Review : Manish Mundra beautifully and honestly crafts ‘Siya’!
It’s noticeable that in the last few years the moviegoers taste has changed drastically. The focus has shifted from heroism to realism. Now the makers too have started giving importance to the script and that’s why the content based cinema is doing much better in terms of collections. But there has always been a few hard hitting films mirroring the stark face of the society, especially in the rural sector. Though cities have been developing, it has not reached the semi urban and rural pockets of the country. The powerful people still rule the roost out there and the poor people suffer in the process. If anyone tries to raise voice against the established ‘#power’ that voice is muffled with the help of money and ‘contacts’. Producer #ManishMundra, who has given us thought provoking films like #Masaan, #Newton, #AankhonDekhi, #Kaamyaab etc, has donned a director’s hat with Siya which is based on a hard hitting socially relevant subject. Though a debutant his direction is top notch and from the framings one understands that he knows his craft well.
Siya, based on multiple real life incidents of rape in our country, showcases a fight of a rape victim to get justice. Siya (Pooja Pandey) is a seventeen year old girl goes about her daily routine of riding on a bicycle for collecting sticks from the areas on the outskirts of her village. As the case in many places, a few young lads try to woo her. But when she doesn’t relent she is abducted by them and kept in an isolated place. She is deprived of food, chained and raped by them multiple times. After a few days a police search party locates the place she is brought to the police station and the accused are arrested. The accused are politically connected and Siya and her parents are pressurised to withdraw the case. A relative who is a lawyer Mahendra (Vineet Kumar Singh) try to bring justice to Siya but the accused are left on bail due to political pressure. On top of it Siya’s father is picked up on false charges of possession of arms and after brutal beating he breathes his last in the police custody. The authorities cremate his body without informing the family and insinuate to back down or this could be you next.
Siya opens with a beautiful frame indicating the happenings in store. The framing of scenes is absolutely beautiful and despite rural background the visuals are pleasing to the eyes. Camerawork by Rafey Mahmood and Subhranshu Kumar Das brings the director’s creativity to the forth. Manish Mundra has courageously depicted the reality of rural India despite it’s seventy five years of independence. He brings forth the brutality with honest storytelling. He has avoided preaching and left the verdict in viewers’ hands regarding the brutal and numbing incidents taking place in the country. ‘Maati Kahe Kumbhar Se…’ song is outstanding, lyrics wise as well as composition wise. Vineet Kumar Singh aces the role with subtle portrayal of his character. Pooja Pandey is simply outstanding. In her debut role she impresses with her range of emotions. She looks the character too. Other actors too lend able support.
Siya drives on honest writing, convincing direction and excellent performances. Should you watch Siya in the theatres? The answer is a big Yes!
***1/2