her performance as "raw" and finding that her acting as well as Nimisha Sajayan's one were among the main assets of the film.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-29 |title=Anna Ben, Rajisha, Nimisha: Three women stars from Malayalam cinema to watch out for |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/anna-ben-rajisha-nimisha-three-women-stars-malayalam-cinema-watch-out-127597 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=The News Minute |language=en |archive-date=2 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502223051/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/anna-ben-rajisha-nimisha-three-women-stars-malayalam-cinema-watch-out-127597 |url-status=live }} Cinema express too praised the actress's performance in the film.{{Cite web |title=Ace Performers of Malayalam cinema in 2019 |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/trends/2019/dec/30/ace-performers-of-malayalam-cinema-in-2019-16281.html |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Cinema Express |date=30 December 2019 |language=en |archive-date=8 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508160439/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/trends/2019/dec/30/ace-performers-of-malayalam-cinema-in-2019-16281.html |url-status=live }}

{{reflist}}

Category:2019 films

Category:2010s Malayalam-language films

Category:Indian drama films

Category:2019 drama films