Sonchiriya Movie (2019) Review
- Movie Name:Sonchiriya
- Critics Rating: 3 / 5
- Release Date: March 1, 2019
- Director: Abhishek Chaubey
- Genre: Action Drama
You can fight with the world but how to fight with your inner self? Guilt is the strongest emotion ever, even bigger than hatred. Guilt is like termites, it eats you constantly, so much so that you start questioning your existence. Abhishek Chaubey's Sonchiriya set against the authentic brown and dusty ravines of Chambal is not the usual action drama of dacoits you have seen in Bollywood. Comparing it with Bandit Queen and Paan Singh Tomar would be futile as Sonchiriya is much layered and deals with untouched aspects of the rebel gang.
Abhishek Chaubey's ensemble cast includes Manoj Bajpayee, Sushant Singh Rajput, Ashutosh Rana, Ranvir Shorey and Bhumi Pednekar- all of them are rebels with a cause. While Lakhna and Man Singh are seeking salvation from the haunting innocent face, Ashustosh Rana, who plays Gujjar cop is out to wreak personal vengeance on rebels. Bhumi Pednekar, the only female character standing tall amidst muderous gang of men, is a rebellion in her family.
Sonchiriya Movie (2019) Review 
What is the dharma of rebels, asks Lakhna, played by believable Sushant Singh Rajput to his dadda Man Singh, essayed by terrific Manoj Bajpayee. The entire tale is set around dharma, moksha and deep-rooted caste prejudices. Thakurs and Gujjars are the two rival groups in the area which breathes casteism. Set in the era of the 70s when late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi proclaimed an emergency and when the dacoits were being asked to surrender, Sonchiriya is the story of the downfall of rebels (as they liked themselves to be called). Sonchiriya is about how the gang disperses into two factions after the death of their leader and the different paths they choose based on their instincts.
Caste and patriarchy are the sub-plots, which has been brilliantly dealt with by the director. ''Auraat Ki Jaat Alag Hoti Hai,'' speaks a lot of gender issues in the country, which hasn't changed much even after decades. When Maan Singh says, ''Have government bullets ever killed anyone? Their promises have''. He then goes on to mock election speeches by mimicking ''Bhaiyon Aur Beheno''. Well, that's enough to state the reason why they are 'baaghi'. The most shattering scene of the film is when Maan Singh and Lakhna dive deep into remorse and shame after involuntary engaging in a bloodbath. A scene in the film also takes a sly dig at the portrayal of daakus in Bollywood films, where they are often shown riding on horses. Besides guns aimed at each other, the enmity between police and rebels have been shown quite a couple of times. Virender Singh Gujjar (Rana) exhibiting the dead body of Maan Singh around the village and also, Lakhna's response on being asked 'whether he is baaghi or police' give the sense of intense hostility that prevails.
The set up of Chaubey's film is as authentic it can be. The attires of his characters are dusty and worn out as if they have been in these clothes since ages. Besides unkempt hair and beard, what makes this film stand out in the crowd is the portrayal and picturisation of Chambal and the credit goes to cinematographer Anuj Rakesh Dhawan. The sound design and background score by Bendict Taylor and Naren Chandavarkar seamlessly merge into the atmosphere. Now, let's talk about the most mind-boggling part of the film- acting. Each and every character excels in their role. Manoj Bajpayee is flawless as the rebel with a golden heart, Maan Singh, Ranvir Shorey as hot-headed Vakil Singh is solid. Sushant Singh Rajput as the rebel driven by conscience shines, though, his performance is not unblemished. Bhumi is honest in her part, making us believe that she belongs to that particular world and Ashutosh Rana is magical as always. Both Bajpayee and Rana looked so much into their characters.
Sonchiriya Movie (2019) Review
The Bundelkhandi dialect in the first half, which also demanded the need for subtitles, gives a raw and rustic feel to Sonchiriya. The major drawback of the film is that it intentionally moves at a slow pace and this makes it appear quite lengthy. The 143-minutes-long and layered film never comes as a whole together.
Sonchiriya Movie (2019) Review
It is quite important for a filmmaker to convey the intended message directly to the audience without any hindrance. Despite being rustic, real with impactful sub-plots, Abhishek Chaubey's Sonchiriya's film lacks thrill and consistency.
