Review : Bastar: The Naxal Story : Hard Hitting Eye-opener!

Most of the countries in the world face separatist movements which turn menacing if not curbed timely. Biggest example being #USSR getting split into small countries. In India too there have been separatist movements demanding separation. #KashmirMujahidin, #Khalistani movement and Maoist extremism are existing for quite some time. After ISIS and #BokoHaram, Maoist is the third most dangerous outfits in the world and India is fighting maoists for many years and have lost more than 15000 soldiers in the process. The newly released film #BastarTheNaxalStory throws light on this issue and try to demask certain #NGOs, #Politicians, #GovernmentOfficials and others who are openly and secretly support Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh. It’s a hard hitting eye opener for everyone as most of the citizens of our country are unaware about truth behind these activities. Sudipto Sen, who gave us The Kerala Story earlier, had directed it with passion and authenticity.

IPS Officer Neerja Madhavan (Adah Sharma) is a dashing officer who wants to eliminate naxalite activities. She actually is at war with them but some pseudo intellectuals and maoist sympathizers are trying to nullify her work by entangling her in court cases. But Neerja is determined to finish her task with the help of locals who too want to be out of the clutches of naxalites. Ratna (Indira Tiwari) joins her local force because her husband was brutally murdered by the maoist leader Lanka Reddy (Vijay Krishna). The story unfolds with gory incidents and moments of agony and triumphs for Neerja.

Bastar: The Naxal Story is based on real incidents which prove that reality is more dangerous than fiction. There are many gruesome scenes which will send chills down the spine of the viewers. Writer, director Sudipto Sen’s sincerity depicts in overall treatment. Frankly most of the Indians are unaware about the strakness of naxalism and the atrocities meted out to the tribals. Hence viewers may not be able to relate to this subject, though it’s true. Sen has narrated the story in three different intermingling parts which arouses the curiosity. He has avoided heroism for the central character and that’s a plus.

The production values are okay and the cinematography, though has yellow tint, is good. The attack and assault scenes are well choreographed and nicely executed. The background score compliments the proceedings on the screen. Adah Sharma once again delivers a solid performance. She scores in fight sequences and brings gritty Neerja to the fore. Indira Tiwari delivers good performance. Vijay Krishna, Shilpa Shukla and Yashpal Sharma as lawyers, Subrata Dutta as Ratna’s husband, Kishore Kadam as a tribal leader, Raima Sen as a socialite and NGO runner etc offer good and able support.

Bastar: The Naxal Story is a hard htting eye-opener as the makers has fearlessly come out with the factual incidents around naxalite-maoist culture.

Rating : ***