Review of Bhakshak: Even though the movie has good parts, why doesn’t it leave a bigger impact? Bhumi Pednekar, the main actress, tries hard, but it feels like something is lacking.
Movie Ratings
4.5/5
- Release Date 9 February 2024
- Language Hindi
- Genre Drama
- Duration 2h 14min
- Cast Bhumi Pednekar, Sanjay Mishra, Sai Tamhankar, Aditya Srivastav, Durgesh Kumar, Danish Iqbal, Gulista Alija
- Director Pulkit
- Writer Jyotsana Nath Pulkit
- Cinematography Kumar Saurabh
- Producer Gauri Khan, Gaurav Verma
- Production Red Chillies Entertainment
- Certificate 18+
“BHAKSHAK” unfolds as an investigative thriller set in 2018. Vaishali Singh (played by Bhumi Pednekar) is a journalist residing in Patna with her husband Arvind (portrayed by Surya Sharma). Together with Bhaskar Sinha (played by Sanjay Mishra), they operate the small-time news channel, Koshish News. One day, an informant named Gupta (characterized by Durgesh Kumar) provides Vaishali with a social audit report revealing the dire conditions and physical abuse suffered by orphaned girls at the shelter home in Munawwarpur, Bihar. Despite the report being submitted to the government two months earlier, no action or inquiry has been initiated.
Vaishali and Bhaskar decide to investigate further and discover that the shelter home is under the control of the influential politician Bansi Sahu (portrayed by Aditya Srivastava). Vaishali also encounters Mithilesh (played by Chittaranjan Tripathy), an official from the Child Welfare Committee, who pretends to be unaware of the situation. Meanwhile, Bansi becomes aware of Vaishali’s investigation and threatens Arvind with severe consequences if she continues.
Undeterred by the risks, Vaishali broadcasts the news on her channel and embarks on a journey to various shelter homes across Patna and other towns in Bihar to gather leads. However, none of these homes have any young girls who were previously housed at the Munawwarpur shelter. Eventually, Vaishali manages to locate a crucial witness. The ensuing events form the remainder of the film’s gripping narrative
Pulkit and Jyotsna Nath’s narrative, inspired by a true event, is remarkable. Its impact is heightened by the fact that many are unaware of this incident. The screenplay crafted by Pulkit and Jyotsna Nath is engaging for the most part, although the overall pacing could have been swifter. Their dialogues, particularly Bhumi Pednekar’s monologue, are impactful.
Pulkit’s direction is commendable. He adopts a straightforward approach, keeping the focus squarely on the main storyline throughout the 135-minute runtime. Thankfully, he avoids sensationalism while still effectively portraying the horrors within the shelter home. The narrative draws parallels with the Oscar-winning film SPOTLIGHT [2015], but the risks faced by the journalists here are graver, resulting in heightened tension. The filmmakers also address significant issues and pay tribute to the unsung heroes of rural Indian media who risk their lives to expose stories for societal betterment. The film begins on a chilling note, with standout scenes including Vaishali’s confrontation with her husband, Sudha’s flashback, and the hospital sequence. The climax is thrilling.
However, the film suffers from a slow pace, with certain scenes leaving the audience perplexed, such as the attempt to frame Mithilesh. Despite the filmmakers’ efforts to justify these moments, they still feel unconvincing, particularly regarding Bansi and his associates’ lack of aggression towards silencing Vaishali and Bhaskar.
In terms of performances, Bhumi Pednekar delivers one of her career-best portrayals, carrying the film with strength and understanding her character impeccably. Sanjay Mishra adds charm and humor to the film, showcasing his talent through nuanced body language and expressions. Aditya Srivastava excels as the antagonist, portraying his role with flair. Sai Tamhankar makes a strong impact despite limited screen time. Durgesh Kumar entertains, while Surya Sharma provides solid support. Gulista Alija and Tanisha Mehta exhibit promising talent. The supporting cast, including Chittaranjan Tripathy, Vibha Chibber, Pravin Kumar Sisodia, Shakti Sinha, Danish Iqbal, and Pubali Sanyal, deliver commendable performances.
The songs in the movie aren’t the kind that become super popular. ‘Ganga’ and ‘Chanda’ are decent. ‘Shaamil’ might not be remembered for long, but it’s played at an important part of the story and has strong lyrics. Clinton Cerejo and Bianco Gomes’ background music adds to the impact.
Kumar Saurabh’s camera work is wonderful, especially with how he uses lighting and colors. Prashant Bidkar’s set design, particularly for the shelter home, is impressive. Veera Kapur Ee’s costumes are simple and fitting for the characters. Zubin Sheikh’s editing is sharp, though it could’ve been a bit tighter.
Overall, “BHAKSHAK” is a gripping investigative thriller that doesn’t waste time. It’s powered by great performances from Bhumi Pednekar, Sanjay Mishra, and Aditya Srivastava. It also pays homage to small-town journalists who often risk everything to uncover important stories
