First things first. This is a serious movie and those looking for entertainment are advised to keep away. Anubhav Sinha is known for making movies on serious and thought provoking subjects giving no consideration to box office requirements.( I however found that compared to this movie, Thappad, Mulk and Article 15 were far superior) .This is one such movie which is more of a docudrama on the exodus of migrant labour during the Covid lockdown where hundreds were stuck at a sealed border and not allowed to proceed to their homes. Stopping these angry, desperate and hungry people from moving forward is a small group of policemen led by Inspector Rajkummar Rao. Tempers run high, tension mounts and there is some violence too which Rajkummar Rao finds difficult to control.
Director Anubhav Sinha and his camera person have faithfully tried to recreate and record what must have taken place then. The camera captures the people left stranded in the open wilderness like the old and helpless giving blank stares, the scared, the sick, the hungry children etc in the Black and White format making the scenes very realistic indeed. The movie touches upon smouldering social issues like caste division, racism, misinformation, rumours etc etc. A real life incident of a 12 year old girl taking her sick father on a bicycle is depicted well. The director has used half a dozen non stars to play ordinary characters to good effect. All actors have done equally well with no one standing out and thankfully there is little melodrama .The movie is heavy and slow but not boring though there is no doubt that it is a difficult watch. The amorous interlude of the lead pair was unnecessary and jarring ( A box office compromise? )
Director Anubhav Sinha and his camera person have faithfully tried to recreate and record what must have taken place then. The camera captures the people left stranded in the open wilderness like the old and helpless giving blank stares, the scared, the sick, the hungry children etc in the Black and White format making the scenes very realistic indeed. The movie touches upon smouldering social issues like caste division, racism, misinformation, rumours etc etc. A real life incident of a 12 year old girl taking her sick father on a bicycle is depicted well. The director has used half a dozen non stars to play ordinary characters to good effect. All actors have done equally well with no one standing out and thankfully there is little melodrama .The movie is heavy and slow but not boring though there is no doubt that it is a difficult watch. The amorous interlude of the lead pair was unnecessary and jarring ( A box office compromise? )