My professor at film school used to ask us this question “What is #SanjayLeelaBhansali chose to remake #Devdas, not with #ShahrukhKhan but with #DinoMorea?”. No offence meant to anyone but that one question has remained in my head whenever I see a film elevated owing to the status and heft of an actor. In an age where brands are questioning the return on investment of celebrity advertising, a standard film can become an extraordinary film when led by a face that can uplift it.
ASHOK’s FIVE reviews the new #VidyaBalan movie on #AmazonPrime, #AmitMasurakar’s #Sherni. Amit has earlier made #Newton with #RajkummarRao in the lead and this is yet another film, shot in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh. Be warned though this is a very unusual film; #VidyaBalan lets go of her trademark exuberance; more importantly the documentary style attention to detail and the realistic feel and low-key climax are all potential let-downs in spite of a commendable build up of the tension all through the film.
#Sherni is the story of Vidya Vincent (#VidyaBalan), who is posted as District Forest Officer in a new location. She has been on the job for nine years without a promotion and a considerable period at a desk job. She has clearly lost her sheen at the work place and is in a tough spot. Her husband Pavan(#MukulChadda) advises her to just do her job and make sure the salary is coming in every month. Amidst the nexus of politicians, administrators and the village folk, she battles it out. It is the de rigueur story of an office who is brave enough to take on the government machinery with its patriarchy, cronyism and general laidback attitude. In many ways, the relevance of the title makes sense to you as the story progresses. Who is the real Sherni here?
#BrajendraKala is brilliant in his portrayal of Vidya’s boss. He sits in front of a huge photo of a tiger and is at his best when singing on the dias at department functions, but all he cares about in is protecting his interests. He is the classical oily, meek and afraid officer who allows the government office to be hijacked by the local goons. In one scene, he runs around inside the office to escape the guys who are looking to manhandle him and hides behind the files that are stacked ceiling high and gathering dust.
Vidya’s only ally in the fight is zoology professor Hasaan Noorani (#VijayRaaz) in a role that does not give him latitude to display his prowess. On the other hand, there is #SharatSaxena in a superb display of alfa male machoism, as he plays Pintu Bhaiyya who pretends to be a conservationist but in reality is keen to hunt wildlife. Every rural village or town in India has this prototype, the self-serving goon who infiltrates the government machinery on the strength of financial or political muscle and then becomes the defacto administrator there. The cast also includes some heavyweights like #NeerajKabi and #IlaArun.
The film is carried on the able shoulders of #VidyaBalan who lens much needed heft to the story. She is emotionless and weary; her eyes reflect the anger and the frustration. Unfortunately the film does not do any justice to exploring the character deeper and try and understand what has moulder her like this. In once scene, her husband tells her that she looks similar to how she was in college but she shrugs it off with a deadpan expression.
The camera work by #RakeshHaridas and the sound design by #AnishJohn bring alive the beauty, tranquility and the background buzz of the forest beautifully. The night shots are as arresting as the daytime ones. The film also brings up the issues that crop up when development and environment collide. Masurkar steers clear of any debate on the issue and sticks to the narrative. One thing that does stand out is the appreciation of the forests in a manner which we do not really understand, In one scene, a villager advises that you can go to the forest a hundred times and spot a tiger only once, but the tiger can see you 99 times.
#Sherni is an interesting experiment and the choice of the lead protagonist makes the story emphatic. All said however, the ending is a huge let down and does not really provide closure to the conflict that has been set up. The documentary style narration then seems to be an easy way out for the makers.
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