Hindi cinema's epic bandit films include Bandit Queen, Sholay, Paan Singh Tomar and Gangs of Wasseypur. Chaubey has long been obsessed with crooks, and their relations with ordinary women who turn out to be surprisingly spunky (Ishqiya, Dedh Ishqiya; and drug runners and plucky women in Udta Punjab); his 'crooked' obsession continues with Sonchiriya. The women in all of Chaubey's films are mostly feisty, independent, and often bold about their sexuality. Here, Tomar is a victim, yet strong-willed. She gets the most iconic shot in the film: as the dacoits first see her, she simultaneously pulls down her ghunghat and raises her rifle at them. Woman crushed below and woman on top: it is a masterstroke. The presence of a woman humanises the macho bandits. At one point, when Phuliya (Phoolan Devi) invites Tomar, both survivors of patriarchal crimes, to join her gang, Tomar says she's a Thakur, and Phuliya replies: "Yeh jat sirf aadmiyon ke liye hai. Auraton ki jat hi alag hoti hai, sabse neeche." Chaubey also refuses to weave in a love story, though Lakhan and Tomar spend considerable time together. But there is an explosive revelation of a rape, that could have been a key plot point, but comes swaddled with confusing characters, and is over in minutes at the climax. Also, Sonchiriya (golden bird) represented here by a young, raped Dalit girl, is a mixed metaphor.

The performances by the ensemble cast, are gritty and compelling. Chaubey's direction has panache, with many set action pieces.

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However, Sudip Sharma's screenplay, while solid, with well-etched key characters and back stories, has too many subplots with confusing character motivations and caste politics. Likewise, Meghna Manchanda Sen's editing, at 143 mins, could have been more taut. Nonetheless, Sharma's dialogues offer delicious black humour, as when Man Singh says: "Nobody died of government bullets. Only of its promises." Anuj Dhawan's splendid cinematography is a pillar of the film. Vishal Bhardwaj's songs are evocative. Overall, this is an engaging, thoughtful and demanding film. Kudos to Ronnie Screwvala's RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures for backing it.

Meenakshi Shedde is South Asia Consultant to the Berlin Film Festival, award-winning critic, curator to festivals worldwide and journalist. Reach her at meenakshishedde@gmail.com

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