Bastar The Naxal Story Review: The Kerala Story Trio's Gritty Naxal Tale Falls Short Of Finesse

In an age where strict herence to tried and tested formulas to create box office success has become norm, re is something appreciable about storytelling that attempts to swim against current. Director Sudipto Sen's latest offering Bastar: Naxal Story aims high but misfires on several counts. 

Hot Take

In a promotional interview during run up to Bastar: Naxal Story's release, producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah h categorised film as cinema highlighting human tragedy, and not necessarily political tussle. While this statement for a film based on premise of Naxalite stronghold may feel like a complete overreach, Sudipto Sen actually manages to strike balance. characters - thanks to sturdy performances - manage to rise above looming Naxalite context.

Does Bastar: Naxal Story live up to hype?

Save for a few scattered interviews, not much was done to market film in run up to its release. That being said, Bastar, despite its wildly different premise, carries blueprint of a Sudipto Sen and ah Sharma collaboration.

In many ways, film is a spiritual sequel to Sen's newfound lease of life as a director and ah Sharma's capabilities as a film le.

ah Sharma levels up her acting skills

Despite being face of 2023 blockbuster Kerala Story - its long running box office collections flying in face of this derivation - ah Sharma was quite sore spot in 2023 release. Its mammoth success stands attributed to compelling premise coupled with Sen's direction, something that Sharma's inexperience could not make a dent on.

Bastar, however, is a completely different story. Sharma takes le, this time, as Inspector General Neerja Mhavan. Pregnant, but stronger for it, Neerja accurately embodies aura of a government official who potentially holds key to a violence-free Bastar.

re is appreciable pause in her gait and a weight in her dialogue delivery, reflective of effort put in by actress. She does occasionally stumble, treing too close to line of making her performance caricature-like, but growth from last year as a performer is noticeable.

supporting cast deliver praiseworthy performances

Raima Sen comes as a complete surprise in Bastar. She plays face of intellectual mafia, with ease, using societal status and acemic prowess to furr dunk Bastar in blood. Vijay Krishna steals show as Jantana Shahi Government front man Lanka Reddy. He is ruthless, unapologetic and unrelenting.

While ah Sharma officially les film, Indira Tiwari is face of Bastar as a tribal woman turned Salwa Judum Special Police Officer after her husband is hacked to death for hoisting Indian tri-colour. Kishore Kam and Anupam Joardar are equally effective in ir minimal but crucial roles.

Bastar's screenplay is its true hero

Right off bat, Bastar's script relies on too many monologues. While drama that a well-placed and effectively timed monologue can d to a film is undisputed, reliance on same in Bastar is slightly heavy. However, some moments do tend to stick out for impact y create, dialogue "death is never defeat in business of revolution" being one of m for its multi-pronged attack.

Yashpal Sharma's closing statement's in court, highlighting hypocrisy in recruiting Dalits in name of BR Ambedkar only to train m to tear into constitution penned by very same man, is anor key moment from film.

Watch it or skip it?

Politics is complex. Political ideology is even more overwrought. Notwithstanding personal leanings, from perspective of cinema, Kerala Story trio have delivered wholly on ir brand of cinema, tone for which was established with ir 2023 blockbuster release.

Bastar, however, is best avoided if you cannot stomach extended sequences of slow-burning brutality and violence.

Bottomline

ah Sharma's acting has matured. Sudipto Sen has clarity in his direction. writing of Bastar is an asset though multiple monologues tend to become a little too factually tedious.

Rating: 2.5/5