Review: The Sabarmati Report - Honest but Fluctuating

 

Movie: The Sabarmati Report
Rating:2.75/5

Cast: Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, Riddhi Dogra, Nazneen Patni, Hella Sitchlmair, Aryan Ardent, Sundip Ved and Others

Director: Dheeraj Sarna

Produced By: Balaji Motion Pictures, Vikir Films Production, Vipin Agnihotri Films

Release Date: November 15, 2024

Story:

A local reporter investigates a violent incident which occurred on February 27, 2002, on the Sabarmati Express close to the Godhra railway station in Gujarat.

Performances:

Vikrant Massey performed efficiently as journalist Samar Kumar, and he tried to take his character and film to the next level. If only the writing had been much stronger, Vikrant's efforts could have been visible. Raashii Khanna and Riddhi Dogra suited their parts with the latter being more prominent. All the other actors did their job properly. 

What worked for the film:

In all the important parts, the dialogues are incisive and powerful, while the background music, though gone overboard in a few scenes, enhances the atmosphere, predominantly driven by a noticeable sense of patriotism. In the second half, a few conversations between Samar and Amrita are good. Though the film shows the actual villains from one community/region, it also stresses that there are good and bad people from both the sides. 

What did not work for the film:

The Hindi Vs English thread looks forced and stretched after a point. There is no space for any nuance in this conflict. For example, Samar's girlfriend, Shloka, states that she knows that Hindi journalists are not held to certain expectations, despite that, she is in a relationship with him because of the love she has for him. Perhaps, the director should have concentrated on the disparities in compensation, the dynamics of power, or the instances of bias employed to marginalize vernacular journalists. Moreover, the film tries to take the side of victims in the horrific incident but never addresses it from their own side. The way the main mastermind between the entire plot is dealt in the pre capstone scene, where Samar and Amrita threaten him, does not bring the right effect, and it affects the big speech given by Samar in the court during the climax. 

The Sabarmati Report Review and Verdict: 

The Sabarmati Report presents a sincere effort to examine the Godhra tragedy and the events surrounding the Sabarmati Express on that tragic day. Though it had good performances along with some intense and effective moments. However, various issues, particularly the exaggerated portrayal of the conflict between Hindi and English journalists, limited the overall effect.