Synopsis
Expected to release in 2024, “Bhakshak” is a Hindi crime drama that will capture the audience’s attention as a cinematic adaptation of one of the worst real-life accounts of institutional negligence in recent Indian history. The movie is set to be directed by Pulkit, with Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma producing it under the Red Chillies Entertainment banner. It draws inspiration from the Muzaffarpur shelter home case that agitated the nation back in 2018. The film depicts the fictional town of Munawwarpur in Bihar, which is the backdrop for the horrid abuse of young girls in a government-funded institution, as well as the journalist who fought to bring the truth to light.
The main protagonist of the movie is an investigative journalist, Vaishali Singh, played by the seasoned Bhumi Pednekar. Singh works for a small media outlet, and Vaishali is a woman of sophisticated values which propel her to pursue a deep sense of truth and justice. She is not in pursuit of wealth or recognition, but rather the actual facts. In the course of following a seemingly routine story, she discovers some very disturbing details related to the use and misuse of power in a girls’ shelter home. Her meticulous probing turns up shocking evidences of a much deeper rot of systemic sexual exploitation and bureaucratic whitewashing.
While Vaishali investigates further, she uncovers numerous other horrors surrounding the shelter home. The girls are sexually abused and are part of a much bigger network of corruption that includes politicians, business people, local authorities, and even the policemen. The web of corruption is led by none other than Bansi Sahu, chillingly played by Aditya Srivastava, who is a politician and has their fingers deep within the town’s governance.
Vaishali battles through endless death threats, local bureaucratic delays, as well as constant ‘back off’ messages from higher-ups. Her anchor through all this is Bhaskar Sinha (Sanjay Mishra), a senior journalist who is also her mentor, supporting her throughout the process. With her is SSP Jasmeet Kaur (Sai Tamhankar), an honest police officer who starts off on the other side, but becomes an unexpected ally in Vaishali’s battle for justice.
The film shows that for a woman, a girl child even, to get justice, they need to fight towards an entire system that allows for violence to happen freely. It climaxes with the public outrage after the delayed publishing of the report by Vaishali which finally serves as a foundation for, albeit slow, but undeniable justice.
Cast and Crew
Director
Pulkit, whose direction ensures that film remains tethered to reality, building tension through the telling of stories interwoven with careful details.
Writers
Pulkit and Jyotsana Nath, who co-wrote an overwhelming yet tender narrative that instead of sensationalizing the heart-wrenching content, treats it with sensitivity.
Producers
Gauri Khan and Gaurav Verma of Red Chillies Entertainment, who financially sponsor the production of the film, ensure that the story has both commercial and societal relevance.
Main Cast
Bhumi Pednekar as Vaishali Singh: One of her most powerful performances of a volatile yet emotionally tender character was as Vaishali Singh.
Sanjay Mishra as Bhaskar Sinha: an experienced journalist who becomes both a mentor and a voice of reason in the film.
Aditya Srivastava as Bansi Sahu: An evil and aggressive villain, his character embodies the rot in the political and administrative system.
Sai Tamhankar as SSP Jasmeet Kaur: A courageous officer who comes to add muscle to the cause of Vaishali.
Surya Sharma as Arvind Singh: A character in the background who cranks up the heat and the conflict for Vasihali’s struggle.
Durgesh Kumar and Tanisha Mehta portrays Guptaji and Sudha Kumari: Show different sides of the system that both turn a blind eye and enable the abuse.
Cinematography
Kumar Saurabh: The visuals enhance the mood through the jarring landscapes of rural Bihar as well as the stifling interiors of various institutions.
Editing
Zubin Sheikh: He sustains the rhythm of the narration and retains just the right amount of suspense—giving audiences time to truly appreciate the solemn events.
Music
Clinton Cerejo and Bianca Gomes provide the background score, while Anurag Saikia and Anuj Garg contributed the songs. The music remains subdued so as not to overshadow the storyline’s dominant emotional arc.
Runtime
135 minutes
Language
Hindi
Platform
The film was released on Netflix on February 9, 2024.
Critical Reception
Bhakshak is a film that has incited heated debate, earning both acclaim and criticism. Bhumi Pednekar’s performance as Vaishali Singh has captured the attention of many for being strikingly real and emotionally resonating. Critics have highlighted her performance as a journalist bearing incredible psychological pressure, weaving together fear, frustration, and the unyielding will to expose the truth.
Sanjay Mishra provides powerful emotion, along with Aditya Srivastava, whose performance as the villain is equally impressive in his icy machinations. Sai Tamhankar joins the ensemble as a commanding female officer caught in the crossfire of duty and political machinations.
While many commend the film for highlighting an important issue, others critique the screenplay. Their concerns relate to the scenes in the second act which, in their view, indulge in melodrama. These reviewers felt that some parts of the movie seemed to lessen the impact of the hard-hitting content. The film has also received criticism for lacking subtlety in exposition, as some characters make bold explanatory statements instead of allowing the audience to interpret the narrative’s layers.
Regardless of its flaws, Bhakshak succeeds where it matters most—by inciting anger, sparking critical contemplation, and conversations surrounding journalism, justice, and accountability.
Conclusion
Indubitably painful to watch, Bhakshak remains an essential narrative. The film embodies the harrowing multi-faceted story of Vaishali Singh and her relentless struggle to uncover the truth, providing a stark insight into the vile forms of gender violence, institutional abuse, victim silencing, and systemic oppression.
However, Bhakshak transcends the bounds of a typical crime drama; it acts as an ode to the courageous individuals who endure and confront brutal oppression, often at a staggering personal cost. The film goes beyond merely depicting society’s decay, instead reflecting on the societal frameworks that enable it.
Bhakshak towers above other films in the Indian cinema industry released in 2024 because of its profound social impact, relentless direction, and compelling performances that communicated echoing messages. It may mute itself in the backdrop of film industry, but this movie will surely bring attention to the noise created behind every news headline. Every headline hides lives that are incredibly impactful and stir emotions that attract attention.
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