In an interview that went viral earlier sabarmati reportActor Vikrant Massey briefly reflected on the situation in the country while turning political analyst. “People say Hindus are in danger, Muslims are in danger. No one is in danger; Everything is going well. This is the best country to live in the world,” he declared in a podcast. The nervous innocence of Hindi film actors before a controversial release is always enlightening. It’s a balancing act that no gymnast or slackliner can understand.

Balance and fairness is a major concern Sabarmati report. When the character of an elite, English-speaking news anchor, played by Riddhi Dogra, argues that journalism is not just about reporting facts but also about “balance and context”, he has to say those words in English. To express is silenced by the local hero of the film. Years later, the same hero, now a celebrated news reader himself, cites, albeit in Hindi, a democratic and secular (Secular) India. Even when he speaks, a Hymn The soundtrack plays, and the final image is of the holy Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Based on the 2002 Godhra train fire, which killed 59 people, mostly Hindu pilgrims and car valet Returning from a function in Ayodhya, died due to fire sabarmati report The film is a late addition to the crowded genre of contemporary Hindi political films. Recently, titles like kashmir filesAnd story of kerala – convenient, inflammatory narratives that cherry-pick facts to pander to harsh sensibilities – seem to be a surefire formula for success. Yet, even before the results of the 2024 general elections, a sense of fatigue has set in. a former movie, Accident or conspiracy: GodhraBased on the same theme, failed miserably. sabarmati report It was initially scheduled to release in May, but after delays and reshoots, the film is releasing towards the end of the year.

Samar (Vikrant Massey), a small-time reporter who asks stupid questions at film launches, falls into depression and alcoholism after not getting consent for his findings about the Godhra incident at the high and dishonest news channel where he works. (Samar will, in fact, scoff at words like ‘disrespectful’ and ‘dishonest’). Five years later, Amrita (Raashi Khanna) puts him out of his misery, and the two set out to debunk the “accident” theory surrounding the burning of the Sabarmati train.

death of car valet The handiwork of Muslim mobs has been widely cited as the trigger for the post-Godhra massacre in Gujarat, in which over 1000 people were killed and countless others displaced. Apparently – yet surprisingly – this aspect of the story matters little. Sabarmati report. Although told from the perspective of two journalists who rarely discuss the riots, the film is essentially a dramatization of the Nanavati-Mehta Commission report. The panel constituted by the then state government of Gujarat submitted an interim report in 2008, declaring the train incident to be an act of ‘well-planned conspiracy’. This was in contrast to an earlier report filed by the Union Railway Ministry, which had called it an ‘accident’.

The Godhra tragedy and the violence that followed were reported in both the English and local press (the Nanavati Report cites many of these). However, according to this film, this was not the case. This introduces a false dichotomy between English (elitist, lying) and Hindi (honest, candid, pro-Hindu) journalists. While targeting a fictional news network that expanded during the recession years – leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions – it conveniently omits the role of local publications in fanning the flames of communal hatred.

A sharp, incisive film about the lesser-known aspects of Godhra would have been fascinating. Here, sometimes, emotions overpower inquiry. The screenplay captures the pain of those killed in the tragedy, including many women and children. At the same time, the film works extra hard to defend and flatter the existing establishment. The Chief Minister of Gujarat circa 2002 is shown to be a woman; Narendra Modi came into the picture a little late, while the state has been enjoying rapid growth. We also get a Sonia Gandhi look-alike, plotting with her associates on how to make the best of the situation.

There are some grace notes. sabarmati report Originally directed by Ranjan Chandel, he distanced himself from the project and was replaced by veteran TV writer Dheeraj Sarna. Unlike other propaganda films, the mood is not always conspiratorial and serious. There’s a funny sequence built around the Hindi word ‘displaced’, there are some boozy jokes, and Amalendu Chowdhary’s cinematography is artful and efficient. I believe this film is also burdened with a liberal conscience, however suppressed it may be. Muslims are emerging as clear and obvious villains – violent, duplicitous, reactionary – but there are some good qualities in the mix too.

Vikrant Massey gives an honest, sympathetic performance 12th failed(2023). The struggle of his character, a simple village boy breaking the doors of English-speaking India, feels real and alive. It’s not a feeling that arises sabarmati reportThe small human moments that Macy might be able to bring to life are sidelined by the high-pitched acting. He has given a lot of dramatic speeches, but not that impressive. It seems like it was a wrong move, a desperate step taken in desperate times. In the last ten years, the fanaticism of Hindi cinema has given birth to many great artists. It would also be sad to lose Mr. Massey.

Sabarmati Report is currently running in theatres.