Trembles, relentless trembles that occur every time I witness something about rape, hear about the survivors. Feels punishing, for it never sees the right end—as a woman, it feels overwhelming, boiling and fuming. Assi hits you with the reality once again; it comes with a non-stop fight of a lawyer, who is willing to bring justice to a gang-rape survivor. The survivor happens to be a “school teacher,” and she gets gang-raped while returning home. What follows is a dead societal loophole, where we find a justice system struggling to give the survivor her deserved justice.
Centres around Parima (Kani Kusruti), who makes the narrative powerful with her commanding character. We see the tenacity. We find Parima, with a straight face, addressing the society (us) with the difficult question: for what do we do? Do we really fight back at it? Or armour our safety first, and with time forget the harrowing happenings. Time and again, if we scroll back through history, we have forgotten all of the incidents, for crimes take new shape every day, and the power that remains—navigate your attention towards an illusion. Parima, therefore, becomes stuck in the frustrating legal battle that follows the darkest night.
Advocate Raavi (Taapsee Pannu) becomes Parima’s supporting spine. But her honest fight is shadowed by the corruption within the system. Societal and legal loopholes, lack of evidence, with Parima not able to recognise the perpetrators, and the stigma that follows for rape survivors. You find it a mirror of societal loopholes. Slightly uncomfortable, yet it refuses to flinch. As Cesar A. Cruz says, “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”
Critics have pointed out flaws in its execution. However, the sincerity remains intact—and therefore succeeds in giving light to the aftermath of sexual violence in India.
Directed by Anubhav Sinha, produced by T-Series Films and Benaras Mediaworks, it boils your nerves and overwhelms you as a woman. Featuring Taapsee Pannu in the lead, the movie is now available in your nearby theatres.
IWMBuzz rates it 3.5/5 stars.
