This is not the Sudhir Mishra who directed Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003), the haunting, political, cult film, or Dharavi or Serious Men, or who wrote the delightful satire Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro with Kundan Shah, produced by NFDC in 1983; the veteran has directed and written over 20 films and series. Mishra’s tone is somewhat uneven; more mainstream and in-your-face, making his voice heard in a majoritarian, nationalistic nation, whose government showers tax-free goodies on right-wing films like Kashmir Files and Uri: The Surgical Strike.

While Nawazuddin Siddiqui takes a while to settle into his character, Bhumi Pednekar puts in a spirited performance. The screenplay, by Sudhir Mishra, Nisarg Mehta and Shiva Shankar Bajpai, with dialogues by Apurva Dhar Badgaiyann, is gutsy. But what could have been better fleshed out is why Nivedita is secular in a right-wing household, than explain why rumours are dangerous. There are perceptive subplots, including about a character’s (Sharib Hashmi, effective) loyalty to his political master, even after the latter tried to bump him off, and a feisty, marginalised policewoman (an excellent TJ Bhanu), who is sexually exploited by her boss Tomar, but she’s no pushover. 

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The cinematography of Mauricio Vidal (Narcos; he’s Colombian) is thoughtful; including in a scene where Nivedita and Rahab are on opposite sides of the road with heavy traffic, and her life is at risk. Though editor Atanu Mukherjee’s editing could have been a bit tighter, he mostly keeps the pace brisk. Bhaskar Roy and Kunal Lolsure’s sound design, music by Shameer Tandon and background score by Czech composer Karel Antonin, complement the film well, with haunting lyrics by Dr Sagar, “Aaj yeh basant thoda bawala hua ma/Sarson ke khet mein apheem uga aya” (Spring is now a little fickle/Mustard fields yield opium). Mishra said he made Dr Sagar listen to Bob Dylan, while writing lyrics in Bhojpuri! Salute to Mishra, producer Anubhav Sinha and the courageous team.

Meenakshi Shedde is India and South Asia Delegate to the Berlin International Film Festival, National Award-winning critic, curator to festivals worldwide and journalist. 
Reach her at meenakshi.shedde@mid-day.com