TW: Sexual Assault
I knew what I was going in for after watching Bhakshak’s trailer. But then came the first scene of the movie. It was only 2 mins long, but trust me, it felt like 2 hours. The movie starts on such a painful note and sets such a gloomy tone, that you’re invested right from the beginning just to see the girls get justice. One of the most powerful beginnings of a movie in recent times, ngl. Bhakshak is one hell of a thought-provoking movie that not only connects you to the characters but also shatters you to the core. Red Chillies Entertainment for the win (Proud SRKian)!
Plot
Inspired by true events, the story is basically a battle of justice b/w a powerful and exploitative Bansi Sahu and a resilient but small-time journalist Vaishali Singh, where she tries to find out the real truth behind a girl’s shelter home in Munnawarpur after she receives an Audit Report claiming that the girls of that shelter have been sexually assaulted. Ofc, just like any other crime drama, there is a lot of power play, political pressure, and an unsupportive husband discouraging his wife from doing her work. And honestly, the movie feels unoriginal if you consider these aspects. But the movie still keeps you hooked till the end, thanks to some brilliant performances. Also here’s a fair warning: the shit gets pretty intense, especially during the climax– one hell of an emotional journey man.
Performances
I absolutely love this side of Bhumi Pednekar, where she shifts from mainstream movies to indie/unconventional projects and simply nails it. I mean, kahaan “Thank You For Coming” aur kahaan yeh. On one hand, she brings this mix of fearlessness and compassion as the reporter, and on the other hand, we see her scared and subdued side in her home. The balance is just *chef’s kiss*. Sanjay Mishra is as dependable as ever and adds the much-needed comic relief as her cameraperson. But god do I hate the guts of Aditya Srivastava after watching him play Bansi Sahu. Bros destroyed my fav CID officer man. He’s easily the stand-out of the cast– just so good at making you hate his guts!
Direction and Writing
Okay, so here’s where things get a bit tricky. The director tries to keep things grounded, which is great, but sometimes it feels like they’re just slapping the message on your face. The writing could’ve been a bit more subtle, you know? Like, stop thinking the audience is dumb and trust us to pick up on things without spitting it out. There are moments where the dialogues feel a bit forced, and some of the characters come off as caricatures rather than fully fleshed-out individuals, which didn’t hurt me, but yeah they can be weird at times. But haan, overall sab sorted hai and the direction does a good job of keeping you engaged throughout.
Screenplay and Cinematography
It is a journalist’s story, toh obv most of the film is just an investigation, and us samay the movie makes sure you are literally glued to the screen. But the weaker points of the movie surface when it takes a break from the investigation. Idk, it feels like they’re trying too hard to be dramatic, which comes off as a bit cheesy. Visually, it’s not the most polished film out there, but theek hai yaar, chalta hai. The cinematography tho effectively captures the gritty and harsh truth of the shelter home and the surrounding environment, fcking you up in the head right from the beginning. I had goosebumps watching some of the calmest scenes of the movie, the cinematography was THAT good.
Overall, “Bhakshak” is definitely worth a watch whether or not you’re into gritty dramas with a social message. Yeah, it’s not perfect, but the brilliant performances and the storyline make it worth it. Could’ve been one of the best crime dramas of Hindi Cinema, but maybe it was not to be. Bhumi Pednekar, never stop doing such films, and SRK, never stop producing such films, much love and respect to you bothhh!
