A searing screenplay threatens to burn up all commonly held theories of the
real life case. Crackling writing, well researched script that treads
the dangerous edge of almost delivering a judgement on the biggest botched case
of Indian civilian crime history
Distanced incidents generally have a cursory impact on our minds. The
remoteness from the incidents and the subjects, creates a chilling indifference
and a casual judgement in our minds about the people involved. The double
murder case in Delhi was one such. Most of us including me have been personally guilty of casually
absorbing details served to us by the investigating agencies and the courts
resolute in our belief then that the agencies involved truly come up with
irrefutable conclusions to the cases they handle. Again a view propounded by
heroic stories of these agencies in our movies. Distance does create a blurred
vision. As you get on with the hurly burly of life you also give into accepting graphic details
of lurid behavior in ordinary people perhaps because it caters to your need to
be surprised. And perhaps also because it is easy to devour gossip. Helps to
give you a closure on an uncomfortable theory of parents potentially murdering
their children. You do not want to believe that happened. And if it indeed
happened then perhaps it was because the people had dirty stories in their
closet. Convenient to use that appendage to prop up our own sense of relief
that it was not a natural order of things.
Meghna and Vishal with Talvar use that rusted sword of justice as a
clever proxy to prod you wide awake and whisper, without any clear intention to
conclude, that, perhaps there is more to it that needs your attention. That
perhaps this has happened to ordinary people, like you, who went about their daily
life as joyously as you did without any dark deeds till fate struck them a
tragic blow and then things went downhill. And that is when it hits you, that
we live in a humoungsly imperfect society especially in our country. You want
to pray that you never ever have to deal with a dangerous system should
anything unfortunate happen that requires intervention from the governance.
Everything about the system seems to be flawed. Is it a wrong people or the
wrong system? Is it a perfect system with dangerous people or is it a flawed
system with good people trying to make their best of it. The answer seems to
lie somewhere in between
We had sunk into our sofas content in sniggering at the upper middle
class professional families and their lurid and lusty lifestyles. It was fed to
us by the media who in turn were fed by the system. You cringed as you dined
watching the seemingly impassionate couple not display enough sorrow as perhaps
you would have wanted to. That one lacuna in empathetic behavior seemed to
confirm to the vast majority of us that there was more to it than they
revealed. She did not cry. How debased is our feeling?
Thanks to creative stalwarts like Meghna and Vishal who worked for three
years researching to an extent with impartial integrity all sides of the story
leading up to the double murder case of the daughter Delhi family of dentists and
their resident servant. Every cast member in this brilliantly and honestly
scripted movie is outstanding. Commencing from the bumbling police officer
eager to help his superior close the case with a convenient theory of honor
killing after the 13 year old girl is found murdered in her home by her own
parents. Not really classic behavior for potential killers really. The first
suspect the servant himself is found dead a day later on the locked terrace. It
seems astounding today that no one thought of investigating the terrace just a
floor above.
It is good fortune to an extent that an honest officer brought in by the
investigating agency flips the police theory on its head and ascribes the guilt
to the servant’s friends who are since free.
Thanks to sick politics and a case of one upmanship the case is sought
to be debunked by their own people and a second team investigates and tries to dump
the original theory.
I have not seen a more critical analysis of a real life murder and its
aftermath on the screen before. It is morbid but makes you feel comfortable
that all hope is not lost yet. That there are people in the industry for who
the art is still to be used to furthering fairness and goodness in society and not just serve as
mindless entertainment. To use art as a medium to make critical commentary and
softly challenge judgements without treading on fault lines and risking
contempt of court.
Konkana Sen and Neeraj Kabi as
the parents, Prakash Belawade as the retiring agency head, Atul Kumar , Sohum Shah,
the actors playing the suspected murderers , every member of the cast playing
bit roles impressively excel in their realistic portrayal. The credit for that
goes perhaps to the director and the producer- writer for taking the pains to
extricate those performances. Everything seems so real. It reinforces the theory
that I hold about great movies being those where not only the leading cast
performs but each and every character that fills in the creative space on the
screen making it a wholesome experience.
And when you leave the theatre you are left with a ceaseless applause
for that marvel of an actor Irfan. Displaying simple nuances. Watch him make
wry remarks, playing with his glasses, smirking on video games as he
interrogates a potential suspect. The terrific ensemble lead by the inimitable
Irfan exhibits what artistry in cinema is about. And then that unforgettable
climax scene where agencies debate various theories. A rocking scene which I
can safely say is one of the best I have ever seen in a Hindi film. So well
written so well enacted. One may want to watch the movie again just for that
one scene. Brilliant scripting.
The movie may not only serve as an ingredient for heated debates on the
weekends but perhaps instigate a relook at the whole case from a new angle with
pressure building up from the masses and not just relegated to good mood days
of a few investigating or judging authorities.
The movie does equal justice to all the angles trying to play an
impartial role as a medium just bringing the theories to you but the nudge wink
effort towards one angle is not lost on the audience and we know where our
sympathies will lie till proven otherwise. If this movie manages to change the
course of events I think a round of applause to the people behind this creative
work led by Vishal Bharadwaj and Meghna Gulzar is in order
Watch it to know that
justice denied should be a cross to carry for a nation with conscience.
*****
Loved the write up Dai. Real good one
ReplyDeletethanks Vinay
Deletedo watch if when you can. Good critical cinema