Psychology isn't something that's brought up casually in Indian films. Whenever it is discussed, they make the patients seem absolutely crazy (Think Trance.) The truth is that people who suffer from mental health issues are often the people you least expect. They have a war going on inside, while they seem completely 'normal' on the outside. ('Normal' is a very relative term. To a deaf person, normal is a world with minimal/no sound. To a person with hearing, normal means a world with sound. Everyone's normal is different.)
Hey Jude is a rare film that discusses mental health and psychology without digging too deep or becoming unrealistic. Jude, brilliantly played by Nivin Pauly, is someone who struggles with his daily routine. He sets a specific time to eat his meals, can only eat specific foods during his meals, and counts calories. His room has a sort of disordered order that must not be touched by others. He has a great fear of water, which blocks him from pursuing his passion for oceanography. His lack of proper social skills makes him seem immature, rather than passionate and smart (he's a math prodigy, too). He doesn't understand human emotions, sarcasm, and other things 'normal' people would consider as 'common sense'. (Not everyone has the same definition for common sense either, and that's something people need to understand.) All he truly wants is an aquarium, which seems like a start on his path of oceanography.
Because of some inherited property, Jude and his parents go to Goa for some time. There, he meets Crystal (Trisha, in her debut Malayalam movie), who lives in the guest house of Jude's inherited property. She's the lead singer of a band and runs a cafe. They both meet, and develop a disliking for each other.
In order to get Crystal and her father, Sebastian, out of the guest house, Jude's father makes Jude become 'friends' with Crystal. In his first attempt, Jude reads out a set of instructions, and when interrupted, begins to read them all over again, panicking that he needs to finish reading it out. Sebastian and Crystal initially get annoyed with Jude, but begin to understand him once Sebastian realizes that Jude has Asperger's Syndrome. They bond with him over the math in cricket scores, help him get a job relating to oceanography, and teach him swimming to help him with his fears. They become friends, which for Jude, was very special. He ends up liking Goa and wanting to stay, much to his parents' disapproval.
Jude's parents believe their whole life that Jude just has a screw loose. They label him as crazy and mental, trying to force him to be 'normal' when it's extremely difficult for him to go through his day without anxiety, fear, and misunderstandings. No one seems to understand him until Crystal and Sebastian come along. They try to explain to Jude's parents about his autism spectrum disorder, and how they need to understand Jude rather than try to change him. Jude's father doesn't believe this and states that Jude is just a bit crazy and that he'll fall into place one day, but once he learns more about Asperger's Syndrome, he realizes how he's been treating Jude wrong. He changes his attitude so that he can help Jude now that he understands what's going on inside him. He throws a party for Jude so that he can see Jude play as a part of Crystal's band. He lets Jude eat his food the way he wants, and lets him explore his passions more, without pressuring him into being normal.
I felt like this complete understanding and change in attitude towards Jude was a bit odd. Understanding Jude better and having a different perspective on him is one thing, but completely changing your attitude toward him is another thing. What irritated Jude's father before doesn't even seem to irritate him even one percent afterward. Shouldn't it be a learning process for him too? It was as if he flipped a switch and became a completely better person in one night. Seen as a whole film though, this doesn't bother me as much.
Crystal doesn't get too much of her life shown when compared to Jude, but we do learn that she has Bipolar disorder, and is trying to help Jude while struggling with her own issues. When Crystal invites Jude to a party, he chickens out and doesn't go, causing Crystal to get extremely angry and throw stones at Jude's window.
They both have such contrasting lives. While Jude grew up in a family that didn't understand mental health issues, Crystal grew up with a father who happened to be a psychologist himself. Jude grew up being extremely introverted because of Asperger's, and Crystal grew up being really outgoing. If this was your typical Indian film, they both would've fallen in love and lived happily ever after, but this isn't your typical Indian film. (How can it be typical? It actually discusses psychology in a realistic setting.) They both do end up falling in love with each other, but Crystal decides that it's for the best that they stay as friends, since their personalities clash in many ways. In the end, we see that Jude gets a job offer from the National Institute of Oceanography, with Crystal advising him on his improving social skills. I thought it was a great ending for such a film.
Better writing would have definitely improved the film overall, but the importance of it outweighs the flaws in this sweet, relevant film.
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