Bastar: The Naxal Story - A bold attempt with a few defects

 

Movie: Bastar: The Naxal Story
Rating: 3/5
Cast: Adah Sharma, Vijay Krishna, Raima Sen, Yashpal Sharma, Shilpa Shukla and others
Director: Sudipto Sen
Produced By: Vipul Amrutlal Shah

Release Date: 15th March 2024

Story:

Located in Bastar, a densely forested region in the central part of Chhattisgarh, Bastar: The Naxal Story delves into the existence of the downtrodden inhabitants of numerous villages within this landscape. It sheds light on the harrowing experiences they endure due to the presence of the Maoist organization, which has turned their lives into a perpetual nightmare. Driven by a strong sense of justice, a valiant defense officer resolves to eliminate the Maoist organization from the region and restore joy and contentment to the people's lives.

Performances:

Adah Sharma plays a resolute police officer, delivering an authentic performance that fearlessly expresses her thoughts, even in the presence of politicians. On the other hand, Indira Tiwari gave a heartfelt and genuine performance as a tribal woman, striking a deep emotional chord. Vijay Krishna plays the menacing Lanka Reddy with perfection. Meanwhile, Raima Sen, Shilpa Shukla, and Yashpal Sharma flawlessly embody their respective roles, adding further depth to the overall ensemble. 

What Worked For The Film:

The story unfolds on two different fronts: in the dense jungles of Chhattisgarh, where Neerja, The film's lead role, confronts Lanka and his violent group, and in Delhi, where the Supreme Court deliberates on a petition challenging the actions of the SPOs. The narration shows all the incidents and court proceedings in parallel. The narrative perfectly shows the struggles faced by tribal families, with a particular focus on the hardships endured by women during the war. The portrayal of the radicalization of young tribal individuals and their subsequent involvement with the Naxal forces is impactful. Furthermore, the film effectively highlights the apathy and self-centeredness exhibited by politicians, bureaucrats, and other educators. The post-interval scene between Neerja and the Home Minister is the film's best scene, exposing the latter's incompetence and negligence. The final parts before the climax also provide the movie's required intrigue and powerful dialogues.

What Did Not Work For The Film:

The gruesome killings done by the Naxal gang are shown in a hard-hitting way in the film, which might not be digestible for everyone. Also, apart from the Naxal gang, the other negative characters and their scenes could have been appropriately handled, which could have added more depth to the movie. The screenplay falls flat at times as the scenes get a bit repetitive.

bastar: The Naxal Story Review And Verdict:

The film is a bold attempt with a few defects. The performances, powerful dialogue, and a few high moments, such as the climax and the post-interval meeting scene, work well for the movie, while some mishandled characters, pacing issues at times, and highly violent killing scenes do not.