Review of Bollywood Movie “The Sabarmati Report”

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Newzdaddy Ratings: 3** / 5

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Star Cast: Vikrant Massey, Raashi Khanna, Ridhi Dogra

Written By: Arjun Bhandegaonkar and Avinash Singh Tomar

Directed By:  Dheeraj Sarna

Produced By: Ekta Kapoor, Balaji Motion Pictures

Recommended or Not: Yes.

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 2 hours 07 minutes

Review of Hindi movie “The Sabarmati Report”.

The Plot

The February 27, 2002, Godhra train disaster and the ensuing communal riots in Gujarat serve as the backdrop for the Sabarmati Report. The movie follows Hindi journalist Samar Kumar (played by Vikrant Massey) and his English-speaking coworker Manika Rajpurohit (played by Riddhi Dogra) as they travel to Godhra in order to learn the truth behind the Sabarmati Express fire. What begins as a search for solutions turns into a story of ideological conflicts, political scheming, and personal prejudices.

In order to hide the controversy, the film’s creators have portrayed the camaraderie and unity between the two populations.

I felt that the movie was about journalism driven by politics rather than the core issue of the tragic event.

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The Story

One of the most divisive events in contemporary Indian history is boldly addressed in the movie. Even though it makes an effort to present an investigative viewpoint, the novel eventually falters due to its own prejudices. The movie veers between pursuing a story that seems predestined and attempting to find the truth. A plot that mostly relies on judgment rather than investigation is the result of the lack of finesse in handling such a delicate subject.

The Acting

As Samar Kumar, Vikrant Massey portrays the struggles and beliefs of a journalist pursuing justice with genuineness. Although she gives her all in her portrayal as rookie reporter Amrita Gill, Raashii Khanna is constrained by the script’s undeveloped character development. Manika Rajpurohit is well portrayed by Riddhi Dogra, who successfully conveys the inner agony of a journalist battling political constraints. But rather than being fully realised people, the characters frequently seem more like plot devices.

The Direction

Despite its sincere intentions, the film fails to convey the intricacy of the events it aims to depict. The film finds it difficult to strike a balance between its ideological implications and its investigative premise. It frequently strays into oversimplifications rather than exploring the incident’s nuanced aspects, missing the chance to present a fully impartial viewpoint.

The Cinematography

The Sabarmati Report’s striking and powerful images capture the mayhem and destruction of the Godhra tragedy. Close-ups and handheld camera methods, however, can occasionally appear overdone and take away from the story. Though it lacks the emotional depth that the issue requires, the portrayal of Ground Zero and riot-torn Gujarat conveys the fury.

The Screenplay

There is insufficient depth and consistency in the screenplay. Important parts of the investigation are hurried or left unanswered, including the sudden determination that the fire was intentional. Especially when the movie seeks to emphasise its moral position, the dialogue frequently comes across as preachy. This undermines the story’s credibility and authenticity.

The Positive Points

• The performances, especially those of Riddhi Dogra and Vikrant Massey, give an otherwise faulty narrative a touch of authenticity.
• The film tackles significant issues regarding political meddling and media integrity.
• The photography brilliantly conveys the tragedy’s weight by capturing the intensity of the events.

The Negative Points

• The film’s believability is diminished by its careless treatment of a delicate subject.
•  Important character arcs and investigative elements are underdeveloped, which results in a lack of emotional involvement.
• The direction fails to find a balance between storytelling and ideological preaching.
• The screenplay appears erratic and excessively critical, undermining its investigative concept.

In conclusion

The Sabarmati Report had the potential to be an engaging examination of a terrible incident and its ramifications. However, the film is divisive to see due to its lack of balance and excessive dependence on judgement. It does a good job of conveying the seriousness of the Godhra catastrophe, but it falls short in offering a detailed account that fully captures the event’s complexity. The movie might fall far short for viewers looking for a close-up look at history.