This is serious stuff and if you are
the kind that is looking out for entertainment this is just not for you. On the
other hand, if you are looking for some credible story telling with social
sensitivities in place and grab the earliest opportunity as the week goes by
and head to the theatres. These kind of films do not last long at the theatres
and are not often made with such sincerity and dogged commitment to the story
on hand.
Three girls: Minal (Tapsee), Falak (Kriti) and Andrea (Andrea) are working
girls who live in a flat owned by Vinod Nagpal. On a casual night out with
three guys Rajveer Singh (Angad), Dumpy (Rashool Tandon) and Vishwas (Tushar
Pandey). While the girls are out for fun, the guys get lecherous and justify
their actions. However, in self-defence Minal bangs a bottle on the face of
Rajveer and the gals escape. The guys later plan to avenge the attack. While
the gals after some thought and prodding decide to lodge a police complaint
after another attempt to terrorise and molest Minal, the guys use their political
clout. Soon the matter reaches the court. The rest of the film is a court drama
involving Deepak Sehgal (Amitabh) and the Prashant (Piyush Mishra). The matter
is tried by the judge Satyajit Dutt (Dhritman Chaterjee) who for once is a guy
who knows the law and is not reduced to loudly shouting “Order Order”.
The film is a must see. It deals with issues rather than incidents. While it
treads the familiar dramatic route of storytelling and is closer to BR Chopra’s
court scenes than Govind Nihlani. What makes for compulsive and serious viewing
is that the tale raises and mirrors serious gender issues of great contemporary
relevance. Fortunately, the girls are not painted as those goody goody ones and
therefore the premise of the debate is clear and straight. The film maker
(Anirudha Roy Choudry) does not mince words and takes the debate head on.
Serious questions on double standards and how we profile our women folk is
pointed out. The larger issue is in the forefront and the dramatic events are
pushed to the background. This seems a very conscious choice and a well-made
one at that.
Everyone in the film add flesh to the characters they are called upon to
perform. Kriti and Andrea as the two of the three victim girls need specific
mention for essaying trauma with ease. Angad as the bad guy is worth special
mention. He does not go overboard a hard to resist temptation. Then there is
Amitabh Bachchan who takes his time to come into his own and when he does he is
the consummate artist he is. However, the film labours to establish his
character and in the process extend the time of the narration which could
surely have been crisper. The film surely showcases the talent of Tapsee. She
has a role worth spending a life time and does full justice. She is just right.
As the traumatised victim with fear anger and suffering, we need to see to
believe the different shades she portrays with élan and class. This is an award
winning performance from an actor who is often called upon to play a space
filler.
For those who like meaningful cinema Pink is a must see.
+ The narrative
– Tad too morbid
Rating: 3.5 stars
L. Ravichander.