Author(s): Dr Krishna Kumar R

Abstract: Jallikattu is a 2019 Indian Malayalam language film directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery with Screenplay by S. Hareesh and R. Jayakumar, based on the short story 'Maoist' by S. Hareesh. The term 'Jallikettu' brought to our mind the controversial ritual of Tamil Nadu, It is a traditional event, also known as 'Manju Virattu'. People run for a buffalo reminds us about the early human hunting for animals when he was a forest man. It points out that food is the priority when any living being is considered. The elements of vengeance, mob psychology, consciousness etc along with many other points included in this film is pointing towards the theory of archetype. The film also represents mob psychology. Buffalo becomes the common enemy of the people in that village. These leads to many disputes. JALLIKATTU is the sort of movie that gores through the present way and defence of human conscience as nothing more than a restrictive layer of restraints man or society created in order to keep at bay their instincts or animalistic urges. This Paper is an analysis of how violence plays as an archetype in this film.

Keywords: Jallikattu, Power, anima/animus, Archetype, Mob Psychology.

Article Info: Received: 22 Jul 2026; Received in revised form: 18 Aug 2026; Accepted: 22 Aug 2026; Available online: 25 Aug 2026

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.114.61